A Peek Inside The Workshop

It's apparent at this point that if you've found yourself reading today's post that you, like me, are an avid New Era Cap fan. You probably wear one every day, know all about the teams on the front of them, and even where they are produced (It's Derby, New York, if you weren't sure).

That being said, the great people at New Era are offering an opportunity to witness the making of their ever popular 59Fifty fitted cap. This upcoming Thursday, July 26 at 10 A.M., New Era is letting you take a peak at the process which results in something near and dear to us.

This LIVE chat, which will be conducted on Twitter through their official account @New_Era_Caps , will give you a chance to have all your questions answered in regards to the 22 step process to perfection. Remember to use #22steps leading up to and during the chat to spread the word about this unique experience.

Enjoy, Everyone. Hopefully this will make the ever-long work week go a little quicker.

Runnin' Up and Down The Hardwood

 Sure, your run of the mill gambler on the Las Vegas strip can walk into any casino, into any sports book, and place a bet on almost any mainstream franchise or athlete in the wide world of sports. However, one must wonder, does the home team bias play any role in the process? There aren't any professional sports franchises (Outside of the AAA level Las Vegas 51's) that call the Clark County city home, but there does happen to be one prominent division one college program in town.

The University of Las Vegas, Nevada has called the desert home since 1957. Sports weren't initially a priority for the school. None the less, it didn't take long for the administration to try their hand at being one of the many eye opening attractions in town. The schools basketball program, which will be the main focus of today's post, joined division one competition for the start of the 1970 academic season. Following 6 seasons of poor to mediocre play, the Runnin' Rebels found their stride in the 1977 season. That year, the club made it all the way to the Final Four. Time would tell that that certainly wouldn't be the last time America a go around with a grouping of twelve from the Sin City.

Since then, the Rebels have amassed 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, made 10 Sweet Sixteens, traveled to five Elite Eights, appeared in a total of 4 Final Fours, and even captured the National Title in 1990, defeating the Duke Blue Devils. Not too shabby for a D1 program that just short of its 45th birthday.

The Rebels play their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center, which they have called home since 1983. In addition to Rebels games, the 18,000-plus seat facility has hosted events such as the NBA All-Star Game in 2007, multiple guest speaking appearances, and a plethora of concerts. In it's time, the building has also seen plenty of stars pass through it's doors wearing the Scarlet and Gray.

Some of the more notable Rebels over the years that have had theirs jersey retired by the university are Larry Johnson, Reggie Theus, Greg Anthony, and Armen Gilliam. There are also multiple players who have played or currently play in the NBA, who have also run a fast break of two in the desert; some being: Joel Anthony, Louis Amundson, Marcus Banks, Shawn Marion, and even Isaiah "J.R." Rider.

The cap shown above was sent to me by a friend and avid reader of TFD, Angel Del Rosario, who you may remember from previous posts. Angel was recently featured by New Era in a Collectors feature video, which we shared a couple days ago on the blog. Angel was kind enough to pick this up from the UNLV bookstore, and send it my way a few months back. Props to him for that. It was much appreciated. The cap features a Scarlet and black crown, with a black brim. On the front, the UNLV Rebel caricature is centered in all his glory. On the reverse, the name "Rebels" is simply spelled out in Scarlet, over a black backdrop. Overall, an incredibly classic cap not to be overlooked.

Hope you all enjoy your Sunday, and distract yourself briefly from the unavoidable realization of yet another Monday being just around the corner.

To Hell and Back

Today, on TFD, we take a closer look at the New Jersey Devils. The Devils, as you may or may not know, are currently in the Stanley Cup Finals of the NHL, against the Los Angeles Kings. Game two of the 2012 Finals is tomorrow night at 8 P.M., when the Devils get their shot at redemption in this best of 7 series, following a game 1 overtime loss. The Devils, who are currently in their 30th season in the Garden State, are vying for their fourth Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history, let alone the past 17 seasons. 

In this years NHL post season, the Devils have outlasted the Florida Panthers in round one, blown past the Philadelphia Flyers in 5 games in the second round, and even defeated the cross-river rival New York Rangers in 6 games to reach the Finals. This is nothing short of remarkable after you reflect on the undeniable difficulties the Devils have faced: 

1.) Regardless of being perhaps the most successful and talented goalie in NHL history, Martin Brodeur turned 40 years old in the beginning of May. He is also in his 20th season on the ice, which undoubtedly has taken a toll on his mind and body. The teams success this season, and in seasons of past, is a true testament to his professionalism and personal preparation.  

