The Ventura County Gulls, based in Ventura, California, played the 1986 season in the state's own professional circuit, returning professional baseball to the coast for the first time since the Channel Cities Oilers era three decades earlier. The franchise arrived when former big league third baseman Ken McMullen led a group, including actor Mark Harmon, that bought the dormant Lodi club and moved it to seaside Ventura County; McMullen knew the league well, having starred for the great 1961 Reno Silver Sox as a young Dodgers prospect.
The Gulls spent their single season as a Toronto Blue Jays affiliate playing at Ventura College, which was intended as a temporary home while a proper ballpark was found. No suitable site materialized, and after one season the franchise was sold and moved inland to become the San Bernardino Spirit, the club that would host Ken Griffey Jr.'s legendary 1988 season and eventually evolve into today's Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
One season, a borrowed college field, and a seabird name make the Gulls a footnote in league history, but a fitting coda for Ventura, whose entire baseball story, from the Yankees through the Oilers to the Gulls, spans barely a decade of actual play across forty years.
Our design is adapted from original Gulls artwork found in the team's 1986 game programs, swinging seagull and all, a genuine piece of Ventura County baseball graphics rather than a modern invention.
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.
