The Thomasville Tomcats, based in Thomasville, Georgia, played the 1952 season as an independent team with no major league affiliation, unusual for the GFL, where most clubs had working agreements with big-league organizations. The Tomcats were actually the Americus Rebels franchise relocated from Americus, operated under a group of New York investors led by general manager Gardner "Joe" Landon and drawing players from multiple organizations. They played in a brand-new 2,400-seat park described at the time as one of the finest facilities in Class D baseball, finishing seventh in the eight-team league in their return season.
Thomasville had hosted a separate GFL franchise since the league's founding in 1935, running as the Orioles, Tourists, Lookouts (who won the 1941 championship), and Tigers, until a fire destroyed that franchise's stadium and forced them out of the league after 1950. The Tomcats brought baseball back to the city a year later as a fresh, relocated operation.
The franchise signed on as a Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate in 1953 as the Thomasville Dodgers, reaching the championship series before losing to Brunswick in seven games, and continued through 1958. Thomasville returned for the 1962-63 revival as the Tigers once more under Detroit affiliation, winning the 1962 regular season pennant with a 76-41 record before the league folded for good. The Georgia-Florida League was a Class D circuit that ran, with a wartime interruption from 1943 through 1945, from 1935 through 1958, fielding teams primarily from south Georgia with occasional representation from Florida and Alabama.
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.
