The Fresno SunSox, based in Fresno, California, played the 1957 season in the Class C California League, a one-year identity bridging two long eras of Fresno baseball. For the previous decade and a half the club had been the Fresno Cardinals, owned outright by St. Louis, but the Cardinals scaled back their farm system after 1956 and sold the team to the Greater Fresno Youth Foundation. Operating in 1957 without a major league affiliation, working loosely with the Pacific Coast League's Sacramento Solons, the SunSox finished in last place.
The stay at the bottom was brief. In 1958 the club signed with the newly relocated San Francisco Giants, was renamed the Fresno Giants, and won the pennant in its first year, beginning a 30-year affiliation that was the longest minor league partnership in baseball at the time it ended.
Fresno's professional baseball roots run much deeper than the 1941 league. The city fielded a team in the original California League as far back as 1898, hosted the Fresno Raisin Eaters of the Pacific Coast League in 1906, and put clubs in the California State League in 1910 and 1913.
The televising of major league games took a heavy toll on minor league baseball during the 1950s, and the Cardinals' departure from Fresno was part of that nationwide retreat, as big league clubs trimmed farm systems that had once reached into hundreds of American towns.
Our design is adapted from original SunSox artwork that appeared in the team's own 1957 game materials, a genuine piece of Fresno baseball graphics brought back to life rather than a modern invention.
Retro Baseball Revival celebrates historic baseball teams with unique apparel, honoring their legacy and bringing history to one-of-a-kind clothing with our old school retro baseball tees from defunct Minor League Baseball teams. All of our high quality apparel is designed, printed, and shipped within the USA. This collection features 100% original designs based on the history and nicknames of historic minor league teams.
Our premium lightweight shirts are the hugely popular Bella+Canvas brand 3001 tees. They are much lighter and thinner feeling than a traditional heavyweight tee. They also are more form fitting and feel more snug. These are generally 90% to 100% cotton, although please note that heather colors in this item are 52% cotton.
Size Guide: Fit is true to size or a little snug. Considering ordering one size up if you are normally between sizes.
Brand: Bella Canvas | Product ID: 3001
- Made with 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, a lightweight fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)) that is easy to layer, breathable. Perfect for active and leisure wear.
- The retail fit that is perfect for casual and semi-formal settings. The crew neckline adds a classic, neat style that's perfect for accessorizing.
- Bella+Canvas manufactures all its products in the US and internationally in humane, no-sweat-shop, sustainable way and is part of the Fair Labor Association as well as Platinum WRAP certified.
- The tear-away label minimizes skin irritations.
- Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% cotton, 1% polyester; Heather and Solid Blend colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester; Athletic Heather and Black Heather - 90% cotton, 10% polyester.
