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 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.
