The New Office (almost completed)

It's been three months since I posted my last entry here. Just a lot going on with the new baby, moving, etc... One of the things I started doing just before the baby came, in anticipation of the move which took place in April, was beginning the drawn out process of dismantling my old cap wall.

I was rather proud of that wall, as it was what I felt was a rather ingenious design, especially once I constructed the bridge over the door. It was rather heartbreaking knowing that I would not be able to replicate this at the place where we were moving. Alas, I had to say goodbye.

The way we were...

But now as we've nearly almost settled into our new space, I've had some requests to show how the new cap wall was coming along. I'm quite proud of it. First of all, it is a larger space providing for almost an additional 60 caps on the walls. Instead of being on adjacent walls, they are on opposite walls. I wasn't sure if I'd like that considering how much I liked my previous iteration (not that I had much choice) but I'm pretty happy with it. I can even add a larger version of my coveted bridge if I ever feel the need, but let's pace ourselves here.

I didn't want to post anything until it was complete. Two months later it's still not 100% finished, but enough to where one could get the gist of it.

So here it goes.

Room for expansion.

So this is what you'd see if you were walking into the office space. Eventually that unsightly cord will be hidden by more shelves and more caps. This is what I refer to as the 'B' wall, only because it has the end of the alphabet in my Minor League collection. Oh, and to the right is an actual desk in case I want to do actual office type work.

The 'A' wall. And some of my other collectibles.

This is the primary cap wall. 15 caps high and 15 caps long. This was exactly how I pictured this wall when I first saw this room. I entertained putting caps on this adjacent wall but it was much too short. Instead I adorned it with some of my favorite collectible pieces.

I've got my Lake Elsinore Storm jersey (#19 of course) My Visalia Oaks jersey (also #19)  I framed these particular jerseys because they represent different phases of my interest in minor league baseball. I was a HUGE Storm fan from 1994-1996 before various significant life events necessitated a change in priorities.

By the time I picked it back up, Lake Elsinore had changed logos and affiliations, so I started rooting for Visalia due to their affiliation with the Rockies. Now, of course I root for Modesto in the Cal League.

Between the jerseys is my autographed Louisville Slugger signed by the entire 2003 High Desert Mavericks baseball club. You can check. Nobody of note was on that team. It was quite the controversy that the Brewers refused to send their top prospects to Adelanto, so we missed out on seeing on all the guys who are now big names. 

Also on this wall is a replica Interstate 19 sign. As much as I'd like to say I traveled to Tucson and acquired this sign in the dark of the night, it is not so.

My authentic lighted Chevron sign. One of those things I just decided I had to have. These are now worth quite a bit more than what I paid for it. You never know.

And finally, my framed print of the Beach Boys Smile album, autographed by the artist, Frank Holmes. More on that in another blog.

The 'A' wall in its entirety.

As I mentioned, 15x15. This covers miscellaneous caps on the top shelf, my NBA collection, NCAA, NFL, NHL, MLB and the beginning of MiLB with some other caps in between. My solitary CFL and English Premiere League caps, as well as the only Negro League cap I own. When I acquire new caps that belong on this wall, well it takes up an afternoon to get everything in its right place.

The 'B' wall in its entirety.

This wall covers minor league baseball until the end of the alphabet. I don't have these all displayed yet, which is why it ends with Visalia. Also, I noticed that for some reason Reno, Riverside and Salem all ended up on the wrong shelf somehow. I just opted not to take another picture. This wall eventually will end with various independent league baseball teams.

The hidden corner.

