This premium Wilson Pennants Baseball tee celebrates a brief but fascinating chapter in North Carolina baseball history. The Pennants were the only professional baseball club from Wilson, NC in the 1970s or 1980s, playing in 1973 only in the Carolina League.
The team gained local popularity during their single season playing at Fleming Stadium, a historic venue built in 1938 as a WPA project at a cost of $75,000 and named for Allie W. Fleming, a major benefactor of the Wilson team. Despite their short existence, the Pennants made their mark on baseball history when a 22-year old named Steve Hardin hurled a perfect game for the Pennants against the Winston-Salem Red Sox on April 18th, 1973, striking out 12 and only allowing one ball out of the infield. The team had several notable players, including Tom Johnson, who went on to appear in 129 games for the Minnesota Twins between 1974 and 1978 and All-Star third baseman Dick Oliver who hit .269/~.358/.392, as well as utility man Jim Conn whose .315/~.400/.374 batting average was second in the league. Despite posting the league's worst record at 52-88, they were third in the six-team league in attendance (45,132), making it surprising that the club only lasted one season. After their single season, the Pennants moved to Hampton, Virginia in January 1974, and professional baseball never returned to Wilson.
Our reproduction features the team's iconic logo with an authentically distressed, cracked, vintage feel that honors the original design while giving it that perfectly worn-in look of a treasured game-day shirt from the early '70s.
Product Details:
- Printed on premium Gildan 5000 blanks
- 5.3 oz, 100% preshrunk cotton for comfort and durability
- Classic unisex fit suitable for all fans
- Tear-away label for maximum comfort
- Available in sizes S-5XL
- Multiple popular colors available
- Front logo only (blank back)
- Produced using state-of-the-art direct-to-garment printing technology
Perfect for North Carolina baseball enthusiasts, minor league memorabilia collectors, or anyone who appreciates the brief but memorable history of the Wilson Pennants.
Own a piece of North Carolina baseball history that lasted just one season but left an enduring legacy in the state's rich baseball tradition.