Eastman USAAF Vintage-Style Baseball Shirt, 3/4 Sleeve
Some AAF units and bases had their own baseball teams and their athletic apparel was often military-spec. and government issue. Our baseball shirt is the type typically worn on cooler days under the short-sleeve, button-front baseball shirt and has the classic three-quarter sleeves in the team color, in this case red. These "undershirts" have been forever popular worn on their own as just an outer shirt, and the detailing found on this copy is one you'll want to be seen wearing and not have mostly hidden under a baseball outer shirt.
The vintage baseball undershirts were manufactured to a standard back in their era that was very much the norm, utilizing circular tube-knitting machines that produced shirts with a perfect tube body and no side seams. Tube-knitting machines can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Even the most expensive designer sweatshirts will usually have a side seam - sometimes two seams! Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a sweatshirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way. It's cheap and easy to make shirts from a flat piece of cloth, and most customers would never notice the difference, though they may wonder why their not-so-cheap sweatshirt seemed to lose its shape after only a few washes - but now you know.
A year of meticulous research and development has gone into this baseball shirt that was copied from a vintage example. Japan is home to the masters of tube-knitting and we enlisted the great John Lofgren, master of vintage American clothing, to help bring this shirt to its insane levels of vintage perfection.
Please note the following vintage features found only on a shirt of this pedigree:
• Heavy-weight, all-cotton fabric for years of enjoyment under hard use
• All-cotton thread used throughout construction
• TUBE-Body construction utilizing vintage, wartime circular-knitting machines - there are no side seams
• Set-in sleeves
• #18 Toppushi yarn perfectly matched to the original vintage fabric
• The fabric is produced using a combination of two dying methods - sakizome (pre-dyed before weaving) and atozome (woven then dyed)
• Dying is performed in one location and sewing in another - very costly
• Exact copy of the original-style, printed-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Take a bite of old-time machismo and see how true baseball undershirts used to look and feel. Limited quantities available.
Sizes: 36 - 46. Please note that the individual modeling the shirt in the photos has a 38" chest circumference and he is wearing a shirt in size 40. Please our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Eastman USAAF Vintage-Style Baseball Shirt, 3/4 Sleeve
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: Please note that the individual modeling the shirt in the photos has a 38" chest circumference and he is wearing a shirt in size 40. Do NOT be put off by the product measurements of this shirt style because the shirt easily stretches out the moment you put it on due to the way it is knitted. The sizing on the baseball undershirts is trim if you wish to wear the shirts as originally intended - as an undergarment or to simply fit as if it was an undergarment. You can affect permanent stretching to any given shirt size by force stretching or simply wearing the shirt. Our listed measurements were taken loosely and every shirt we test fit has stretched effortlessly, so ordering up one size is the rule most individuals should apply to obtain a vintage fit, thus a chest circumference measure of 40" should take size 42 to be comfortable and maintain a vintage fit. If you want a looser fit, then go up two sizes if available.
Tip 1: Determine if you want to wear this shirt like traditional underwear (trim but reasonable), or looser than traditional underwear (with some excess fabric). For example: If your chest measures 40” and you want the shirt to fit more like traditional underwear (trim but not painted on), order size 42. If your chest measures 40" and you prefer a looser fit than traditional underwear, order size 44 (two sizes up). Most customers should order one size up to obtain a trim-but-reasonable fit (chest measures 40", order size 42). Only those who want a painted-on-look and/or those who are prepared to stretch the shirt should order a size equal to their chest measure.
Tip 2: Follow the instructions entitled “How to Use Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit” listed under the PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS tab for this product. After finding no substantive conflicts with your body measures obtained from the tab entitled BODY MEASURING and factoring the stretchability of the shirt fabric, order this garment in a size that one size larger than your chest circumference measure. If you prefer a roomier or longer fit, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size.
Tip 3: Please note that your chest circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another garment you may own from a different maker or even the same maker, so please take the time to obtain your true chest circumference measure so as to compare to our chart of measures; this will enable us to perform a better job getting you the right size and minimize your chances in having to deal with the hassle and cost of exchanges.
Please ask us for fitting advice if in doubt.