2.) The Devils head coach this year, Peter DeBoer, is in his first season at the helm of the New Jersey franchise. Despite not having an abundance of familiarity with his roster, he managed to lead the team into the postseason with 41 regular season wins, and a 12 and 7 postseason record to this point. 

3.) Lastly, the fore mentioned three series victories in the playoffs so far. In the first round, the Devils were pushed to the brink of elimination by the Florida Panthers. The New Jersey club won back to back overtime thrillers in games 6 and 7 to advance. In the second round the Devils made quick work of the Flyers. After stumbling briefly in game 1, the Devils won 4 straight to close out the series. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Rangers pushed the Devils to the furthest extent of their talent. It took 6 games, but New Jersey was able to advance to the Stanley Cup, topping a 1 seed and perhaps the best team in the league. 

The Devils have certainly paid their dues this postseason, however they most certainly face a worth opponent in the Kings. The Kings have beaten a 1, 2, and 3 seed in succession to make it to the finals as an 8 seed. All we can do is wait to see if the Cinderella story will play its course, or if the glass slipper will remain off the West Coast franchises proverbial foot. 

The cap featured above is a throwback colorway for the New Jersey Devils, dating back to the period in the teams history from 1982-1992. Those were certainly the early foundation stages of a franchise that has risen to prominence through trial and tribulation. The cap features a Devil red brim, and a kelly green crown. Located symmetrically on the front is the Devils logo, which many feel is one of the best sports logos of all time. On the rear, is the NHL Shield shaded with the same kelly green. I found this cap at Cap City, located in West New York, New Jersey. The fitted is not available on the website currently, however that may change so check back regularly if interested. 

Have a great weekend, and GO DEVILS!!!  

Before The Braves, there were Crackers

Hey everybody. Just keeping you all up-to-date today, on one of the more recent fitted acquisitions to the ever growing collection. This is an Atlanta Black Crackers inspired New Era 59/50.   

This particular 59/50 was most recently worn by the the Atlanta Braves in a 1997 "Turn-Back The Clock" game against the Philadelphia Phillies (playing the part of the Philadelphia Stars). The game paid homage to two former Negro League teams from before the breaking of the color barrier by Jackie Robinson in 1947. 

The Black Crackers operated from 1919-1952. Their stint as a member of the Negro League, was sandwiched around a couple runs as an independent club. They adopted their moniker from the all white club in town (the Atlanta Crackers), whom they shared their home park with.

The original Ponce de Leon Park was first constructed for the 1907 season. The 20,000 seat ballpark lasted up until 1923 when a fire ravaged the venue. A second edition was re-created for the 1924 season, although this time it was dubbed Spiller Park, in honor of the Atlanta Cracker's owner Tell J. Spiller. The unique aspect of the park, which was demolished in 1965, was a Magnolia Tree located in the outfield. The interesting quirk of this obstacle was that balls hit into the tree were deemed in-play up until 1947. The historic tree, which had seen players the likes of Babe Ruth lodge balls among its branches, still stands in the parking lot of a shopping plaza now on the site. 

The only championship the Black Crackers captured was the 1938 second half title in the Negro American League. Unfortunately, their championship series with the Memphis Red Sox was subsequently canceled following "Umpire Controversies" surrounding the games. 

The cap above features a navy brim and crown, with a bold all-white uppercase "A" front and center representing the city of Atlanta. On the rear of the crown, is the New Era adopted Negro League logo, which is branded across their wide range of league related caps. 

I found this cap at http://www.4ucaps.com/ , where they have a solid selection of Negro League caps to choose from as well. 

I hope I was able to share some knowledge on today's subject to make your Friday slightly less painful. Have a safe and great Memorial Day Weekend!

Fan Cap Collection with Angel Del Rosario

Check out this feature video from New Era Cap Co. which breaks down the extensive collection of a personal friend and fitted connoisseur Angel Del Rosario. We featured Angel a few months back in the first edition of our Q and A collectors series. Enjoy. 

The 1972 Chicago (Red) White Sox

If you happen to be watching a Chicago White Sox game this summer, and something seems "a little off", take a deep breath and relax. EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK. The hue on your television screen or computer monitor is not on the fritz, it's merely a Sunday home game on the South side of the windy city.

By most standards, 1972 was an average year for the Chicago White Sox: the club finished the regular season with a final record of 87-67 (a mere 20 games over the all important mark of .500), they found themselves 5.5 games behind the American League West Champion Oakland Athletics at seasons end, and they were destined for another long off-season in the middle of a 55 year championship drought. Although the next ticker tape parade, in celebration of the teams third title, seemed to be an eternity away, a certain first basemen gave the teams fans something to watch.