Usually I have the door open, but in the instance where I don't, I have these displayed. My framed newspapers from when the Senators won their first playoff series in 1998 and when the Rockies advanced to the World Series in 2007. I've got another Highway 19 sign, this one from 1920s Texas, or so I was told. I also have this new display case where I keep my autographed baseballs and pucks. Included I have various minor league players. I do have Jim Abbott, Reggie Jackson, Darin Erstad and Fernando Valenzuela. The latter two I acquired myself at Maverick Stadium when Erstad was drafted and assigned to Lake Elsinore in 1995. Fernando was at a game in 2005 watching his son playing. The signed pucks I have are a Uwe Krupp Red Wings puck and a Wilf Paiement puck. I have this thing for the NHL Colorado Rockies, as you might notice. Oh, also a New Era burlap bag filled with Cal League baseballs. The cowboy hat is a family heirloom given to my by my stepdad.

These are all throwbacks. Weird.

There was a time in the 90s when I referred to this (in another location) as my Wall Of Shame. Funny because between 2006 and 2007 all three of them made their respective league championships. And lost.

This space would be where the 'bridge' would go if I ever need extra space.

Some oldies but goodies.

In the corner above my desk I have this awesome Coca-Cola lamp and the pennants of the first two sports teams I ever fell in love with. More on that another time.

Where it all began.

Here in the case is the first fitted cap I ever owned. My father bought me this cap on my birthday in 1989 at Anaheim Stadium. Doesn't fit me anymore, but it has a lot of special meaning to me. Stacked on top are the caps awaiting a shelf. The one on the end there is an adjustable Coors cap that I had gotten for my dad. I got it back after he died and I just like having it around. I think that griffin logo would make a pretty sweet fitted.

Yes, that's an XBOX and a Dreamcast.

Inside the closet is where I have my little tv situated. When the kids are watching whatever Disney stuff they're watching, I can be up here watching my game. Also tucked in there is my Recap Kit, and an old New Era shaping block I acquired from them many, many years ago which has been invaluable to me. And of course, the New Era mat.



Well, that concludes the tour of the new and improved office. The space is bigger, it's actually not as cluttered as my previous space. I have room for expansion, and I can close the closet door to make it look even cleaner.

The only downside, if you want to call it one, is that unlike the last place, I have no practical way to photograph the entire collection in a single panoramic shot. But it is what it is, and I'm pretty proud of it.

Hope you enjoyed it, and if there's any particular cap you have a question about or want to see up close, just let me know. Either comment here or hit me up on Twitter @interstate19

Once the wall is complete I will post an updated picture.

Cap Collector's Creed

I started collecting caps approximately 20 years ago. I actually acquired my first cap in 1989, but as far as thinking I had a burgeoning hobby, that didn't come until a few years later. I had my fitted New Era California Angels cap and a few other non-fitted caps made by who knows who. Didn't matter, I just liked to wear a hat once in a while just like my father did. I remember I had a few adjustable Sports Specialties caps, as well as an adjustable Snapple Beverages cap I got from a beer vendor when I worked grocery in 1992.  I still have that one.

That next year two significant events occurred in sports to up the ante, so to speak: Major League Baseball expanded by two teams, and I became a hockey fan. In March of 1993 I headed out to my local sports apparel store and picked up the fitted New Era caps of the newest members of the National League, the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins. I had decided that I was going to root for the Rockies (I have family in the vicinity) and the all-teal Marlins cap just looked cool to me. So my fitted collection was at 3. That same year I "discovered" hockey and developed an affinity for the Ottawa Senators. I started collecting any cap of theirs I could find. This was pre-internet, so it was literally anywhere I went if I saw a Senators cap, I grabbed it. I even mail ordered a promotional cap offered on the back of a Frosted Flakes cereal box. (yes, like stuck the UPC barcode in an envelope and mailed it)

Along with a spattering of other caps I had, by 1995 I had quite the stable of sports caps. I added a Seattle Seahawks New Era fitted around that time, as well as a few minor league baseball caps. I kept my caps hung on push pins on my wall. It wasn't much, and I wasn't trying to impress anyone. But it was my collection and it made me happy.

And that was all that mattered.

