The Longview Cannibals played in various leagues throughout Texas between 1893 and 1939 and had one of the most unusual monikers in all of sports. The Cannibals nickname came from a newspaper reporter's story. The San Antonio Missions of the much bigger Texas League came to Longview in 1895 and surprisingly lost to Longview's semi-pro club, and San Antonio's reporter wrote that the Longview team had "ate up" San Antonio. That's how the name came to be, and it stuck over the years.
The Cannibals were successful on the field beyond that one game, too. They bounced between a number of leagues but over time sent more than 60 players to the majors. Their lone league title came in the East Texas League in 1926. After 1939 the team was renamed the White Sox to match Longview's major league affiliation, and the Cannibals name was no more.
For a deep dive on the Cannibals, check out Jeff Barnhart's book The Longview Cannibals: A Complete History of East Texas' Most Celebrated Baseball Club.
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.