Dick Allen, a 31 year old infielder, took the Chicago fan base by storm with his inspiring offense. Allen, who averaged 25 home runs and 80 RBI a season over his career, quickly opened eyes across the nation. The first basemen slugged 37 homers and drove home 113 runs that summer, which was good enough to take home MVP honors in the American League, and make a start at the All-Star Game in Atlanta. Allen would spend two additional seasons in Chicago, before moving onto Philadelphia and Oakland, where he spent the twilight years of his career.

Other notable players and coaches to take the field for White Sox that summer, include: Rich "Goose" Gossage (more notably of the New York Yankees), Wilbur Wood (who was also an All-Star in 1972 and won 24 games), and manager Chuck Tanner, who managed 6 seasons on the South Side (Tanner also won a World Series Championship with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979).

This cap is more or less the same one we all know and love today, outside of a couple key differences: The diagonally interlocking "S" "O" "X" logo on the front has a slightly more "boxy" font to it, and the primary colorway is a bright red other than the typical black worn on their primary cap. All in all, it really is a beautiful cap. I give New Era and the White Sox credit for bringing back an all time classic look, that I wouldn't mind making a somewhat regular return to the field past 2012.

 The cap can be found and any of your major New Era retailers, but this one in particular I picked up at Cap City in West New York, New Jersey. The link to the stores website is HERE.

I hope you enjoyed today's post, and maybe even learned a thing or two. Have a great weekend.  

 

K-Tribe Strikes Out Looking

Every sports fan understands the unfortunate possibility of their team  possibly being moved to a distant city, or even being disbanded forever. Often times the mental and emotional trauma never reaches the front line, but other times it is an unavoidable blinding light in your face.

This past September, reality set in for the Kinston Indians, formerly of the Carolina League of Minor League Baseball. As they fell to the Frederick Keys in the Mills Cup Championship Series on a somber Friday night. The season was now over, along with the teams tenure in the South-East North Carolina city.

The Indians had been a part of the Kinston community since the 1987 season. The 25 seasons of baseball that were played in the area undoubtedly provided endless hours of entertainment, family fun, and ninth inning rallies.  In that quarter century of bloopers and bombs there were championship seasons and notable alumni worth acknowledging along the way.

In the K-Tribes time in the Carolina League, the club had recorded 10 division titles and 5 league titles. Throughout those championship seasons, a few players that have buttoned up the Indians jersey have hit pay dirt in "The Show". Some of those men are: Jim Thome, of Cleveland Indian and Philadelphia Phillies fame, Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees, and Manny Ramirez of The Cleveland Indian and The Boston Red Sox. Throughout their entire history, the club has been the High-A affiliate of (you guessed it) The Cleveland Indians.

The club played all of their home games at  historic Grainger Stadium, which holds 4,100 fans. Grainger Stadium has been a part of Kinston baseball for over 62 years. Despite the departing of the Indians, the community has hope that the park will play host to a club in the future that will play in the Coastal Plain League; a wood bat college level summer league.

However, with death comes life to some extent in this scenario. As the last out has been recorded in Kinston Indians history, the resurrection of another historic club becomes official for the 2012 season. The Carolina Mudcats are making a return to professional baseball, after a brief hiatus during this past off-season. The new Mudcats will replace the spot voided by the Indians in the High-A level of the Carolina League.

The fitted above is a fashion-adapted version of the Indians on-field cap, which was worn over the last few seasons of their existence. It has a dark blue brim, and a black crown. The alternate logo is located front and center with white and dark blue feathers.

Minor league baseball is quirky in the field of franchises dying and then rising from the dead to play again, somewhere down the road. Don't be surprised of they make a return in the future.

Fitteds with the teams logos, either on field models or merely replicas, can be found HERE

I hope you enjoyed today's post, and even learned a thing or two.

Collectors Corner with John Beare

                                       

A few weeks back, we featured Angel Villegas Del Rosario in what would be our first edition of "Collectors Corner". In that feature, we displayed Angels' incredible collection of fitted caps, broke down a few that were his favorite, and learned the story of his journey to enlightenment by way of 7 3/8.


Today on TFD, we take a look at another collector from California, who has amassed a respectable collection of his own. As you see above, he too has seen it fit to build a shelving system to provide space for his addiction. Take the time now to meet John Beare, of Victorville, California. 