By 1996 I started receiving StarStruck catalogs (minor league cap bible) and I was ordering a few caps not out of team loyalty, but because they just looked cool. It started getting out of control, and by 1997, when I moved into my first apartment, I was storing them stacked on the kitchen cabinets. (it actually looked cool) People would visit me and say "damn, you have a lot of caps" and it was probably 25-30. Again, I wasn't trying to impress anyone. It was my collection and it made me happy.

That's all that mattered.

I'll stop there, but the reason I bring up this little history lesson is because within the past month or so I've been giving some thought to cap collecting and what exactly makes a collection. People have seen my collection and I've gotten numerous compliments as well as a generous helping of criticism for various reasons. Since I opened up my collection to social media I've met a number of people, some of whom I consider more friends now than acquaintances, who collect caps just as enthusiastically as I do. There's Matt from New Jersey, whose blog about his cap collection really inspired me to open up and realize I'm not alone. There's Angel from Las Vegas, who to date has the single most impressive collection I've ever seen. Well over 1100 unique New Era caps, significantly more than I have, all meticulously shelved and organized. He was actually the subject of a New Era video that they featured on their website in 2012. There's Ben from Oregon, who is obsessive about having as many caps as possible representing every major league baseball team. His caps are mounted on his wall alphabetized in columns. He has a few hundred, fewer than I have (for now), but the depth of knowledge he has on his caps is beyond admirable, it is downright jealously-inducing. I have other people I know who are just as passionate about their collections who have as few as 10 caps. I love interacting with these people because it's awesome knowing that I'm not alone in my devotion to the fitted.

The lot of us, and I'm sure there are dozens more like us, are kind of this cool little non-exclusive club. When someone posts a picture of their collection, even if it's just six hats sitting on a dresser, I never think "damn, son, you got a long way to go before you're in my league." I don't, because I was that person at one time. I was excited about my 10 caps hung on push pins on the wall in my room.

I talk about and post pictures of my caps on Facebook and Twitter because I love talking about them. I love looking at them, and I always believe there are other people out there who feel the way I do and like to see the pictures of my caps. Likewise, I love to see what other people have in their collections. I enjoy seeing the pride people take in their passion.

There's sort of an unwritten cap collector's creed that says it's not the size of the collection, but the size of the passion a person has for their collection. Any jackass can hit up their local cap retailer or order caps from a website and have a large collection, but it's not a competition. It's not about who has the most. I have infinitely more respect for the person who has 6 caps that they really really love and can't stop talking about the story behind each of those caps as well as which caps they plan on getting next, as opposed to the person who just boasts that they have a lot of caps and wants to be noticed for that fact. Much like these other people I mentioned earlier, we busted our asses to get our collection to get it where it is, whether it's 8 or 800. We're proud of what we have, and there's a kind of unspoken admiration we all have for each other. I try and help out if someone is looking for a certain cap, and I've had people do the same for me. We are a community. We stick together. That's just how it works.

To us who collect for the love of what we collect, that's all that matters.

Why I Root For: Manchester United

Okay, so I'm just gonna knock out this one real quick, because there honestly aren't a lot of people who care about this sport stateside. But those that do feel very passionate about it, which is cool. I'm speaking of football, or as we Americans refer to it, soccer.

I'm serious. Quick. Name the first three things that come to mind when you hear the word "soccer"

1) Pele, because everyone knows who Pele is.

2) That dude with the big frizzy orange fro.

3) That chick who ripped her shirt off after winning some supposedly important game.

NOTE: If you're actually a fan, then this likely doesn't apply to you. But you probably still thought of #3.

Anyway, as a youth I actually played soccer for about two weeks before I got kicked in the shins a few too many times and decided it wasn't for me. I love my father, but that was one thing I feel in hindsight he let me off the hook waaaaaay too easy. I wish I'd stuck with it. The game was fun, and the orange slices and Capri Suns were always a nice perk.

