Birmingham Bulls Fan Shop

6 products

The Birmingham Bulls Collection — Royal Retros Birmingham Bulls Fan Shop

Authentic 1976–1979 Birmingham WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. Five Future NHL Hall of Famers.

Royal Retros carries the deepest Birmingham Bulls throwback collection on the open web — authentic 1976–1979 WHA-era jerseys, hats, T-shirts, hoodies, and Alabama hockey fan apparel honoring the franchise that signed five future NHL Hall of Famers as teenagers and brought major-league hockey to the Deep South. Mark Napier. Rick Vaive. Michel Goulet. Rob Ramage. Ken Linseman. The "Baby Bulls." Custom name and number on most jerseys. Sizes S–5XL with no big & tall upcharge. If you're looking for Birmingham WHA gear that respects the franchise's underage-talent legacy, this is the shop.

What You Can Shop in the Birmingham Bulls Collection

Birmingham Bulls Jerseys — Throwback hockey jerseys spanning the WHA-era Birmingham Bulls timeline (1976–1979). The original 1976 inaugural-season jerseys, the 1977–78 first-full-season designs, and the 1978–79 final-WHA-season "Baby Bulls" sweaters. Twill construction, period-correct sleeve striping, color-matched crests. Custom name and number available on most styles — make a Vaive #22 or Goulet #16 throwback your own.

Birmingham Bulls Hats — Snapbacks, fitted caps, dad hats, trucker styles, and unstructured caps featuring the Bulls' wordmark, the iconic bull-head logo, and Alabama hockey graphics.

Birmingham Bulls T-Shirts — Premium pre-shrunk soft-blend tees featuring vintage Bulls logos, "Baby Bulls" graphics, future-Hall-of-Famer callouts, and Birmingham hockey history designs. Sized for comfort across S–5XL.

Birmingham Bulls Hoodies, Sweatshirts, and Crewnecks — Heavyweight pullovers and crewnecks for vintage hockey collectors and Alabama sports fans.

Customization — Most Bulls jerseys can be personalized with your name and number. Free customization on eligible items. Pick a Bulls future-Hall-of-Famer's number — Mark Napier #11, Rick Vaive #22, Michel Goulet #16, Rob Ramage #5, Ken Linseman #13 — or your own. Custom items are final sale and made to order.

Sizes — Small through 5XL on virtually every product. We don't upcharge for big & tall sizes.

Why Royal Retros Is the Home of Birmingham Bulls Throwback Gear

  • WHA-era authenticity. Period-correct color values, proportions, and stitching for the 1976–1979 Bulls. The "Baby Bulls" era is one of the most underrated chapters in WHA history.
  • Authentic period-correct construction. Twill stitched crests on replica jerseys, sublimated fabrics on custom builds, period-correct sleeve striping and color blocking.
  • Free customization on most jerseys. Add your name and number at no extra cost on eligible items.
  • Sizes Small through 5XL. No big & tall upcharge.
  • Cross-shop the broader WHA collection for related franchises including the Toronto Toros (the Bulls' direct predecessor before the 1976 relocation) and the Ottawa Nationals (the franchise's original name in 1972–73).

Quick Buying Questions

What sizes do Bulls jerseys come in?

Small through 5XL on virtually every jersey style. We don't upcharge for big & tall.

Can I customize my Bulls jersey with a name and number?

Yes — most styles offer free customization. Look for the "Custom" option on the product listing. Custom items are final sale and made to order. Allow 7–10 business days for production before shipping.

What materials are Bulls jerseys made from?

Heavyweight twill on most replica jerseys, sublimated polyester on custom and remix styles, period-correct construction on select pieces. T-shirts are premium pre-shrunk cotton. Hoodies and sweatshirts are heavyweight cotton blends.

How accurate is the design?

Color palettes, lettering style, sleeve striping, and crest detail are all reproduced to match 1976–1979 game-worn references. Each design is vetted for period accuracy before we add it to the catalog.

How fast does it ship and what's the return policy?

Standard products ship within 3–5 business days. Custom items are made to order and ship within 7–10 business days. Custom items are final sale. Standard items follow our return policy at /pages/returns.

Gift Ideas for the Birmingham Bulls Fan in Your Life

Birmingham Bulls fans are a specific kind of fan — Alabama-rooted, deeply nostalgic about the Deep South's brief brush with major-league hockey, and dazzled by the future-NHL-Hall-of-Fame talent that the franchise signed before anyone else would. The Bulls fan deserves something that honors that legacy.