John was asked a few question pertaining to his collection, and the process of attaining all which are part of it. Here are the questions from the Q and A: 


TFD: When did you first start your collection of fitted caps?
JB: I started collecting select caps in the early 90s. The first caps I bought were exclusively of teams I liked. I grew up a California Angels fan, so I had one of those. I've had a fitted Colorado Rockies cap since their inception in 1992. My first minor league caps were a Lake Elsinore Storm cap and a New Haven Ravens cap, who were affiliated with the Angels and Rockies, respectively. I also had an obsession with the Ottawa Senators NHL team, so I collected any cap of theirs I could find, fitted or otherwise. I was content with a couple dozen caps through the end of the 90s until I was at a local minor league baseball game (High Desert Mavericks) and there was this one fan who was always at the games wearing a different minor league jersey. Las Vegas Stars, Phoenix Firebirds, other PCL teams, and I thought I need to do that. Not only get the jerseys, but the matching caps as well. So the "Collection" proper didn't get serious until around 2000. That's also when I went exclusively New Era. It was about five or six years later I stopped buying jerseys and just focused on caps. I still have well over 100 minor league baseball jerseys. 


TFD: Are all of your caps New Era Brand Caps?
JB: About 99% of them.


TFD: Do you remember your first fitted?
JB: My father bought me a California Angels 5950 cap at Anaheim Stadium
on my birthday in 1989. I still have it. It's in great shape, but
sadly a size too small.

TFD: What size fitted do you wear?

JB: Typically 7 1/4, but depending on when the cap was manufactured it

can go up or down a size.

TFD: Approximately how many caps would you say you buy a year?

JB: 15-20. My wife would say more. With New Era finally gaining the rights to produce NFL caps, that number will increase this year. 

TFD: What is your favorite sport to watch as a spectator?

JB:   I love to watch hockey in person, but minor league baseball games are the best if you want to relax for a few hours. 

TFD: What is your favorite cap in your collection?

JB:  No way I could narrow it down to just one, but these are in the conversation for various reasons: California Angels, Colorado Rockies MLB, Colorado Rockies NHL, Albuquerque Dukes, Lake Elsinore Storm, St. Paul Saints, Fort Wayne Wizards, my gold Kansas City Athletics cap, New Haven Ravens, Manchester United, and of course my Coca-Cola New Era fitted, since I'm obsessed with that drink as well. I also love my Riverside Pilots cap, but it's a New Era adjustable.

TFD: How many caps do you currently own?

JB:  What I call my "Permanent Collection," meaning the caps that are always displayed on the wall, is well over 300. The older caps and non-New Era caps, I'd say around 500.

TFD: Which was the most difficult cap in your collection to find?

JB: I recently acquired a custom fitted 5950 Kelly Green Colorado

Rockies cap. I'd hoped to find one of those for years! I finally got it thanks to NewEraByYou.com, which lets you design and purchase your own MLB cap. Pretty cool.

TFD: How much would you say you've spent on caps?

JB:  If I really thought about that, I'd probably stop buying them. Haha.

TFD: What was the most you’ve spent on a single cap? 

JB: $160. It was an eBay auction, which included a fake jersey that I didn't want. But the cap was rare. 

TFD: Would you consider your collection of caps the biggest you’ve seen around?

JB: No, I've seen much larger cap collections.

TFD: What would you say makes a fitted collection a great one?

JB: Organization. When a collector can show off a collection like it's a museum, that is impressive. People see my collection and say it looks like they're in a store. Cleanliness is also important. Gotta keep 'em looking good. Mine get dusty from time to time, so I always make sure to have my cleaning kit handy.

TFD: Is there any cap you still haven’t added to your collection in which you have had trouble finding?

JB: My Holy Grail is a fitted Riverside Pilots minor league cap. I have an adjustable (Snap-back) one, but I'd

kill for a fitted one. I remember being at a Pro Image store in 1996 and they had several. I noted it because Riverside had just relocated to Lancaster, CA so these were closeouts. I passed on it. I reflect on that moment to this day when I'm trying to decide between wanting a cap and needing a cap. Will I regret not purchasing this cap? That usually wins the argument.

TFD: Will you ever feel as though your collection is “complete”? 

JB: Never! It will always be a work in progress. 

That concludes the Q&A with John Beare. If you'd like to see more pictures of John's collection, get in touch with John, or simply drool over his extensive minor league cap collection visit his Interstate-19 facebook fan page HERE. 

Thank's to John and everyone who reads our articles. this was our 100th post, and we're still going strong. 20,000 views is just around the corner.

