The Eagles name dates back to 1925, when Kinston fielded its first professional team in the Virginia League. A 1920s incarnation featured a young catcher named Rick Ferrell, who went on to a long major league career and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the only former Kinston player so honored. The Eagles bounced between several Class D leagues before and after the Great Depression, winning the Coastal Plain League title in 1935 and again in 1947.
Kinston joined the Carolina League for the first time in 1956, after owner L.C. "Red" Fowler relocated his Burlington franchise there as a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. Attendance struggled in the early going, and the city went through a couple of lean years without a stable club before the program found its footing.
By 1962, under general manager Harding "Pete" Peterson, the Eagles were a different team. They won the Carolina League championship that year, beating Durham in a seven-game series, and a June 11 game against the Bulls drew 4,537 fans, a Grainger Stadium record that stood for 37 years. Peterson left Kinston not long after to become the Pittsburgh Pirates' general manager, having sent fifteen players from the Kinston roster to the majors during his time there.
The Eagles name would return to Kinston several more times over the following decades, eventually giving way to the Kinston Indians, who played at Grainger Stadium until 2011.
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 crewneck sweatshirts are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand crews. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time.
Size Guide: True to size
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)), this sweatshirt feels cozy and is the perfect choice for those colder months.
- The classic fit along with the crew neckline deliver a comfy wearing experience with a clean-cut style. Meanwhile, the double-needle stitching at the shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband, and cuff seams add top-tier durability.
- Say goodbye to itchiness thanks to the gray, pearlized tear-away label.
- Made using 100% ethically grown US cotton. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. The blank shirt's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Tumble dry: low heat; Do not iron; Do not dryclean.
