Madison Blues T-Shirt (Heavyweight) - Vintage Defunct Baseball Teams - Wisconsin

Madison Blues T-Shirt (Heavyweight) - Vintage Defunct Baseball Teams - WisconsinThe Madison Blues, based in Madison, Wisconsin, were founded in 1923 by the Madison Athletic Association and spent nearly two decades working their way up through Wisconsin's minor league ladder. They started as an independent club, joined the Wisconsin Illinois League in 1926, moved to the Wisconsin State League (1928 31 and 1934 37), and won the Tri State League championship in 1938 over the Sheboygan Chairmakers. In 1940 they stepped up to the

The Madison Blues, based in Madison, Wisconsin, were founded in 1923 by the Madison Athletic Association and spent nearly two decades working their way up through Wisconsin's minor league ladder. They started as an independent club, joined the Wisconsin-Illinois League in 1926, moved to the Wisconsin State League (1928-31 and 1934-37), and won the Tri-State League championship in 1938 over the Sheboygan Chairmakers. In 1940 they stepped up to the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, the highest level the franchise ever reached.

Their Three-I seasons were played out against the backdrop of wartime. The Blues went 61-62 in 1940 (sixth place), 52-71 in 1941 (seventh place), and 55-62 in 1942 as a Chicago Cubs affiliate, that final season making the playoffs before losing to the Cedar Rapids Cubs 3-0 in the finals. All three seasons were played at Breese Stevens Field, a brick grandstand on Madison's east side that had become the first sports facility in Wisconsin with electric lights when floodlights were installed in 1931. Warren Spahn, later the Hall of Fame left-hander and winner of 363 major league games, pitched against the Blues in 1941 as a member of the visiting Evansville Bees. Jesse Owens, the four-time gold medalist from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, ran exhibition races at the field in 1938 during a Blues home game.

The 1942 season was the Blues' last. Wartime demands on players and resources depleted the league's rosters, and Madison did not return. When the Three-I reorganized for 1946, the Davenport Cubs took the slot Madison had vacated, and the Blues identity never came back.

The Three-I League (also known as the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League) was a Class B circuit that ran from 1901 through 1961, with pauses for World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Though rooted primarily in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, the league also drew clubs from Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota as its core membership contracted in later years.

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 standard tees are classic, heavyweight t-shirts that are durable and thick. They are looser fitting and run true to size.

Size Guide: True to size

• Brand: Gildan | Product ID: 5000
• Made with medium fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²)) consisting of 100% cotton for year-round comfort that is sustainable and highly durable.
• The classic fit of this shirt ensures a comfy, relaxed wear while the crew neckline adds that neat, timeless look that can blend into any occasion, casual or semi-formal.
• The tear-away label means a scratch-free experience with no irritation or discomfort whatsoever.
• Made using 100% US cotton that is ethically grown and harvested. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. This blank tee is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and quality assurance.
• Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Do not iron; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Tumble dry: low heat.