The Omaha Crickets were two seasons in the life of one of the great franchises of the western minors, the charter Western League club of Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha's Western League club had already been the Omahogs, the Rangers, the Rourkes (named for longtime owner-manager Billy "Pa" Rourke, who led them to championships in 1904, 1907, and 1917), and the Buffaloes before taking the Crickets name in 1928. Along the way the franchise employed future Hall of Famers Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown in 1902 and Heinie Manush in 1922.
The 1928 Crickets finished 71-86 but placed three men on the league All-Star team: first baseman Snake Henry, who hit .347 with 18 home runs, catcher Jack Burns at .314, and pitcher Max Thomas. The staff also included Jumbo Brown, a 295-pound right-hander who went on to a long major league relief career with the Yankees and Giants.
The name lasted only through 1929 before the club became the Packers, and the franchise's long Omaha run ended in 1935, when unpaid players and Depression finances forced a mid-season move across the river to Council Bluffs. After nearly four decades, Omaha's charter Western League franchise was gone; the city wouldn't see professional baseball again until after 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 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.
