Majors — The Home of Defunct MLB & Federal League Throwbacks
Authentic Defunct MLB Franchise & Federal League Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL.
Majors is the definitive online destination for throwback jerseys, hats, t-shirts, and apparel from the great defunct major-league baseball franchises and the rival Federal League era. From the St. Louis Browns and Houston Colt .45's to the Seattle Pilots, both incarnations of the Washington Senators, and the eight 1914–1915 Federal League franchises that briefly made baseball a three-major-league sport — Majors at Royal Retros is the home of every major-league baseball franchise that left its city, folded, or rebranded into something new. Free name and number on most styles. Sizes S–5XL.
Shop by League
The Majors collection is your gateway to defunct MLB and the rival Federal League:
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Federal League (1914–1915) — The 20th century's only successful third major-league challenger: Brooklyn Tip-Tops, Buffalo Blues, Baltimore Terrapins, Chicago Whales, Indianapolis Hoosiers/Newark Pepper, Kansas City Packers, Pittsburgh Rebels, St. Louis Terriers.
Headline Defunct MLB Franchises
St. Louis Browns — Fifty-two seasons in St. Louis (1902–1953) before relocating to Baltimore as the Orioles. The franchise that gave us Eddie Gaedel (the 3-foot-7 pinch-hitter), Bill Veeck's most outrageous publicity stunts, the 1944 World Series appearance against the cross-town Cardinals, and seven of the all-time worst MLB single-season records. Beloved in St. Louis even now — the Browns Historical Society keeps the memory alive. Shop the Browns.
Houston Colt .45's — The original Houston MLB franchise (1962–1964) before the team rebranded as the Astros for the Astrodome's 1965 opening. Same franchise, but the .45's iconography and the original Colt Stadium era are a distinct chapter that fans still chase. Featured Bob Aspromonte, Rusty Staub's first MLB at-bats, and the Colt Stadium mosquito legend. Shop the Colt .45's.
Seattle Pilots — The 1969 expansion AL franchise. One season at Sicks' Stadium before bankruptcy forced a mid-spring-training relocation to Milwaukee, where they became the Brewers. Jim Bouton's Ball Four made the Pilots the most-documented one-season franchise in baseball history — and arguably the most-influential sports book ever published. Shop the Pilots.
Washington Senators — Two AL franchises called Washington home in the 20th century. The original Senators (1901–1960) gave us Walter Johnson, the 1924 World Series champions, and the line "first in war, first in peace, last in the American League." Relocated to Minnesota as the Twins. The expansion Senators (1961–1971) replaced them at RFK Stadium, featured Frank Howard's mammoth power hitting, and relocated to Texas as the Rangers. Royal Retros covers both eras. Shop the Senators.
Federal League (1914–1915) — Baseball's Third Major League
For two seasons in the mid-1910s, professional baseball had three major leagues. The Federal League launched in 1914 with eight charter franchises in major American cities and immediately became a serious challenger to the AL and NL by signing away dozens of established stars with significantly higher salaries. Hall of Famer Joe Tinker became the player-manager of the Chicago Whales. Three Finger Brown jumped to the Federal League. Hall of Famer Eddie Plank pitched for the St. Louis Terriers in 1915. The Indianapolis Hoosiers won the 1914 Federal League pennant; the Chicago Whales won 1915.
The Federal League ended in a settlement after the 1915 season: two Federal League owners bought NL/AL franchises (the Whales' Charles Weeghman bought the Cubs and built Wrigley Field, originally Weeghman Park; the Browns' Phil Ball took over the St. Louis Browns), the AL/NL absorbed the strongest Federal League players, and the rest of the franchises folded. The Baltimore Terrapins refused the settlement and sued under the Sherman Antitrust Act, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court — where Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes's 1922 decision in Federal Baseball Club v. National League established MLB's antitrust exemption that still stands a century later.
What You Can Shop
Defunct MLB & Federal League Jerseys — Full-button twill jerseys covering every defunct MLB franchise and Federal League team. Free name and number on most jerseys. Sizes S–5XL.
Defunct MLB & Federal League Hats — Snapback, fitted, and unstructured caps featuring period-correct logos.
T-Shirts & Hoodies — Soft cotton tees and pullover hoodies in every franchise's classic colorway.
Customization — Free name and number on most jerseys. Custom items are final sale.
Sizes — Small through 5XL on most styles. True family sizing.
Why Royal Retros Is the Home of Defunct MLB & Federal League
- Officially licensed throwbacks across every defunct MLB franchise and Federal League team we cover.
- Free name and number customization on most jerseys.
- Period-correct construction and colorways for every era.
- Sizes Small through 5XL — true family sizing.
- The widest selection of defunct major-league baseball apparel anywhere on the web.
- One-stop shop for the franchises that left their cities and the league that briefly made baseball a three-major-league sport.
Quick Buying Questions
What sizes are available?
Small through 5XL on most styles.
Can I customize?
Yes — most jerseys include free name and number. Custom items are final sale.
Is this officially licensed?
Yes. Royal Retros works with the proper licensors for defunct MLB and Federal League throwbacks.
How long will my order take?
Stock items ship within a few business days. Custom jerseys typically take 2–3 weeks because each one is sewn to order.
Why isn't the modern MLB in this collection?
Majors covers defunct MLB franchises and the Federal League era only. For modern MLB throwbacks we direct fans elsewhere.
The History of Defunct MLB & Federal League Baseball
Major-league baseball has been remarkably stable since the post-WWII era — only a handful of MLB franchises have folded or relocated since 1955. But the franchises that didn't survive in their original cities collectively produced some of the great chapters of baseball history. The St. Louis Browns produced Eddie Gaedel and Bill Veeck's wildest stunts. The Houston Colt .45's gave Houston its first major-league identity. The Seattle Pilots gave us Ball Four. The two Washington Senators franchises produced Walter Johnson and Frank Howard. Royal Retros honors all of that.
Why Defunct MLB Throwbacks Sell
Defunct MLB throwbacks are the connective tissue of regional sports identity. Baltimore Orioles fans know their franchise is the relocated Browns. Texas Rangers fans know their franchise is the relocated expansion Senators. Milwaukee Brewers fans know their franchise was born in Seattle. The throwbacks let fans honor the deeper history of franchises that have moved through multiple cities. They let St. Louis fans remember an era when the city had two MLB teams. They let Washington fans remember the original Senators that left for Minnesota and the expansion Senators that left for Texas — the city that lost two MLB franchises before the Nationals arrived in 2005.
The Federal League's Modern Legacy
The Federal League's two seasons left a permanent mark on baseball: Wrigley Field was built as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Whales in 1914 and is now the second-oldest MLB ballpark in continuous use. The 1922 Supreme Court antitrust decision established MLB's exemption that is still the foundation of the modern game's legal structure. Hall of Famers Joe Tinker, Three Finger Brown, Eddie Plank, and others spent significant late-career time in the Federal League. The throwbacks remain among the most striking baseball uniforms ever made — the Brooklyn Tip-Tops' bread-loaf logo (the team was owned by the bakers of Tip-Top bread) is one of the great cult marks in pro sports.
Why Majors Matters
Defunct MLB is the foundational baseball-as-American-sport history that the modern league only partially carries forward. Federal League is the rare third-major-league experiment that survived long enough to leave a permanent legal and architectural legacy. Royal Retros honors both. If you remember the Browns at Sportsman's Park, the Pilots at Sicks' Stadium, the Senators at RFK or Griffith, or the Houston Colt .45's at Colt Stadium — Majors is the home of your team.
Majors at Royal Retros — Defunct MLB & Federal League. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL.
