Sunday, May 31, 2015

Star Wars Night - Part 2




From the game last night, this is my wife's hat.  Part of her collection it is a Nike mesh back hat which she wears proudly at Miller Park and Wrigley when the the Crew is in town.  Yesterday she also got a collection of all of the players line up pics featuring them Star War'ed out.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Star Wars Night / The Hardest Catch









Today is Star Wars Day, which brought my wife and I  to the ballpark for some people watching.  Not owning anything of true Star Wars vintage, I figured the Huntsville Stars Hat would be the closest thing to the theme.

In the early to mid 2000s, as the Brewers were struggling, I started to collect hats of the Brewers Minor League Affiliates.  The Huntsville Stars Hat was particularly hard to get.  First of all, I don't often find myself in Huntsville, Alabama. Secondly, their website did not allow online orders.  Instead it offered the phone number and email address of a lady named Babs Rodgers.  Babs was my nemesis as far as getting this hat. She was incredibally difficult to get a hold of.  There were many return emails and voicemail messages where I was told in a thick southern drawl "we ain't got that"  as I requested different hats (yes even the emails felt like they had a southern drawl!).  I couldn't  understand why she wouldn't sell me a hat, which was presumably her job .  Finally I got her on the phone and had to flat out ask her "what hats do you have?" I was dismissed by Babs and told to call back after the season.  This process started with my first inquiry in early June.  I finally called Babs back again after the season ended in September and was told that she was holding the hats for the players and now that the season was done she could finally sell me one.  Two weeks after this call a box came to my apartment with this, the official on field Stars hat and a White official batting practice had.  Also included were 5 Huntsville Stars schedules from the season past (what a bonus!).  This was officially the hardest hat to get to date, though there are others I am still searching for.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Another Friday Game Night




So, I know what you are thinking, this is the same game hat that you posted April 24.  The answer, though, is you're wrong.  Though another official alternative hat, this one is 1/8 inch smaller, about 4 years older, and has way more sweat stains.  This hat has probably been with me for at least 20 Miller Park appearances, and the hat shown on 4/24 was the replacement for this one so that I would have this hat in good condition.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Indianapolis Indians




With the Brewers mercifully having off today, I'd like to feature a team from the minors.  The Indianapolis Indians were the Brewers AAA squad from 2000 to 2004.  In 2000, the won the minor league world series.  Members of their ring of honor are Brewers Allstars Ben Sheets and Cory Hart.   If you get the chance to go to an Indians game, I highly recommend it, $10 well spent.  My wife and I went on the way to the Derby earlier this month, great experience.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Painters Hat


Grabbed this one 2014 opening day.  Kind of reminds me of the Pirates hats in the 80's.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Duck Pond is open


The Northwoods League is starting today and the Madison Mallards have their home opener.  If you have never been to a game, you really should go. The Northwoods league consists teams from Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Ontario with college players who are working on their game over the summer.  No direct connection between the Brewers and the Mallards, though they are an important staple of Wisconsin baseball. (Note: the Northwoods League rival Lakeshore Chinook are partially owner by former Brewers Robin Yount and Jim Gantner, so there are Brewers connections to the league).

Monday, May 25, 2015

Memorial Day


First off, on this Memorial Day I'd like to extend a debt of gratitude to all of the men and women who have served our nation.  There are no words that can express how grateful I am.

This hat was the Official on field Memorial Day Hat of 2013.  Not pictured, in 2014 this hat was worn with a Brewers Blue bill, and this year the hat is the standard blue Brewers hat with this camafloge bill (since there wasn't a lot of variation I only own the 2013).

Sunday, May 24, 2015

2012 Memorial Day Alternate Hat


In 2012, the Brewers issued this on field hat for Memorial Day as part of the stars and stripes series , but they never wore it on field.  Camouflage retro Brewers Logo, I thought this was kind of cool.

Friday, May 22, 2015

2011 Memorial Day Hat


This was the 2011 Official Memorial Day Hat that the Brewers wore on field vs. the Nationals.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Cammo


With Memorial Day coming up this weekend, going to do a series of hats that give a shout out to our troops.   This is just a standard cammo Brewers hat with the retro logo.  It was not made for game day wear, but a cool hat anyway.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Brewers at Bushmills


Driving through Northern Ireland to the Giants Causeway and eventually Belfast, featuring this hat.  Should probably have orange instead for the Orange Irish, but this will have to suffice.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Irish Driving Hat


Day 4 in Ireland, taking a drive from Galway to Sligo and eventually Donegal.  Have this Green Brewers Hat to keep me company.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Moher Brewers Hats

Day 3 in Ireland, sporting this Green Brewers Hat at the Cliffs of Moher.

Friday, May 15, 2015

St Patty's


Day 2 here in Ireland, sporting the Brewers Official on field St. Patrick's Day hat.  Since the Mlb regular season does coincide with St. Patty's Day, I've never seen these in play, but do believe that at some point they wear them on the field.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Timberrattlers


I'm in Ireland.  Allegedly, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.  Looks like I brought one back in on this hat.  On this day off for the Brewers I am featuring the Timberrattlers hat, the Low A club of the Brewers.  This particular hat  is the batting practice warmup hat.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Antepenultimate Winter Hat




For all of you word of the day folks, antepenultimate is preceeding the next to last, or third to last.  This is the classic Brewers hats, simple single cuff, no flair.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Bierbrauers!!!





In 2011, the Brewers had German Heritage Day, and wore their Bierbrauer Jerseys.  Interestingly enough, in the picture of Zach Greinke above, he accidentally work the Bierbrauer jersey on the Sunday after the Bier4Day.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Hats of my Father


The saying goes like father like son.  My dad is quite a hat collector however, instead of Brewers, it is hats of farm machinery and mauquette university.  He does leave some room for Brewers hats and this particular wool striped hat I traded him a few years back.  Today is my dad's 86th birthday, so a little shout out to his hats.