RIP Keith Jackson

Very sad to hear that Keith Jackson has passed away.

When I read the news today in my local paper, the article mentioned that he coined the terms: "Grand Daddy of them all" (Rose Bowl), "Big House" (Univ. of Michigan Stadium), and "Big Uglies"(offensive linemen).

This got me thinking about baseball caps and the vernacular that is known amongst collectors.

Somebody gave these caps a nickname that stuck.

"Bad Luck Blue"

This Phillies alternate cap was worn only in 1994 for a few games before the players refused to wear it.

"Ice Cream Man"

Worn in 1997 only this Mets Alternate cap is well know amongst collectors.

"Taco Bell"

Introduced for the first time in 1972, these caps are wildly popular and recognizable.  When Steve Garvey was signed in 1982, he stated that this cap makes people believe that he works at Taco Bell.

"The Brayzer"

Worn by the Tampa Bay Rays on a road trip in August of 2010.

I love this cap.

Here are a few nicknames that I would like to suggest:

"Polar Bear"

Worn in April 13-21 in 1976  by the White Sox on a road trip, this cap was banned by MLB because opposing hitters could not pickup up the ball against the backdrop of this cap.

"Good Luck Blue"

Introduced in 1989, as a road cap, the Blue Jays  stopped wearing the traditional white and blue cap in July of  1993 because of bad play.  The result?  A World Series Championship.

"Photo Negative"

Introduced by the Mets in 1998 and worn as an alternate until 2012.  I could never get myself to like these colors let alone wear them.

"Justin Beiber"

Why?  Well...this cap just looks like it has not entered puberty yet.  It was worn by the Angels from 1997-2000.

"Cherub"

She debuted in 2002 and also won a World Series.

"Coma"

I don't know how else to say it...dull and boring.

It debuted in 1998.

"Cool Breeze"

The Rays were able to conquer their identity issues that they were struggling with and introduced this cap in 2008.  The "Devil" was dropped and the light blue color suggests relief from the hot Tampa weather.

I would call this cap "Dances with facts" as you would not be able to find Twin Cities on any map of Minnesota.  I do love the logo and understand the meaning behind it.

Syracuse Chiefs and The Ideal Cap Company

It's safe to say that I could be described  as an outlier.

  If you are reading this, you are keenly aware that I appreciate baseball caps and logos on a different level than most.

For some reason, which I haven't been able to figure out yet, I'm fixated on how the baseball cap has weaved it's way into the American fabric in such an authentic way. 

While  most cap  companies are producing caps to embody fashion and entertainment, I'm simply not  interested.

                                          

To me, a baseb
all cap is  an artifact that gives a sense of pride.

Try this on for size:  "a baseball cap is a circular chunk of hot

smoking conscience."

 Most people wear a baseball cap  without a utilitarian purpose.  Do MLB baseball players even need them? Most games are played at night.

Let's get to the point.

The Ideal Cap Company recently released the Syracuse Chiefs from 1982.

I purchased it the first time I saw it on the webpage.

If  a reproduction cap fulfills the task of being accurate and marks a moment in time while still being distinctive...I want it.

Ideal's Chief's cap checks all the boxes.

My New Era 1980 (game used) is on the left, Ideal Cap Company on the right.

And we didn't get to the details and the quality of the cap.

All wool, leather band with green underbrim.

Here is the description  from Ideal's catalog:

"There isn't a more common graphic in all of sport than the Native American, either as chief, brave, Indian, redskin, warrior or Blackhawk. There's even a Swedish hockey team called the Frölunda Indians. This month's cap is the finely stitched, alternate front color cap of the 1982 Syracuse Chiefs.

It is one of the many sports logos using war bonnet designs, headdresses of great spiritual and political importance to be worn only by those who have earned the right and honor to do so. Not sure the Chiefs earned that honor ‘82.

They were established in 1934, when the Jersey City Skeeters moved to Syracuse, have played in the International League ever since, with only a 5 year hiatus in the late 1950’s and won eight championships.

Our cap is from their glory years at MacArthur Stadium as Toronto's farm team. All wool white and navy cap, Embroidered Logo, Leather Sweat Band."

Why does Ideal Cap Company get it when the other companies don't?

I did a little digging and learned about the owner and founder, Will Arlt.  I figured he would have an interesting background.  The internet tells me he was a philosophy student, music engineer, and vintage clothing impresario before he became obsessed with antique baseball caps.