Facebook Fan Page

Don't forget to check out and like our official Facebook fan page HERE

Collectors Corner with Angel Villegas Del Rosario

For those of you who have been readers from the beginning, pop your head in occasionally, or are just stopping by for the first time today,  it should be apparent at this point that I am an avid fitted cap collector; some may even call my little hobby an addiction. Fortunately, I'm not the only one. Today on TFD, we start a new periodic feature called "Collectors Corner." In "Collectors Corner" posts we will take a closer look at some of our readers impressive collections, which are sure to drop your jaws to the floor.


Today, we feature Angel Villegas Del Rosario of Las Vegas, Nevada. Angel reached out to me on Facebook, after reading the blog. Immediately, it had become apparent that he was the owner of one of the most epic fitted collection I have ever seen. After viewing panned out shots of his display, fittingly dubbed "The Great Wall", it had become apparent that the fitted cap community had to become familiarized with him. Angel mentioned to me that the demand for shelving was so great for "The Great Wall", that the local Home Depot actually ran out of wood  during the process of his first pick up; truly remarkable.


The following is a Q&A formatted interview with Angel, himself. Enjoy.


TFD: When did you first start your collection of fitted caps? 
AVDS: 1989 in NYC. I bought one cap a day for a whole year.


TFD: Are all of your caps New Era Brand Caps?
AVDS: No, I’ll say 80% are made by New Era


TFD: Do you remember your first fitted? 
AVDR: Yes, I bought two fitteds that day. One was a Texas A&M cap. (For some reason I like the T with the A and M on each side; it’s by De Long.)  The other was a Greensboro Hornets (who were a New York Yankees affiliated at the time) fitted by New Era. I still have them both.

                                                             

1.      TFD: What size fitted do you wear? 

      AVDR: Normally I wear 7 3/8, but like jeans, no 2 caps ever fit identically. I have a 7 ¼ that fits me like a glove and sometimes I have to buy the 7 ½.

      TFD: Approximately how many caps would you say you buy a year? 

      AVDR: I stopped buying for a while and I left most of my old and original collection in New Jersey in 2003. I brought 247 of those with me when I moved to Las Vegas. My collection grew quickly when I got back into it in 2005. I’ve probably bought 140 a year the last seven years.

      TFD:What is your favorite sport to watch as a spectator? 

      AVDR: Football or Baseball; Though I’m a sports nut, I’ll watch cricket if it’s on TV. Hahahaha.

      TFD: What is your favorite cap in your collection? 

      AVDR: Tough One! They’re like my babies, so I would say each has its own story to tell. If I have to choose one? My Yankees Spike Lee Joint 27 World Series Fitted.

TFD: How many caps do you currently own? 

AVDR: On hand, not counting my caps in my storage unit, close to 1,100.

1.      TFD: Which was the most difficult cap to find in your collection? 

      AVDR: Right now, it’s The Latin Baseball Leagues (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba) and Israeli Baseball. Before it was the KBO, but since New Era started making their hats I’ve been able to find them. I also have the earlier ones made by their prior manufacturers, like my Nippon Baseball League collection.

      TFD: How much would you say you’ve spent of caps? 

      AVDR: A lot, since I have been buying hats for a long time! Hahaha. Easily over $30,000. I have a little more self discipline now, so to speak. I also look for hidden gems on the net, ask people around for good deal, etc. It has gotten expensive now, too. I remember when a fitted was like $20, but now on average they're $35-$40. 

      TFD: What was the most you have spent on a single cap?

      AVDR: $80-$100 on one cap.

      TFD: Would you consider your collection of caps the biggest you have seen around?

      AVDR: Maybe. I heard there’s a guy who has 36,000 hats. I just don’t know if it’s the caps like we like to buy (fitteds).  I would say my baseball caps collection (only teams from professional leagues) must be up there.

      TFD: What would you say makes a fitted collection a great one? 

      AVDR: I guess it’s not quantity as much as quality. Also, Identity and/or concept are great focal points. Like any collection, it has to have some kind of organization. For instance, my big wall. It’s all baseball. Then I have all NFL on a second wall, all NBA on a third wall, and all NHL on a fourth. I guess it’s like an archive of hats. You can just collect from one team, collect one cap from each era of play, which will end up being a great collection of whatever team that represents. Or, for example, you can collect based on just one color, and have a great collection of let’s say red caps or blue caps. I’m fascinated by history, that’s why I went with baseball. Every time I look at one cap, I like to think how it was in that specific era represented. I don’t see my collection as something to show off, it’s something I love, and it’s my passion. It gives me peace.