  • For the Birmingham native who watched at the Civic Center: A 1978 Bulls "Baby Bulls" jersey with Vaive #22 or Goulet #16 — the era of NHL-bound teenagers in WHA sweaters.
  • For the future-Hall-of-Famer collector: Custom jerseys for Mark Napier, Rick Vaive, Michel Goulet, Rob Ramage, Ken Linseman — five players who all became NHL stars after starting in Birmingham.
  • For the Deep South sports historian: Anything with the Bulls bull-head logo. Major-league hockey in Alabama in the 1970s is a story most sports fans don't know.
  • For the Mark Howe fan: Mark Howe brief Bulls connection (he played for the franchise's predecessor Toronto Toros 1973–76).
  • Year-round demand. Bulls nostalgia plays year-round. Hockey gift-giving is not seasonal.

What Were the Birmingham Bulls?

The Birmingham Bulls (1976–1979) were a major professional ice hockey franchise that played three seasons in the World Hockey Association as the Birmingham Bulls. The franchise's complete lineage runs from the 1972 Ottawa Nationals through the 1973–1976 Toronto Toros to the 1976–1979 Birmingham Bulls — all the same WHA franchise across three different cities. The Birmingham era is best known for the franchise's "Baby Bulls" strategy: signing teenage players the NHL refused to draft and watching them dominate WHA competition before becoming NHL Hall of Famers.

The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center and brought major-league hockey to Alabama for the first and only time in the state's history. The franchise's three-season run produced five future NHL Hall of Famers — Mark Napier, Rick Vaive, Michel Goulet, Rob Ramage, and Ken Linseman — all of whom signed with the Bulls as teenagers (some as young as 17 and 18) when the NHL still required players to be 20 or older. The Birmingham Bulls were never the WHA's most successful franchise, but they were arguably the most consequential in opening the door for underage talent.

The Birmingham Bulls Era-by-Era History

The Toronto Toros Era (1973–1976) — Predecessor. The franchise that became the Birmingham Bulls began as the Toronto Toros, who themselves had been the Ottawa Nationals in 1972–73. The Toros era featured Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson, and Vaclav Nedomansky — three of the most recognizable names in Canadian hockey wearing WHA red and white. Cross-shop the Toronto Toros collection for products from this era of the franchise.

1976 — The Birmingham Relocation. The Toros relocated to Birmingham, Alabama in 1976, becoming the Birmingham Bulls and bringing major-league hockey to the Deep South for the first time. The relocation was driven by the franchise's struggles to compete with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Toronto market, and ownership saw an opportunity to be the only major-league hockey franchise in the southeastern United States.

1976–77 — The Inaugural Birmingham Season. The Bulls played their first WHA season in Birmingham at the Civic Center. The inaugural roster included Mark Napier (one of the WHA's youngest players at age 19), and the franchise immediately focused on signing teenage talent that the NHL was refusing to draft. The season finished with a respectable record but the franchise missed the playoffs.

1977–78 — The Baby Bulls Strategy Emerges. The Bulls continued aggressive teenage signings: Rick Vaive (age 18), Michel Goulet (age 17), Rob Ramage (age 18), and Ken Linseman (age 19). The "Baby Bulls" — five teenagers playing major-league hockey — became one of the WHA's most distinctive identities. The team improved on the ice, made the playoffs, and proved that underage players could compete at the major-league level.

1978–79 — The Final WHA Season. The Bulls played their final WHA season with the Baby Bulls roster intact. The team made the playoffs but didn't advance deep. By season's end, all five future Hall of Famers had been drafted into the NHL — and the WHA-NHL merger forced them to disperse to NHL teams. The Bulls themselves were not selected for NHL admission and the franchise folded with the WHA's collapse.

1979 — The Folding. The Bulls folded along with the bulk of the WHA in 1979, with their players dispersed in the NHL expansion draft. Mark Napier went to the Montreal Canadiens. Rick Vaive went to the Vancouver Canucks. Michel Goulet went to the Quebec Nordiques. Rob Ramage was the first overall pick in the 1979 NHL draft (selected by the Colorado Rockies). Ken Linseman went to the Philadelphia Flyers. All five players became NHL stars.

