Sprague's Junior League Baseball Shirt and Pants (1906)


Figure 1.-- Baseball in the late 19th and early 20th century was the dominant sport in America. All boys wanted to play baseball. We note an ad in the The Youth's Companion for Sprague's Junior League Baseball Shirt and Pants. The short and pants came in several colors and had a matcjing cap and snazzy red belt. The ad appeared just as the baseball season was about to get underway.

Baseball in the late 19th and early 20th century was the dominant sport in America. All boys wanted to play baseball. We note an ad in the The Youth's Companion for Sprague's Junior League Baseball Shirt and Pants. The short and pants came in several colors and had a matcjing cap and snazzy red belt. The ad appeared just as the baseball season was about to get underway.

Sprague

The outfit was made by the Fred'k H. Sprague Co., 60 Main STreet, Orance, Mass. Ither than this ad and the address, we know nothing about this company.

The Youths' Companion

An advertisement for Sprague's Junior League Baseball Shirt and Pants appeared in The Youth's Companion March 26, 1906, p. 149. The publication described itself as "An Illustrated Weekly Paper For Young People and the Family." It was established in 1827. The magazine was published in Boston, Massachusetts, by the Perry Mason Company, 201 Columbus Avenue. It appeared under this title until 1929. It was in the late 19th century one of the most popular weekly periodicals in America and known for the quality of the writing. The magazine catered to teen-age boys and girls especially, containing articles on sports, on hobbies, and on various literary and cultural interests. But it was really a family magazine and had many advertisements for clothing, both adult and children's. The magagazine had a very strict policy about the advertising carried because its readers were mostly children.

Baseball

Baseball in the late 19th and early 20th century was the dominant sport in America. All boys wanted to play baseball. There were other sports, but it was baseball that captured the popular imagination.

The Garment

We note an ad in the The Youth's Companion for Sprague's Junior League Baseball Shirt and Pants. The short and pants came in several colors and had a matcjing cap and snazzy red belt. The ad appeared just as the baseball season was about to get underway..

Ad Copy

The ad copy reads: "Sprague's `Junior League' Baseball Shirt and Pants. Exact copy of suits worn by the big leagues. For baseball, school or play. Blue or grey flannel, fast colors. Just the thing for school and class teams. Ask for the `Junior League' where you buy your clothes. Sent post-paid (shirt and pants) for 95 cents. Cap to match and Red Belt 20 cents additional. Money refunded if not satisfactory. Sizes 8 to 16 years. Give color wanted, and size of last suit of clothes. Fred'k H. Sprague Co., 60 Main STreet, Orance, Mass."







HBC






Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main 1906 catalog page]
[Return to the Main 1900s catalog pagepage]
[Main photo/publishing page] [Store catalogs] [Fashion magazines]



Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Cloth and textiles] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Topics]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] Images [Satellite sites] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]



Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor hats] [Sailor suits] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Kneepants] [Knickers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Pinafores] [Long stockings] [Underwear]



Created: 3:54 AM 2/6/20055
Last updated: 3:54 AM 2/6/2005