The Yuma Sun Sox were Yuma, Arizona's professional baseball club in 1955 and 1956, the last of three names the city tried in the 1950s and the only one that produced a pennant race. Yuma had played as the Panthers from 1950 to 1952 in two short-lived circuits before sitting out two seasons.
The Sun Sox were admitted to the Class C Arizona-Mexico League just days before the 1955 opener, after promoter Dick King assembled a club on short notice, and they finished second at 83-57, three and a half games behind Cananea. Player-manager Whitey Wietelmann, a former Boston Braves shortstop, went 21-13 as a pitcher. More than 79,000 people came through the gates.
In 1956 the Sun Sox became a Cincinnati Reds affiliate, won the second-half title and were swept in the final by Cananea. Outfielder Walter Tyler hit .392 with 208 hits to lead the league. Attendance fell by more than half, and the club dropped out before the 1957 season owing about $3,000 and unable to secure a lease on the municipal park.
Wietelmann went on to spend decades with the San Diego Padres as a coach, scout, equipment manager and clubhouse cook. Yuma is often cited as the sunniest city in the United States, which explains the name.
Arizona's first league in organized baseball opened in 1928 as a Class D circuit with four clubs, in Bisbee, Miami, Phoenix and Tucson. It became the Arizona-Texas League in 1931 and the Arizona-Mexico League in 1955, and ran, with gaps, through 1958, eventually reaching into Texas, New Mexico, Nevada and northern Mexico.
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
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)), this sweatshirt feels cozy and is the perfect choice for those colder months.
- The classic fit along with the crew neckline deliver a comfy wearing experience with a clean-cut style. Meanwhile, the double-needle stitching at the shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband, and cuff seams add top-tier durability.
- Say goodbye to itchiness thanks to the gray, pearlized tear-away label.
- Made using 100% ethically grown US cotton. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. The blank shirt's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Tumble dry: low heat; Do not iron; Do not dryclean.