The Five Future Hall of Famers Who Started in Birmingham

The Birmingham Bulls' lasting contribution to hockey history is the unprecedented number of future NHL Hall of Famers who began their professional careers in Birmingham. No other WHA franchise — and few NHL franchises in any era — produced a comparable rookie class.

Mark Napier (#11, 1976–1978). Power forward who joined the Bulls at age 19. Played two seasons in Birmingham before the merger sent him to the Montreal Canadiens, where he won three Stanley Cups (1979, 1986, with the Canadiens; later with Edmonton). 235 NHL career goals.

Rick Vaive (#22, 1978–1979). Right winger who joined the Bulls at age 18. The franchise's most prolific scoring teenager. Became the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to score 50 goals in a season (1981–82) — and the third NHL player ever to score 50 in 50 games at the time. 441 NHL career goals.

Michel Goulet (#16, 1978–1979). Left winger who joined the Bulls at age 17 — one of the youngest players ever to play major-league hockey. Became one of the NHL's all-time great goal-scorers with the Quebec Nordiques. 548 NHL career goals. Hockey Hall of Fame, 1998.

Rob Ramage (#5, 1978–1979). Defenseman who joined the Bulls at age 18. Became the first overall pick in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft (selected by the Colorado Rockies). Played 15 NHL seasons across multiple franchises, including a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989.

Ken Linseman (#13, 1978–1979). Center who joined the Bulls at age 19 after disputing the NHL's underage rules. Became one of the NHL's most respected playmakers. Won a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984.

The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center

The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (capacity ~17,000 for hockey) was the home of the Bulls during their three-season WHA run. The building remains the primary indoor arena in Birmingham today, hosting the SEC men's basketball tournament and various concerts. The Bulls' three-year tenure represents the only major-league hockey ever played in Alabama, though minor-league hockey has periodically returned to the city.

How to Identify Authentic Birmingham Bulls Throwback Apparel

  • Verify the WHA-era color values. Authentic Bulls red, white, and blue have specific Pantone-matched values. Off-color reproductions can drift toward maroon or navy.
  • Check for the WHA-era bull-head logo. The 1976–1979 Bulls used a specific stylized bull-head crest. Generic bull logos lifted from clip art are a tell that the seller doesn't specialize in WHA-era hockey.
  • Era-specific design matters. Make sure the throwback represents the actual Bulls (1976–79) and not a modern minor-league iteration of the Birmingham Bulls name.
  • For Baby Bulls customs: Period-correct WHA-era numbering used a specific font family. We use that family on Vaive #22, Goulet #16, etc.
  • Royal Retros standard: Every product in this collection is reviewed for period accuracy before it goes live.

More Frequently Asked Questions About the Birmingham Bulls

When did the Birmingham Bulls exist?

The WHA-era Birmingham Bulls existed for three seasons, from 1976 to 1979. The franchise's full lineage runs from the 1972 Ottawa Nationals through the 1973–1976 Toronto Toros to the 1976–1979 Birmingham Bulls. A separate minor-league Birmingham Bulls franchise existed in the ECHL/CHL in the 1990s and 2000s but is not the same franchise.

Who were the "Baby Bulls"?

The "Baby Bulls" were five teenage players the Bulls signed in 1977 and 1978 — Mark Napier, Rick Vaive, Michel Goulet, Rob Ramage, and Ken Linseman — when the NHL still required players to be 20 or older. All five became NHL stars or Hall of Famers.

Did the Bulls ever win a championship?

No. The Bulls never won the WHA's Avco World Trophy. They made the WHA playoffs in 1977–78 and 1978–79 but didn't advance deep.

What happened to the Bulls?

The franchise folded in 1979 along with most of the WHA. The Bulls were not one of the four WHA franchises selected for NHL admission in the 1979 merger. Their players were dispersed in the NHL expansion draft.

Did Royal Retros carry both the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls eras?

Yes. The franchise's full lineage is covered: Ottawa Nationals (1972–73), Toronto Toros (1973–76), and Birmingham Bulls (1976–79).

Where can I find related Royal Retros collections?

The Bulls connect to multiple collections: the broader WHA collection, the Legacy Hockey collection, the Historic Hockey collection, and our broader hockey collection.

WHA Cross-Shop

The Birmingham Bulls anchor the Deep South chapter of WHA history. Pair a Bulls jersey with:

Birmingham Bulls at Royal Retros — Authentic 1976–1979 WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. Five Future Hall of Famers.