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 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.
