The Lakeland Pilots of Lakeland, Florida got their name by contest. In January 1946, the city's new professional club chose "Pilots" from 100 submitted entries, picked by a judging panel that included big league pitchers Tommy Bridges of Detroit and Rip Sewell of Pittsburgh to honor the British and American aviators who trained during the war at Lakeland's Lodwick School of Aeronautics. The winning entrant, a railroad worker named J. L. Jarvis, received his prize in miles: a trip with the team to Havana.
That Havana trip was no gimmick. The Pilots played in the Florida International League, a Class C and later Class B circuit that stretched from Florida's Gulf Coast across the water to Cuba, one of the few minor leagues ever to cross international waters. Lakeland stayed there through 1952, with a one-year detour as the Lakeland Patriots in 1951, then moved in 1953 to the Class D circuit the city had known since 1919. The move paid off fast: the Pilots won the league championship in 1954.
Lakeland's baseball roots go deeper than the Pilots. The city fielded the Lakeland Highlanders as charter members of that same circuit from 1919 to 1926, winning the 1924 title, and Lakeland has served as the Detroit Tigers' spring training home for the better part of a century, the longest such relationship in baseball.
The Pilots folded after the 1955 season. Our design is adapted from original artwork the team used back in the day.
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 (non-premium) hoodies are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand hoodies. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time and feature the 'kangaroo pouch' on the front with a draw string hood.
Size Guide: True to size, roomy
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: G18500
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric (8.0 oz/yd² (271 g/m²)) that consists of 50% cotton and 50% polyester for that cozy feel and warmth you need in a hoodie.
- The classic fit along with the pouch pocket and the tear-away label make for a highly comfortable, scratch-free wearing experience.
- The color-matched drawcord and the double-lined hood add a stylish flair and durability that tie everything together.
- 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 tee's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Tumble dry: medium; Iron, steam or dry: low heat; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed.
