The San Bernardino Spirit, based in San Bernardino, California, brought professional baseball back to the city in 1987 after a 37-year absence, playing at Fiscalini Field, the renovated ballpark at Perris Hill. The Spirit ran through 1992 before the franchise relocated to a new stadium in Rancho Cucamonga, and the name carried on at Fiscalini Field through 1995 when the incoming Salinas franchise adopted it.
The Spirit's place in baseball history was secured in one summer. In 1988, an 18-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. played 58 games for San Bernardino, hit .338 with 11 home runs, and was so obviously the best prospect in the sport that the league named him its Most Valuable Player despite the abbreviated stay. Griffey was in Seattle's outfield by the following April and in the Hall of Fame by 2016.
The Spirit saved their only championship for their final act. In 1995, with the club by then playing under new ownership in its last season before the Stampede rebrand, first baseman Paul Konerko hit .277 with 19 home runs and 77 RBIs, and manager Ron Roenicke's team swept San Jose in three games for the title. Konerko went on to hit 439 major league home runs, captain the Chicago White Sox to the 2005 World Series championship, and see his number retired in Chicago.
San Bernardino's baseball lineage continued through the Stampede era and into the Inland Empire 66ers, but the Spirit name belongs to that first revival, when a city that had waited nearly four decades for professional baseball got the best teenage prospect in the game as its reward.
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.
