Winston-Salem's minor league teams had been known as the Twins since 1905, a reference to the formerly separate towns of Winston and Salem. The team became a St. Louis Cardinals farm club in 1957, taking the name Red Birds, a nod to the parent club's own nickname without using it outright. The Red Birds played four seasons in the Carolina League, from 1957 through 1960, calling Ernie Shore Field home.
The 1958 club went 69-68 under manager Vern Benson and drew over 90,000 fans to Ernie Shore Field. Pitcher Von McDaniel, who as an eighteen-year-old had thrown a shutout in his major league debut for the Cardinals in 1957, spent time with Winston-Salem before a sore arm cut his career short. Outfielder Jim Hickman, another Red Birds alumnus, went on to make the National League All-Star team in 1970.
The franchise dropped the Cardinals affiliation and the Red Birds name in 1961, becoming the Winston-Salem Red Sox for the next 22 years. A young Wade Boggs played there in 1977 on his way to a Hall of Fame career, sixteen years after the Red Birds era ended.
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