Chris Koch and Bad Luck Blue

If you have been reading this blog, you are probably aware that my favorite cap is "Bad Luck Blue."

Made only in 1994, the Philadelphia Phillies refused to wear it after consecutive losses.  Lenny Dykstra appeared on national television and dropped a few "Blues" into a shredder.

I probably have "Blue" in every size that was made and frequently give them out as gifts to Phillies fans.  I just received another version of "Blue", that I will

 not be giving away or wearing.  This version is going straight to a display case in my "hatatorium" as my wife calls it.

The cap was signed by Chris Koch, New Era President and CEO.  

Chris's grandfather, Ehrhardt Koch founded New Era in 1920.  What has Chris Koch implemented for New Era?

According to Wikipedia:

"In 2001 Chris Koch was named CEO and began an era focused on global expansion and building the New Era brand name across sport and lifestyle segments.
In 2007 the 59FIFTY cap underwent the largest redesign to date, the innovation team worked with suppliers and engineers to develop a cap that

keeps the wearer cooler, dryer and eliminates staining. The company then underwent a massive "market clean-up" of all older product. This trend of innovation and improvement would continue with the introduction of the purpose-built Diamond Era cap in 2013."

Along with the cap, a personalized note came along with "Blue", I don't fell right about sharing something that was personalized and not meant for public display....but it was a nice touch.

Possibly enough to make me start buying New Era caps again.

As it is written on the cap. Here's to Bad Luck Blue!"

The Throwback

I don't usually pay much attention to or  buy any throwback or "turn back the clock caps."

Until this little gem came along, which was made by the Roman Cap Company.

After a little research I had to but this cap.

Why did this cap grab my attention?

I had never seen it before and the tags indicated it was made in the early 90's.

Here's the story:  remember that the Minnesota Twins came into existence in 1961.

They Twins were not an expansion team. Minneapolis was awarded an expansion franchise but they  received  Washington Senators  instead.

The above cap is a "fauxback" based on this cap"

"In 1994, during the height of Texas' "we want an old uniform but we don't have one" days, the team did dip back into the uniforms of those Washington Senators but they were updated, ever so slightly.

Washington's famous "curly W" logo (currently used by the Washington Nationals) was transformed into a curly "T", the "Senators" script across the chest was re-done to read "Rangers" in the exact same style. They both represented their pre-relocation franchise history and their current home fans. An interesting idea, and from what I can tell they're the only team to ever do this for a throwback game."

Retro Classics

     While I do not usually buy them, I am interested when companies make a remake or retro versio of older baseball caps.

       Lids has a series called the Ebbets Field MILB collection.  Here are some of the recent releases          along with photos of the originals from my collection.


        Exhibit #1   Retro Syracuse Chiefs from 1977-1980.                                  

                                       
         Here is a picture of my Syracuse Chiefs cap:        

      The differences are very noticeable and the logo is not very close to the original.                                    Grade on this cap...D+



        Exhibit #2   Vero Beach Dodgers Retro Classic.

 

Here is a picture of the original:

I have to say that the original is not a sharp or detailed logo while the retro classic is very clear.  My grade..Solid B.



Exhibit # 3  Erie Sailors Retro

Here's the real McCoy worn by the Florida Marlins first ever minor league team in 1992:

You have to look closely but there are a few errors on a logo that is pretty simple.  I have to take points off for the stitching on the baseball on the retro and there is a "tm" logo on the retro that is not on the original.   Grade D+