The Real McCoy's MC24002 Military Baseball Tee – Navy/Ecru

The MILITARY BASEBALL TEE / NAVY is a raglan sleeve tee made from an 8 oz cotton fabric and finished with a “US NAVY” rubber print. It was in 1815, that a British soldier named Lord Raglan lost his arm in battle and had a tailor create a custom sleeve that was easier to manoeuvre his arm through. The style has endured in garments that require greater articulation of the arm, in military, and sporting, and is now worn casually by many. Athletes began to adopt the style over a century ago, when raglan 3/4-length sleeve shirting was worn during work, activities, and sporting events where swinging the arm was required (like baseball), with players continuing to wear these under their uniforms to this day.

Military baseball found its origins at West Point Military Academy in 1863, marked by the formal establishment of regulations for cadet participation in 1867. As the sport gained popularity within the military, teams engaged in spirited competitions at colleges and universities nationwide, fostering camaraderie and healthy competition among military personnel.

In the winter of 1900-1901, leaders at West Point and Annapolis orchestrated a series of baseball games between the two academies. The Navy, having formed its first intercollegiate team in 1894, set the stage for the inaugural Army-Navy baseball game in the spring of 1901. The Army Cadets embarked on a journey to Annapolis, Maryland, for a spirited match against the Navy Midshipmen.

Beyond the military academies, the service branches continued their rivalry. Against the backdrop of World War I, the Army and Navy faced off in Rome, introducing the sport to Italian allies. On July 4, 1918, a pivotal championship game unfolded in London, famously known as "The King's Game," drawing attention from dignitaries such as King George V and Winston Churchill.

The fervour persisted into World War II, where Army-Navy games in Hawaii became a source of pride and widespread popularity, given the significant presence of both services in the region. In September 1944, Honolulu's Furlong Field in the 14th Naval District hosted the Servicemen's World Series. Furlong Field, built in 1943 near Pearl Harbour, where Japanese aircraft had wreaked destruction less than two years prior, became the historic venue for this event. The series featured a roster of well know players, including Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Billy Herman, Bob Lemon, Johnny Pesky, and Bob Kennedy, despite many ballplayers still awaiting demobilisation after Japan's surrender on September 2, officially ending World War II. The Navy emerged victorious in eight out of the 11 games in the series, with nearly 20,000 servicemen attending each match, solidifying the enduring legacy of military baseball.

• Cotton Fabric, 8 oz
• Cotton Sewing Thread Construction
• Rubber Print on Front
• Made in Japan

Model is 180cm, 77kg and wearing size M.