The Hutchinson Salt Packers wore the identity of Hutchinson, Kansas, a city that sits on top of one of the largest rock salt deposits on earth. The Salt Packers name first appeared in 1906, carried by a club that played in the Western Association and Kansas State League, won the 1910 Kansas State League championship, and survived its home grounds, Cook Athletic Park, burning down in 1910.
The name's Western League chapter in 1918 arrived through one of the strangest transactions in minor league history: a same-day franchise swap. On June 2, 1918, Hutchinson's struggling club moved to Oklahoma City, and on the very same day the Topeka franchise moved into Hutchinson and took up the Salt Packers name. The relocated Salt Packers played well, sitting in second place at 37-31, five and a half games behind Wichita, when the season stopped for good. The federal government's World War I "work or fight" order, requiring men to take war-essential jobs or face the draft, forced the entire Western League to fold in early July.
Professional baseball returned to Hutchinson under the Wheatshockers name in the 1920s and 1930s, but the Salt Packers name stayed in 1918, frozen mid-pennant race by the war.
The Western League was a Class A circuit for most of its life, operating from 1900 through 1937 and again from 1947 through 1958, fielding teams across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and later Texas and New Mexico. For its first decade it stood just one step below the major leagues. An earlier league of the same name, which ran from 1885 to 1899, renamed itself the American League in 1900 and lives on today as one half of Major League Baseball.
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 standard tees are classic, heavyweight t-shirts that are durable and thick. They are looser fitting and run true to size.
Size Guide: True to size
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: 5000
- Made with medium fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²)) consisting of 100% cotton for year-round comfort that is sustainable and highly durable.
- The classic fit of this shirt ensures a comfy, relaxed wear while the crew neckline adds that neat, timeless look that can blend into any occasion, casual or semi-formal.
- The tear-away label means a scratch-free experience with no irritation or discomfort whatsoever.
- Made using 100% US cotton that is ethically grown and harvested. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. This blank tee is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and quality assurance.
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Do not iron; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Tumble dry: low heat.
