Celebrate a legendary chapter in California baseball history with this vintage-inspired Gulls t-shirt. The iconic logo features a distressed, cracked finish that honors the team's brief but impactful legacy from 1986.
The Ventura County Gulls emerged as an exciting addition to the California League in 1986, established by local baseball figures Ken McMullen and Jim Colborn, both former Major League ballplayers from Ventura County, along with Jim Biby. The team was created when the trio acquired the dormant Lodi Crushers franchise and secured a Player Development Contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, bringing professional baseball to this coastal region north of Los Angeles. The Gulls played all their home games at Ventura College's baseball stadium, which notably had no lights, making them one of the few (possibly the only) minor league teams in the 1980s to play exclusively daytime home games.
Despite fielding a competitive team that finished with a 75-67 record and featured an impressive 14 future Major Leaguers, including All-Star pitchers David Wells and Jose Mesa, the Gulls' tenure in Ventura was short-lived. The team's fate was sealed by multiple challenges: the lack of a proper stadium with lights, the prohibition of alcohol sales at their college venue, and subsequently poor attendance (38,818 for the season, last in the California League). By July 1986, founders McMullen and Colborn had publicly given up on the franchise, and shortly after the season ended, the team was sold and relocated to San Bernardino, California, where they became the San Bernardino Spirit. Professional baseball has not returned to Ventura since the Gulls' departure.
Product Details:
- Premium Gildan 5000 t-shirt
- 5.3 oz, 100% preshrunk cotton for superior comfort
- Tear-away label for maximum comfort
- Classic unisex fit that works for everyone
- Available in sizes S-5XL
- Multiple color options available
- Front logo only (back is blank)
- Crafted using cutting-edge direct-to-garment printing technology for exceptional durability and detail
Perfect for baseball enthusiasts or anyone looking to own a piece of California sporting history. This shirt doesn't just celebrate a team—it commemorates a brief but memorable chapter in minor league baseball lore.