So granted for most of my life I didn't give two craps about the sport, but like most people on the planet I sure enjoyed watching the World Cup Finals. Still didn't really care, but it was fun.

It seems that nobody in the U.S. cares about it until the World Cup rolls around. There was 2002 when the U.S. squad upset heavily favored Portugal and that was a big deal. That is until the guy announcing the game for ESPN (I'm speaking of Jack "Ass" Edwards) tried to secure his place in the Great Sports Announcers Hall of Fame by exclaiming in self-important fashion, as time was winding down (or up, in soccer) and the U.S. team was headed toward a major upset, "mine eyes have seen the glory!" and I just wanted to slam my head against the wall because he ruined this great victory saying something so stupid. I imagine he had that one planned out in case he ever got to call a big game, thinking his line was worthy of such beauties as "do you believe in miracles?" and "I don't believe what I just saw!" Soccer actually took a step back that day because of him.

NOTE: Edwards now does play-by-play for the NHL Boston Bruins on NESN, so he gets to annoy me any time my Senators play them.

Noted columnist Dave Berry once wrote about soccer, and I'm paraphrasing, that it was lame because it's played on a field the size of Kansas and that 90% of the games end in a 0-0 tie. 

But I digress. Soccer is honestly a second-tier sport with me. I don't have the passion about it as I do for hockey, baseball or football. But it's fun to watch and I truly do enjoy it. But it has to be English Premiere League, not that weird experimental MLS, which I just cannot get into. (though I do root for the Colorado Rapids)  Major League Soccer is to the EPL what single-A baseball is to Major League Baseball. Just a whole other level of competition.

So as for how I came to root for Manchester United, it was during the summer of 1988 when I even first became aware of English football. A friend of mine was watching it at his house one morning, and out of curiosity I watched with him. I don't remember who was playing, but I asked him one question: Does Manchester have a team?

Now, why is this important to me? At that time I was well down the path of earning my alternative musical education. After growing up on a steady diet of Top 40 and classic rock, I started to become a fan of the band New Order, and as a result of that, Joy Division. (to this day, two of my favorite bands) But at that time, it was a full-on obsession for our little group of friends as we all liked those bands. And as they hailed from Manchester, it was natural that I would ask that particular question. Hell, I didn't know anything about England in a geographic sense other than London. But at that time it was Manchester that was important. So again, I asked the question: Does Manchester have a team?

His response was that indeed they did. Manchester United. As a follow-up I asked if they were any good. He said yeah, they were alright. So in the summer of 1988 I decided that I was going to root for Manchester United.

Of course, pre-internet there was no way I was getting any information about Manchester United results or anything. In fact, it didn't even become an issue until I met a girl who would become my girlfriend for a period, and she revealed herself to be a fan of what was by the 1990s referred to as the English Premiere League. I told her that I was a fan of Manchester United and her response was something like a prolonged fit of retching noises. She said that liking them was similar to liking the Yankees. In fact, she said they were the Yankees of the soccer world. Everybody hated Manchester United because of it, and now that I think about it I may have been accused of being a bandwagoner. Once I told her my story and claimed that I had no knowledge of their money and success, I guess that made it okay. Her team was Arsenal, so they became the arch-enemy. It didn't help that they wore jerseys with Sega Dreamcast as the sponsor, as I was a big fan of that video game system. However, it did help that ManU routinely kicked Arsenal's arse. (see what I did there?)

Even though that girl is no longer a part of my life I still dislike Arsenal just out of habit. Manchester United has won seven Premiere League titles since I started following them and are well on their way to another one this season. It's a brief and silly story, but it's mine.

As for the gear, I own three ManU jerseys. One black Ruud Van Nistelrooy #10 (Vodafone), a green goaltenders jersey, blank (Vodafone) and a red Ronaldo #7 (AIG). I don't have a current sponsor jersey but am working on it.

