The Wichita Falls Spudders carried one of the most distinctive names in Texas minor league baseball across nearly four decades. "Spudders" has nothing to do with potatoes: in the oil industry, to "spud" a well means to begin drilling it, and a spudder is the rig used for that initial phase. The franchise entered the Texas League in 1920, won the league championship in 1927, and joined the Big State League as a founding member in 1947.
Frank Saucier hit .446 for Wichita Falls in 1949, then became the player pulled from the lineup in favor of 3'7" Eddie Gaedel in one of baseball's most famous publicity stunts while with the St. Louis Browns in 1951. The Spudders won the 1953 Big State League championship before a disastrous 27-109 Longhorn League season in 1954. Danny Ozark managed the club in 1956 before helming the Philadelphia Phillies to three consecutive division titles from 1976 through 1978. The franchise went 4-26 in 1957 and disbanded on May 23, one of the departures that effectively ended the Big State League.
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