The Temple Eagles, based in Temple, Texas, gave the central Texas railroad city six seasons in the Big State League from 1949 through 1954, with the franchise returning one final time in 1957 under the Redlegs name before withdrawing mid-season in August as the circuit collapsed around them. Temple's identity had long run along two tracks: the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, which made the city a major rail junction in the late nineteenth century, and the Scott and White clinic, which grew into one of the largest medical facilities in the Southwest and gave Temple a parallel identity as a regional medical destination.
On the field, the Eagles were the class of the Big State League in 1952, winning the pennant while the Waco Pirates finished a historic 56 games behind them with a 29-118 record. Lon Goldstein, a former Cincinnati Reds infielder who had spent four seasons with the Gainesville Owls, served as Temple's player-manager in 1953. Monty Stratton, the Chicago White Sox pitcher whose career had been cut short after he lost his leg in a hunting accident in 1938, played for the Eagles in 1949 as part of his remarkable return to professional baseball on an artificial leg, a comeback that inspired the 1949 Jimmy Stewart film "The Stratton Story."
The Big State League was a Class B circuit that ran from 1947 through 1957, fielding teams exclusively from across Texas. Named for the state's reputation as the nation's largest, the league stretched from the Gulf Coast to the plains of West Texas, bringing professional baseball to cities the higher-classification Texas League had never reached.
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.
