The Palatka Azaleas of Palatka, Florida took their name from the flowers that made the town famous, and their ballpark followed suit: the Azaleas played at the Azalea Bowl at Forrester Field, a ballpark now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Babe Ruth himself ran baseball clinics on that field in the late 1930s.
The Azaleas played 1936 to 1939 and again from 1946 to 1953, cycling through big league affiliations with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees in the early years. The franchise's peak came in 1952, when Palatka won the league championship, finishing ahead of a strong Jacksonville Beach club in the standings along the way. Outfielder Myril Hoag, an American League All-Star and three-time World Series winner with the Yankees, suited up for the 1946 Azaleas.
Palatka fielded teams under other names into the early 1960s, but the Azaleas remain the identity the town's baseball history blooms from. The old field, minus its original grandstand, is still in use today.
The Azaleas' league began play in 1919 as a Class D circuit of six teams clustered across central Florida, tracing what would later become the I-4 corridor decades before the interstate existed. The circuit ran through 1928, went dark during the Depression, returned in 1936, paused again for World War II, and resumed in 1946. Unlike most minor leagues of the era, it never truly died; the same circuit still operates across Florida today.
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.