       TFD: Is there any cap you still haven’t added to your collection, in which you have had trouble finding? 

      AVDR: There are a few. I’m still 3 away from completing my Dominican Winter League, and 3 from the Venezuelan.

      TFD: Will you ever feel as though your collection is “complete”? 

      AVDR: This is a Great Question! Collecting caps is an addiction. Honestly, every time I see a young person starting to collect caps I’m happy, but at the same time sad; the reason being that I see myself in the ones they wear that I don’t have. Some nights, I will wake up because I’ve thought of a cap I don't have. I’ll then go online and start searching. There are times when you don’t have the money, and really should resist. Unfortunately, I’m so impatient, I strive terribly to get them all, resulting in me caving in. Once I complete the “cap history” of a club, I almost immediately begin collecting another set for another club. That all being said, I suppose the answer is a resounding NO! The collection will never be complete. Hahaha.

      I hope you enjoyed my interview with Angel Villegas Del Rosario as much as I did. He certainly has bragging rights in the cap game due to his unique collection. Until next time, keep collecting caps and wear them proudly! 

      If you'd like to see more of Angel's collection, or reach out to him check out his Facebook page HERE

      

       

      

Wolverine Country

Where does one start when discussing the feats and accomplishments of University of Michigan's athletic department? Possibly the successful football program, which owns records in total D1 victories and winning percentage. Perhaps the men's basketball program, which has produced one NCAA Tournament Title, 2 NIT Titles, and the "Fab 5" 1991 team. How about the hockey and baseball programs which have claimed 9 and 2 championships respectively. The only fair way to do this is to highlight each of the "big four" briefly, in all of their glory.

Football:

The Wolverines football program first took to the gridiron in the 1879 season. The team plays their home games at Michigan Stadium, affectionately known as "The Big House". The accurately dubbed structure has a seating capacity of 109,901 fans, which is officially the largest capacity for a stadium in the United States. The official record for most fans at a college football game was set at "The Big House" on September 10th of 2011, when 114,804 saw the Wolverines play Notre Dame in the first night game ever at the stadium. The team has an all-time record of 895-310-36, which is good for the highest winning percentage of all time at .736. Additionally, they have been national champions 11 times, and have had 3 Heisman Trophy winners call the Ann Arbor campus home.

Basketball:

The 1908-1909 academic year was the first in which the Wolverines took to the hard court. Success was hard to find throughout the early years of the program, resulting in the absence of a team from 1912-1917. Now, the program is used to finding itself in the win column. The team has competed in the big dance 22 times, been the runner up for the title 5 times, and even brought home the gold once following a remarkable 1989 campaign. One cannot mention the program without bringing up the "Fab 5" recruiting class of '91. The combination of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson resulted in perhaps the greatest recruiting class in NCAA Basketball history. Although eventually marred by controversy, they will go down as head turners and jaw droppers on the court during their tenure.

Hockey:

Michigan's first hockey program initially toe dragged across the ice in the 1920 academic year. The team went 6-0 in their first season, and seemed destined for greatness from the get-go. To this point, the team has made 34 NCAA Tournament appearances, 24 NCAA "Frozen Four" appearances, and has captured the National championship 9 times. In December of 2010 the Wolverines played in "The Big Chill", what is now officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest attendance for a hockey game. The crowd of 104,173 witnessed the Wolverines defeat rival Michigan State by a final of 5-0, at the universities outdoor football stadium.

Baseball:

The origins of baseball at Michigan trace all the way back to 1866. Although only competing in three contest that first season, the passion for base hits grew in Ann Arbor at quite a frequent pace. This interest quickly lead to tremendous accomplishments. The program has claimed 35 conference championships, made 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, has appeared in the College World Series 7 times, and has been crowned national champions 2 times. There have been four former Wolverines elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame: George Sisler, Charlie Gehringer, Branch Rickey, and most recently Barry Larkin; the Mount Rushmore of Wolverine baseball I suppose.

The cap featured above has a navy blue crown and brim, with the signature University of Michigan "M" front and center in yellow, a yellow New Era logo on the left side, and "MICHIGAN" spelled out in yellow in the back. A clean cap, which I found at the New Era Flagship Store in New York City. With all of the history mentioned in this post, how could one not be temped to buy it? If you hadn't known prior, hopefully now you recognize the greatness of the program.