I do have one very important New Era cap. I busted my ass trying to find this cap, and was finally able to secure two after seeing it available on ManU's official shop site. Yes, I had to buy two. I knew I'd never see one again, and so far that has been the case.

Perhaps the rarest cap in my collection.

I'm always on the hunt for another one, maybe another style, but for the time being I'm pretty happy with this cap. When I wear it out I usually get a comment or two. I'm pretty proud of it.

I watched Manchester United blank Everton this morning two-nil as they pulled out to a 12 point lead with 12 games remaining. Not bad for a team that in all honesty I started following almost at random. I'm just glad Joy Division was from Manchester. Lucky with that one. My friend could have answered my question in 1988 by saying Manchester City. Yes, they are the defending champions, by backing into it, but not the same thing.

And also the Gallagher brothers like City. That's reason enough not to root for them. Glory Glory Man United!!

Bakersfield: An Appreciation

There was a time when I routinely traversed the Southern California landscape, attending dozens of minor league baseball games. These were mostly centered around my home based out of various locations in the High Desert. I'd typically attend High Desert Mavericks games, which were the most local, followed by games in Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino. In the mid-90s I also attended the occasional game in Lake Elsinore (which was the team I rooted for at that time) and Riverside. These were all Southern Division teams in the California League. Being that the Northern Division teams were based in Modesto, Visalia, San Jose and Stockton, it wasn't likely I was going to make that trip without looking into booking a room at the Motel 6 first. However, in 1995 I got the brilliant idea that Bakersfield was only two hours away. I could pull that off. I'd seen the Bakersfield Dodgers a couple of times, but never had I seen the newly minted Blaze. So after consulting the schedule to see when the Storm were visiting, I took a ride up CA-58.

So what did I know about Bakersfield? Well, growing up in the desert burg of Barstow and living particularly close to California State Highway 58, I was very familiar with the name, because there were signs all around that looked something like this:

Middle of nowhere

The sign my school bus drove by every day stated that Kramer Junction was 29 miles west, Boron was 69 miles west, and Bakersfield was a mind-numbing 129 miles west of Barstow down CA-58. That would take approximately two hours driving at 60 miles an hour. (I was a math nerd as a kid) It wasn't until a friend of mine in high school stole his parents' car that we decided on a whim to travel to Bakersfield. After my friend made an ill-timed passing attempt almost killing us in a head-on collision just west of Kramer Junction, I vaguely recall hitting up a mall and purchasing a cassette single by Nu Shooz. (don't ask, it was 1988 and we had limited funds) It would be seven more years before I head down that highway again.

So I thought I had some pictures of the day I saw the Blaze/Storm game in 1995, but I don't. I remember being impressed with the facade of Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark, which had murals of some past Dodgers greats who had apparently graced the field at one point. I recall not being impressed with the ballpark itself, which after spending my time at games played in brand new ballparks seemed ancient. I do remember being able to get a seat right next to the Storm dugout, which was pretty cool.

$5 for that seat? What a bargain!

I don't even really recall being impressed by the fact that the ballpark is literally backwards, as in the sun sets over the outfield wall. More on that later. As I write this now, 18 years later, what I recall most was that there were 65 people present in the stands (yes, I counted) and an announced attendance of just over 500. Unreal considering I was used to 3-4 thousand a game at the other parks I attended around that time. Lake Elsinore would routinely seat 6000 plus! And while the trip was fun, and it's always great to see a game no matter where its played, I honestly saw no reason to ever go back.

However, the next time I did go back was in 2003 and by this point my cap collecting had begun in earnest. I still saw no need to get a Blaze cap. I was more into taking photographs of various stadiums I visited. And while this time I did take note of the extra large batters eye, and the tall trees that line the outfield wall in order to reduce the sunlight blasting directly into the faces of the batters, it was something else that stood out to me on this trip.

