One of the earliest Textile League baseball games was played in 1873 in Cokesbury, S.C.  Each team represented a specific textile mill or mill village and was a huge source of pride and daily discussion.  Heading into the 20th century, leagues were spreading throughout the state.  Not only were the games considered sporting contests, they also served as much anticipated social events attended by hundreds.

Fast forward more than 130 years and we find that the economic and social landscape has changed dramatically from those earlier times.  The mill villages, along with the textile companies, are largely gone.  The one constant throughout the years has been the game itself and the love affair between its players and fans.  No longer do hundreds flock to the stadiums, but rather thousands.  There is no better example than the Greenville Drive, member of the South Atlantic League, and affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Drive set a single-season attendance record in 2007 with more than 339,000 fans. 

After much anticipation, the Drive opened its first season on April 6, 2006 at what was initially called West End Field.   Since renamed Fluor Field at the West End, the Drive’s home is modeled after Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Fluor Field boasts its own “Green Monster,” a 30-foot high dark green wall in left field, and… true to its predecessor in Boston… the ballpark is equipped with a manual scoreboard.  It is not surprising that this venue was named 2006 "Ballpark of the Year" by Ballparks.com.

In 2007 OOBE entered into a alliance with The Greenville Drive to outfit all game day staff in OOBE apparel.  The hot summer days and occasional rain showers were a perfect match for OOBE’s legendary performance knit fabrics with Hydrovent™ moisture management and antimicrobial protection.  The Drive was able to consider a variety of styles and hues that allowed them to select a complementary palette of colors across the various roles.

After enjoying two years of this successful relationship, OOBE pitched the idea of a custom uniform for the Drive staff.  “Our hope was to provide one coordinated look for all Drive employees… from the ticket gate to security and concessions,” says Laura Anne Henson, OOBE Designer.  After several options were sketched and discussed, the Drive decided to stay with the Hydrovent fabric which had been so popular with the employees.  “The end result is an active look with style lines and piping prominently displaying the team colors of red, white, and navy blue,” says Henson.