Before and After

After making a few stops in West New York, New Jersey, Nanuet, New York, and Orlando, Florida, I have finally found all three; the authentic on field caps of the Marlins from the past and present. I never realized how difficult finding the dead stock Florida Marlins cap would be, but none the less I managed to track one down in 7 3/8. Let's hope, for the sake of the franchise, that the roster stays more consistent over the following seasons. No fan likes constantly questioning who's on the field for his favorite team.

West Coast Pop

For the last post of the 2011 calendar year, The Fitted Diaries is featuring a San Diego State University Aztecs inspired New Era 59/50. SDSU was founded in 1897, and is the oldest higher-education facility in the San Diego, California area. The Aztecs field 17 varsity teams in NCAA Division 1 athletics. The schools' more prominent programs are their football, baseball, softball, and men's and women's basketball teams. 

To most, the team with the most national familiarity is likely the schools baseball program. Over the years, the baseball program has helped nurture many future professional ball players. One of which, Tony Gwynn, has the distinction of being perhaps the greatest Aztec of all time. Gwynn, or "Mr. Padre" as many refer to him, was perhaps the first to put the program on the map. Gwynn played for San Diego State from 1979 to 1982, where he announced his presence as a true baseball talent claiming many team records. He even performed well enough to be recognized as an NCAA All-American in his final two seasons. Another interesting facet of Gwynn's athletic career, which many aren't aware of, is that he was also a point guard on the schools basketball team throughout his 4 year Aztec career. To this day, he remains as the only athlete in the history of the Western Athletic Conference to be recognized as an All-Conference performer in multiple sports. Gwynn, who is currently the baseball coach for the Aztecs, is in his eighth season at the helm of the program. He has coached many talented athletes, the most prominent of which is starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg. 

Strasburg, a flame throwing right hander with un-godly breaking pitches, played under Gwynn for a three season span from 2007-2009. Strasburg began opening eyes his sophomore year, pitching to a record of 8-3. That season, Strasburg pitched to a minuscule ERA of 1.58 while striking out 134 batters in a mere 98 1/3 innings. In his third, and final season as an Aztec, Strasburg did the impossible; he improved: 13-1, 1.32 ERA, 195 K, 109 IP. He was the first overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft, selected by the Washington Nationals. In 2010, Strasburg struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirate batters in his first major league start.. He suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow later that year, and is currently on his way back to the majors following surgery. 

Other notable Aztecs to play in the schools baseball program are former major leaguers: Tony Clark, Travis Lee, Bud Black, Royce Ring, Bobby Meacham, Greg Nettles, Mark Grace, Aaron Harang and Tony Gwynn Jr. 

The Aztecs play their home games at (you guessed it) Tony Gwynn Stadium. The 3,000 seat ballpark has been home to the schools baseball games since the 1997 athletic season. 

The cap featured above has a black brim and scarlet crown. On the front of the cap there is an illustration of an Aztec warrior, wearing a yellow and red head-dress. On the back the cap features the word "Aztecs" in a black, cursive font. Unfortunately for all of those interested out there, the cap is indeed sold out. My best suggestion would be to check on Ebay or perhaps the schools' athletics website HERE. 

To all, have a safe and happy new year. I appreciate the readers, so please, if you drink tonight DO NOT DRIVE. Until next time, over and out from TFD.

A Ray of Hope for a Former Champion

The official countdown for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training is down to a mere 51 days. What does this mean? Well, for starters it means BASEBALL IS ALMOST HERE. Additionally, it means a new era of South Beach Baseball is about to dawn for the Miami Marlins.

The cap above is the new primary on-field cap for the re-branded Miami Marlins of the National League. Yes, what you see above is most certainly a payment of homage to the glory days of Miami Vice and the era that was the 80's. Other than that, it speaks volumes to the new image of what the club is attempting to project; a groundbreaking, exciting, and eye catching product. With the bright blues, oranges, and yellows which seemingly pop off of this new logo. The ball club of the future has arrived, and the one of the past is gone for good.

The Marlins franchise will be beginning its' twentieth season in South Florida, but will compete in its' first with a place to truly call home. For the first 19 seasons of their existence, they played in what is currently known as Sun Life Stadium. Sun Life Stadium is more or less a football stadium, which the Miami Dolphins have called home since 1987. The place is cavernous, cold, and was usually 80% empty for Marlins games, which proved to be a hard field to play for any team with power alleys the size of Texas.

