Relive the final chapter of Waterbury baseball with this exclusive Waterbury Connecticut Spirit (1997-2000) vintage tee!
This premium throwback shirt celebrates one of the last professional baseball teams to call the "Brass City" home. The Waterbury Spirit were members of the independent Northeast League from 1997-1998 and the Northern League East from 1999-2000, playing their home games at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Connecticut, continuing the city's long baseball tradition that dated back to 1884.
Originally planned to be called the "Waterbury Wizards," the team changed direction when faced with a potential lawsuit from the Fort Wayne Wizards, instead adopting the "Spirit" name before their inaugural 1997 season. Despite being a new franchise, they showed competitive potential right away, making the playoffs in three of their four seasons of existence (1997, 1998, and 2000).
Their best regular season performance came in their first year (1997), when they posted a solid 44-42 record in the South Division of the Northeast League. They followed that up with a nearly identical 42-42 record in 1998 before struggling to a 25-50 mark in 1999. Despite their regular playoff appearances, the Spirit never managed to win a postseason series, being swept in the first round all three times they qualified. Following the 2000 season, the team suspended operations and remained dormant for two years before being revived by new owner Nicholas Lopardo, who relocated the franchise to Lynn, Massachusetts where they became the North Shore Spirit in 2003.
Our distressed, vintage-look design captures that authentic late-90s baseball nostalgia with a perfectly weathered, cracked appearance that looks like it's been in your collection since the team's playoff runs.
Product Details:
- Premium Gildan 5000 heavy cotton (5.3 oz, 100% preshrunk)
- Classic unisex fit available in sizes S-5XL
- Multiple color options available
- Tear-away label for maximum comfort
- Vintage design printed on front only (back is blank)
- Produced using cutting-edge direct-to-garment printing technology
Perfect for Connecticut baseball historians, independent league fans, or anyone who appreciates vintage memorabilia from the final era of professional baseball in Waterbury. Own a piece of "Brass City" sports history today!