"Will’s gateway hat was Walter “Big Train” Johnson’s blue and gray Washington Senators cap that he saw at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. “I’d been in vintage clothing in New York for quite some time and I began to collect old woolen caps…take them apart by hand…redo the logos and put little visors on them,” he says.
“Everybody bought ‘em and I bought sewing machines and made them by hand and…one thing led to another.” It was the early 1980’s, and that one thing that led to another led to the creation of the Cooperstown Ballcap Co., and the rest is history. Literally." (Heddels 2015).

Outlier: a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system.

Check out Ideal Cap Company 

Food Obsession

In 2017, there was an explosion in Minor League food related caps.

The Rochester Red Wings became the "Plates" for one day in homage to a dish that is unique to the area.

The Red Wings are  the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.

Charlotte Pitmasters who are usually the Charlotte Knights and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Wiktionary tells me that a pitmaster is a term of respect for someone who is skilled at barbecuing.

The Sacramento Tomatoes, who are usually the River Cats, joined the party with this homage to their local vegetable.

The River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the an Francisco Giants.

The list could go on and on.  
I'm not saying that I do not like the concept.  

             

But who started this?  I had to investigate.
I have to start here:

The internet tells me that employees of the Wilmington Blue Rocks found a celery costume in the bowels of the stadium before the 2000 season. 

Sometime during that season, an employee decided to run onto the field and do a "celebration dance" when the Blue Rocks scored a run.

I have attended a Wilmington game and witnessed this first hand...it is something.

The crowd loved it and so did New Era. Celery Man would sell  as a Batting Practice Cap for the Blue Rocks..

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are an Advanced-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

In 2004, the Orlando Rays relocated to Montgomery, Alabama.  In a name the team contest, the Montgomery Biscuits came out on top.  This was a historic move in the industry.

 

While most logos and names are developed by Brandiose, the internet gives credit to Professional Marketing Services for this creation.

Fast forward to Reading, Pennsylvania to the 2012 Eastern League All-Star Game.

This is where "Bunbino" would make his debut.  The Reading Fightin Phils would wear this cap on road games.

Reading plays in an older stadium and has a long standing relationship with the Phillies. Not to mention a history of conservative on-field caps.

Where would the idea for this cap come from? 

At every Reading home game, this character charges out on the field and whips hot dogs into the stands.                                                  

The "Crazy Hot Dog Guy" is wildly popular and in some way fits into "Bunbino's creation.

  It's worth mentioning that Reading would even feature the ostrich in an on-field cap.

In 2014, the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs  would get involved and take this promotion/concept to a new level.

The Ironpigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies

and began play in 2008 at Coca-Cola field in Allentown, PA.

2015 saw the Fresno Grizzlies become the "Tacos"  This was wildly popular  amongst cap collectors and not lost on the Grizzlies or New Era.

 "Taco Tuesday"still continues and a new version of the cap is produced yearly.

In 2017, The Ironpigs and Grizzlies promoted a twitter war...even though they never play each other.

 Fightin Bacon vs,  Fightin Taco.

I have to give the Ironpigs credit for the 2016 "Salute to Philadelphia" Night in 2016.

They produced logos of the cap "With Onions" and "Without Onions"

I was disappointed when they used the same logo in 2017 for the "Whiz Kids" promotion.

 

Montgomery would offer this to fans in the Spring of 2017:

And last but not least....Reading would become the "Whoopie Pies" in August of 2017.

Where will this end?

My predictions is that we will see MLB teams adopting  this very shortly.

Don't believe me?  The seed has already been planted (not by me).

My favorite is Seattle.  If you have some other info....please email me so I can update the post.

Thanks for reading   :)

Happy New Year!

I hope you are doing better than me.

The new year has only brought heartache. 

My wife seems to be more serious than usual  about wanting a divorce.

So much so, that I have started to look into online dating.

A certain on-line dating site suggests that I should be expected to search for possible matches in the age range that is half my age plus seven.

Hmmm...that means that I can date 27 year olds.

I like this.

I'm going to wear a newer on-field cap that will make me look younger.  That'll attract 'em.

The D-backs introduced this in 2016.  Black and red would go well with my dark features, but I am a little worried that the logo might scare the ladies away.

This Orioles cap was introduced in 2005 and while I would look handsome in it I'm afraid the logo contains subliminal sexual innuendo.

In 2006, this cap made it's debut as an alternate cap for the Braves.  I think I would do well with a southern belle.

This on-field cap was introduced in 1997 and worn until 2007.  This would represent me well, as I love the Phillies and would attract young "phillies" in the 27-30 age range.

:)