The Santa Cruz Sand Crabs, based in Santa Cruz, California, brought professional baseball to the beach, competing in the California circuits of 1899 (as the Beachcombers) and 1908-09 (as the Sand Crabs), with ballgrounds sitting near the waterfront where coastal winds off Monterey Bay played havoc with fly balls. Both names were pure Santa Cruz, evoking the boardwalk-and-bathhouse seaside culture that was already drawing tourists to the city by the 1890s.
The club's best sale came early: outfielder Mike Donlin was purchased from Santa Cruz by the St. Louis Perfectos for $500 in 1899. "Turkey Mike" went on to hit .333 across a major league career and become one of the era's most famous personalities, splitting his time between the New York Giants and the Broadway stage. The 1908 club gave a start to Frank Arellanes, the Santa Cruz-area native who began that season with the Sand Crabs before moving on to San Jose and then the Boston Red Sox, where he led the American League in saves in 1909.
The Sand Crabs' final edition was their best, running up a 62-36 record in 1909 before the club disbanded midway through the season's second half as the outlaw California circuit collapsed around it. Santa Cruz also holds a proud adjacent place in baseball history as the home region of Hall of Famer Harry Hooper, who grew up on the local sandlots before his 1907 professional debut just up the road with Alameda.
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 crewneck sweatshirts are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand crews. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time.
Size Guide: True to size
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)), this sweatshirt feels cozy and is the perfect choice for those colder months.
- The classic fit along with the crew neckline deliver a comfy wearing experience with a clean-cut style. Meanwhile, the double-needle stitching at the shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband, and cuff seams add top-tier durability.
- Say goodbye to itchiness thanks to the gray, pearlized tear-away label.
- Made using 100% ethically grown US cotton. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. The blank shirt's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Tumble dry: low heat; Do not iron; Do not dryclean.