When I would take photos around the ballparks, I tried to get a shot from every conceivable angle, culminating with a shot taken from right behind home plate. In every stadium I've done this, there had never been an issue. Until Bakersfield. Apparently it is against the rules to take pictures during the game or something. I was informed of this in a rather curt fashion by an older gentleman who threatened to have me removed from the game if I did it again. Here is the offending photo:

Breaking the law! Breaking the law!

Anyway, this gives you an idea of what the stadium looks like. And honestly, it's a really charming ballpark. I've come to really appreciate places like this, where you can just sit, relax and enjoy a game around people who really care about enjoying the game. That is when you're not being harassed by the camera cops!

View from the right field bleachers. Before the game, so no trouble.

A few years later I attended another game in Bakersfield and the Blaze were wearing these awesome stars & stripes jerseys that they were auctioning off after the game. They had replaced the original Blaze logo with one that was kinda different. The most apt description I've heard to this day is flaming marijuana leaf, but who knows. I left that night with the new cap, already lamenting that I had never gotten the previous cap.

This is what minor league baseball is all about.

Here is a view from the left field side.

Aluminum bleachers gone, replaced by a big tent.

Of course, I had to get the classic shot.

Successfully evaded the Photo Police!

I have not been back to Bakersfield since. I did have the mirrored B cap stolen in a targeted burglary (along with 31 others) though I did manage to get it replaced. Good thing because not long after that the Blaze changed logos again, and this time they hit a home run (no pun intended) in my opinion. A solid black cap with a black script B lined in orange and white. One of the classiest caps in all of minor league baseball. And it wasn't until recently that I did manage to acquire the original Blaze cap, thanks to Benjamin Christensen (@Shakabrodie on Twitter) who tipped me off on its availability. So here now is my complete Bakersfield Blaze New Era cap collection.

Love all three of these caps.

So the first one was worn between 1995-2004. I always felt it was kinda dull, which is likely why I ignored it. Of course, once it became defunct, it was the most awesome cap ever and I was an idiot for not picking one up. As of two weeks ago, problem solved.

The middle one is easily the most controversial. What the heck is that supposed to be, anyway? I think it would have worked better without the mirrored B, but what do I know? I did end up with a jersey from this era.

#19 on the back, of course.

Here's a picture of a Blaze player from a game I attended in 2006 in San Bernardino, showing off the road unis.

Paid attendance: 65. Just kidding. It was a 10am weekday game.

I was seated right next to the Blaze dugout and I got this cool shot of their batting helmet.

So there you go. My personal history of Bakersfield. My understanding is that the team is planning on opening the 2014 season in a new stadium, so if you are in the area and have never been, check out Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark. You'll be glad you did.

Just watch the cameras.


Oh yeah, Buck Owens via Dwight Yoakam. "Streets Of Bakersfield," baby!

Recent Acquisition: EA Sports Snapback Cap

I have to be delicate in this post.

It's not that I'm upset or anything, but the story of a recent acquisition involves my employment and a representative of a well known video game developer.

Every year my company sends its management team (of which I am a member) to a convention where we get to see presentations from all of the major video game developers. In short, it's pretty awesome. Sort of like our own little E3. It's usually held in September, but the last couple of years it's been in late August during the week of Madden launch. I always preorder the latest Madden game and last year was no different. Except that this year my company, in conjunction with EA Sports ran a promotion where if you picked up your reserved copy of Madden within the first 24 hours you got a code to get a free New Era EA Sports snapback cap, just pay shipping. Well, of course I'm interested, except I'm in Texas. So I figure I'll go talk to a rep from EA Sports to see what recourse, if any, I have. After their presentation I headed down to speak to the facilitator, explained my dilemma, even showed him a picture of my office just to prove I was serious about getting this cap. He was impressed and suggested I speak to an associate of his who was in another part of the room. So I gave the same speech and demonstration to this guy, who was also impressed, and he gives me his email address and says to email him right then so he'd have mine. He said after the conference he'd email me a couple of codes so I could take advantage of the offer. Sweet, I thought. I'm going to get this cap!