Tip 4: Individuals who prefer looser fits and/or those with a waist measure that is nearly equal to or greater than their chest circumference measure may jump up two sizes or may not find this shirt style to their liking (when we refer to waist measure, we do not mean your trouser size; we mean the actual circumference measure of your waistline at its widest point). If you are unsure of the size to order we will assist you; please contact us with the following information: Height, waist circumference measure, chest circumference measure, body weight, and the type of fit you prefer: Trim, roomy or oversized.
Eastman USAAF Vintage-Style Baseball Shirt, 3/4 Sleeve
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
The following table provides actual product measures. These measures are provided as an aid because, in conjunction with the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each product, they can sometimes be very useful when comparing the measurements from this garment to the measures of your body; however, acting as an armchair tailor should be done with caution, as well as with knowledge of other important areas of fit that are not displayed here. Armchair tailors frequently fail to take into account other significant elements that impact fit; following the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each garment on this web site is strongly suggested, which can be very useful in supplanting or supplementing the listed measures below.
Our measures were derived from averaging many garments of the same size from each specific size in the range of any given product, thus the measures provided are representative for each size but they may not be exactly what you will receive. Some fluctuation in size is normal and to be expected, especially in these garments that have been manufactured on vintage machinery using natural fibers; the vintage machinery and techniques that create sought-after looks and fabrics are also less precise than machines contemporary to the current era. Do NOT be put off by the product measurements of this shirt style because the shirt easily stretches out the moment you put it on due to the way it is knitted.
| Size | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | |
| Chest width | 15” | 16” | 17” | 18” | 19” | 20” | |
| Shoulder width | 14” | 14.5” | 15” | 16” | 17” | 18” | |
| Back length | 22” | 22.5” | 23” | 24” | 25” | 26” | |
How to Use the Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit:
1) Using the measurements listed for this product and information found under the tab entitled MEASURING GARMENTS to understand our measuring technique, please double the chest measure to obtain the total external chest circumference of this garment. For example: If the chest measure listed for size 40 is 17”, doubling this measure yields a 34” external chest circumference.
2) Measure your chest circumference as per the tab on this web site specifically addressing BODY MEASURING, then compare your chest measure to the chest measure of this product.
3) Underwear garments are cut in such a way that the wearer can require zero to even negative space in the shirt due to the stretch characteristics of the fabric. If your chest circumference is 40”, a product with a 17” chest width has a 34” external chest circumference and would provide no external room in this scenario (chest measures 40”, external chest measure of the shirt is 34”, thus 6" of negative external room would be realized, though the stretchability of the fabric needs to be considered, which can be substantial).
4) If desired, repeat the measuring comparisons for back length.
5) Compare your body measures to the listed garment measures and follow the advice found under the SIZING TIPS tab to obtain a good fit.
Sometimes-Problematic Way to Determine a Good Fit:
Due to differences in how even near-identical garments are cut by different manufacturers, it is not necessarily a good idea to compare the listed measures of this product to the measures of an existing, similar product in your wardrobe to determine the correct size to order in this product. Though such comparisons can indeed work some of the time, and maybe even most of the time, vast experience with and knowledge of the products we market has proven such practices will sometimes fail. This inaccurate measuring methodology doesn't factor in other key variables of fit relative to you and the garment that includes: Armhole opening, shoulder slope, high-point shoulder, high chest, width of sleeves at all points including the all-important elbow, waist measure, and the thickness, plumpness, and rigidity of the material the garment is made from, naming just some variables influencing fit that do not appear on any list of measurements for a garment or that a customer is likely to account for.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
A Good Fit:
This is highly subjective - what one person may think is too big, another may think fits perfectly. Some garments are cut quite generously and others are cut quite trimly. If comparing measurements of one of our products to another you may own, some individuals will surely find that none or maybe only one area of measure is commonly shared or remotely close to being the same. Ultimately, chest measure is the most important area to properly fit, then all other areas of measure will have to fall into place. And some individuals who are extremely tall may find that body and/or sleeve length are more important to accommodate than even chest measure.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
We strive to create a crisp fit between our products and the customer, and not a loose, sloppy look. If you prefer your clothing to fit more loosely, then we will do our best to work with you to that end, though, by the very nature of our product designs and fits it may not be possible to duplicate the slack looks found in many mainstream clothing brands even if you go up one or two sizes in our products.