Now officially in Miami, the Marlins will christen there new home tentatively dubbed "Miami Ballpark" on Sunday, April 1st in the first of two scrimmages vs. the New York Yankees. With the overhaul of the organization, it seems as though ownership is trying to remove the tags placed on them by the public in the past. Accordingly, they have made efforts to put the "fire-sale" days behind them. With the additions of short-stop Jose Reyes, closer Heath Bell, and starter Mark Buehrle it appears as though they want to win early and often. This has to be a welcomed change in the eyes of the fans, knowing that they will have a team to root for which should be intact for quite some time.

When the club captured World Series titles in both the 1997 and 2003 seasons, the Miami community rallied around the team with more support than anyone could imagine. A new stadium, new image, and new roster can only lead to a greater fan base. Possibly the most important aspect of the new park is the retractable roof, which will definitely help out on those hot summer days. From my personal experience of attending a day game in the middle of July, some shade will be much appreciated.

The cap above features a black crown and brim, and has a capital "M" accented with orange, blue and yellow. Above is an orange and blue silhouette of a marlin, seemingly leaping off the logo. It represents more than a new beginning; it represents a new tradition of Miami Baseball.

I picked up this new release at Cap City, in West New York, New Jersey. You can find this fitted and the clubs alternate orange cap here, on the stores website: http://www.ecapcity.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=miami+marlins+authentic&x=0&y=0

Happy New Year, and happy shopping.

A Footballers Renaissance

It goes without saying that soccer is by far the worlds most popular sport. The pastime of many nations has more than its fair share of stars, living and past, to call it's own. To name a few: Argentina has Maradona, France has Zidane, England has Beckham, and Brazil has Pele. All of these living legends have changed the face of their sport and country to an extent which they may never live to realize. One of these men however, has significantly effected yet another country over 4,500 miles from his home.

As most sports fans know, football caught on early in Europe and Africa. It then trickled into Asia and Australia, where it further deepened its foundation as an athletic power house. All was good and well in the land of the 90 minute game, until North America decided it was time to take a legitimate crack at establishing its own professional league in the late 1960's. This league, the North American Soccer League (NASL), opened it's offices in 1968. The NASL was founded as a merger of two previously unsuccessful and non-prosperous leagues established earlier in the decade. Arguably, the eventual face of the new NASL was the New York franchise which would shortly arrive one the scene. 

Following the first three seasons of play in the NASL, the New York Cosmos had arrived. The Cosmos, shortened from the Cosmopolitans, were named after the multicultural environment in which the clubs fan base thrived. Accordingly, the club drew many fans of all creeds, finding itself as one of the most successful franchises in the league, financially and performance wise. Before the club garnered the affection of the locals, upper management realized they needed a star to ascend the ranks of the league. Accordingly, they pursued the notable yet aging star of the Brazilian league, Pele. This acquisition in 1975 meant one thing, New York was now on the map as a soccer town. 

Although only appearing in barely over 60 games for the Cosmos, Pele had created a passion and more importantly a culture for American Soccer. With the additions of other stars such as Italian Giorgio Chinaglia and German Franz Beckenbauer, the Cosmos completed their time in the NASL winning league championships in 5 of the 14 seasons in which they competed. Soccer was certainly thriving in New York, however nationally it seemed as though things has taken a turn for the worst. The NASL seized operations following the 1984 season due to lack of financial support. 

After a decade of silence on the Western front, a new league would take form. The MLS began operations in 1993. Fans and franchises came and went year in and year out, as did the visiting stars of the world. Although making a serious effort, the new league faced adversity sticking as a popular aspect of North American culture. Fifteen-plus years into their existence, things have recently taken a promising turn for the league, as they now have a consistent ESPN game of the week contract, and have grown to nearly 20 clubs. The more notable news is that New York has been awarded a second franchise, in addition to the Red Bull who play in New Jersey. The newly resurrected Cosmos brand has thrown it's name into the proverbial hat of contention to be that second club, but no word has been given on the
leagues decision.

As you can see by the fitteds above, the area is clearly ambitious about the whispers we've all been hearing. I found these gems at Cap City, a hat store in West New York, New Jersey. It certainly has many of us amateur sports historians giddy, so to say. To this writer, the return of a legendary franchise such as the Cosmos would be an amazing feat to behold. It would be the most anticipated return of a professional sports club to the area, short of the hallucinated voyage back East of the Dodgers or Giants. 

Whether it materializes or doesn't, one thing is for certain. The city would certainly appreciate the fraternization of culture and creed once more. For an are where people are being killed over Nike Air Jordans, it would certainly be eye opening to see some unity.  

Caps can be found here: http://www.ecapcity.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=cosmos&x=0&y=0