So a couple of weeks pass and I hear nothing. So I send this guy a very polite email, reiterating my interest. No response. A few weeks later, another polite email and still no response. I have to be honest here, stuff like that pisses me off. If this didn't involve my company I'd totally be using this guy's name, but I won't. As a consumer, I think blowing someone off like that is rude. I would never treat a customer with such disrespect.

But I digress. Months pass and thoughts about this cap fade, until I start seeing various social media postings about how the cap, after months of waiting had finally arrived. My good friend and fellow cap collector Matt Aballi was one who blogged about it, and in essence started my quest to find this cap. It didn't take long to find one on eBay, but I had to pay $20 for it instead of the $4.99 shipping cost or whatever it was. And though I'm no lover of adjustable.....er.... snapback caps, I'm actually rather impressed with it.

Not a fan of snapbacks, but this is a nice exclusive.

Nice embroidery.

Under the visor. Very cool.

Again, I prefer fitteds, but this one is pretty impressive. Love the chalkboard on the underside of the visor. A lot of recent exclusives have started utilizing this part of the cap, and of the ones I've seen this one is the coolest. I don't know when I'll wear it. Snapbacks tend to have high crowns and look appropriate for commandeering a locomotive in my opinion. Maybe while doing yardwork or something. But regardless it has earned a spot on the wall.

Latest Acquisition: Sometimes You Just Get Lucky

The story of Major League Baseball's unusual 1999 "Turn Ahead The Clock" promotion is well documented, so I won't get into to much detail into. If you want to use your internet provider of choice to search for it, by all means. What I have learned is that it was the Seattle Mariners in 1998 who had a successful implementation of this promotion for a game set in the year 2027 (their 50th anniversary) only to be ruined a year later as MLB allowed Century 21 to sponsor it and change the date to 2021 (get it?) And it was all downhill from there.

So my personal recollection of the promotion as it happened is as follows:

None. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

In 1998 (and 1999 for that matter) I was living in my first apartment with local cable and America Online. So basically I had no connection to the outside sports world. My lifeline was the subscription I had to the Los Angeles Times. My 2400 baud dial-up modem was not very conducive to getting rapid fire info on my favorite teams, let alone tell me anything about these cool promotions that were going on.

My cap collecting, however, had begun in earnest. And it was during a relatively routine search for Colorado Rockies caps that I came across this one:

Metallic silver visor. Very futuristic!

Yes, the Rockies had apparently participated in this event, so naturally I had to get the cap. To this day this is my favorite Rockies cap. I so wish I had gotten a second one. I actually found one on eBay a few years ago and bought it. The next day I got a message from the seller saying that the listing was made in error and he didn't actually have the cap. I have not seen one since.

But I digress. I remember looking at mlb.com's site that day and seeing all the other caps that were available from that promotion to purchase. I browsed them, but not having the sense of future (no pun intended) urgency that I have now I passed on some of the unique styles. In hindsight, the Seattle Mariners cap would be one I'd like to have. Most notably, the New York Mets, who that night went with the moniker of "Mercury Mets" and had a cap that was nothing like the Mets logo we all know and love. It was easily the most unique of the promotion, and I've always kept the occasional eye on eBay for any type of merchandise related to this promotion, just in case something came up.

Last week, it did. An auction for a genuine Turn Ahead The Clock New Era cap size 7 3/8 came up and I pounced. Today it arrived. Behold:

Holy crap! I now actually own a Mercury Mets cap!

So one of the premium items on my wish list can now be scratched off. Here's the funny thing about why I didn't hesitate at grabbing this listing. My Rockies TATC cap is a 7 1/4, which is my usual size. For some reason that cap fits a size small. (Fortunately with the New Era wooden block this is not a problem) With this cap being listed a size larger, I took a shot that it would fit like my size. And it does! It is a perfect fit!

Front view. New Era should totally make a line of planet caps.

For those puzzled by the logo, this is the astronomical symbol for the planet Mercury. Although the subject of much ridicule, you have to admit it is very creative. I know there are collectors (and some Mets fans) who would love to have one of these. I just got lucky.

Just in case anyone was totally confused.

If you've never seen the Turn Ahead The Clock jerseys, check to see your favorite team. They range from slightly cool and unique to absolutely hideous and unimaginative. Here is the Mercury Mets jersey. You be the judge:

Recently sold on eBay for $223

I actually did acquire the Rockies version of this jersey some time ago. I never wear it. It looks silly on me. Still, I'm glad I own it.

Ahead of its time, so to speak.

And though introduced in 1999 representing the year 2021, this logo actually appears on the new 2013 Rockies batting practice caps.

So since it appeared on a jersey 14 years ago, but won't actually debut for 8 more years, it's sort of back to the future, right?

And here are the two Turn Ahead The Clock caps I own, side by side.

Mercury Mets and Colorado Rockies - Turn Ahead The Clock 1999

I'm actually very pleased that this cap will now sit in my collection. I would say it could possibly be the rarest cap in my collection, though that is subjective to what makes a cap rare. Based on the interest I know this particular cap has I'd say it has a good shot at holding that title. For the sake of those that would like to own a piece of that unique promotion I hope that New Era might someday soon remake some of these caps.

Maybe then I'd buy a second one. Just in case.

Latest Acquisition - Tidewater Tides and How I Make It Fit Properly

Each year as the new minor league baseball season begins I take a little time and look through each official website to see what, if any, new cap designs are being worn for the new season. Yeah, that's 160 websites. Usually it's the same old thing, but once in a while I come across something unique. Occasionally it'll be something of a throwback design. This was the case a few years back looking at the site of the Norfolk Tides. Back when they were affiliated with the New York Mets they had a cap which harkened back to their days when they played as the Tidewater Tides (from 1963-1992) and it was just like the NY Mets cap, but with a 'T' instead of the 'NY.' One of my favorite minor league logos are those which incorporate the parent club into theirs. So I was definitely getting me one of these. Alas, they didn't have it in my size. But a very polite email I received from their director of merchandising said that they weren't sure if they were doing the Tidewater throwback promotion that season, but she'd take my info and let me know if the cap became available in my size.

That never happened, and that next season the Tides changed affiliations from the Mets to the Baltimore Orioles.

Then, a few days ago I saw a Tidewater Tides cap in my size for sale on eBay! Scooped it up, amazingly fast shipping and POW!! Got it yesterday!

Too simple for some. Simply awesome to me.

One problem (and it was mentioned in the listing) the seller said was that although it is a 7 1/4 it was a bit tight. That happens sometimes with New Era caps. Especially ones made in the US. (as opposed to made in China, but that's a blog for a different day) This is not a problem for me, because some 10 years ago, for reasons I cannot recall, New Era was selling off these amazing blocks that apparently they used to mold caps. Seeing a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy something that would prove invaluable to me, I bought this thing.

Behold! A wooden block that shapes caps into my size!!!

How does it work? Well, simple. You just take your tight fitting cap and place it over the wooden block like so:

You take your tight fitting cap and place... oh I already said that.

Leave it on for a few minutes, and presto! Your cap is molded to your size and is ready to wear! After removing the sticker and brushing the visor to rub out the circle left behind, of course.

Really, I'm pleased. Not grouchy at all as this gritty picture may make me appear.

I cannot tell you how much usage I've gotten out of this thing. Like I said, I don't know why New Era was selling these. Upgrading to something that doesn't look like it's from 1920, perhaps? I'm just lucky that I was on their website at that time and one of those was available in my size. Oh, what was the cost of this wooden block? A bit pricey, in my opinion, but naturally they sold them for $59.50. Yeah. That I do remember.