In recent memory, MLB spring training hats and uniforms have been dull, basic and more or less like typical warm up gear with team logos adorned on them.
But for some reason, days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to officially begin the slow acceleration toward baseball season in 2017, Major League Baseball is tantilizing for merchandising with somelegitimatelycool sptring training caps. Our five favorites:
1. Diamondbacks: The D-Backs are a relatively recent expansion team and don’t have a real throw back, per say, but their venomous snake with a baseball clinched between it’s sharp teeth is the kind of awesome hat you’d create from scratch in a video game.
That #FridayFeeling when #DbacksSpring is only ? days away. pic.twitter.com/321vLOfqPo
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 3, 2017
2. Mariners:The Mariners are another expansion team with a short span of history to call on. This seems to be very conducive to great uniform design — or at least for creativity. We love the trident hat.
BREAKING: @Mariners make every other spring training hat feel bad about itself with new 2017 design. pic.twitter.com/2Coy1qcNFr
— Bonus Baseball (@BBaseballCast) February 4, 2017
3. Athletics:Back when the A’s played in Philadelphia, they were called “white elephants,” as a statement of doubt for the team’s success. They won five world series titles in Philly and adopted the elephant with pride. Kudos for Oakland anytime they bring it back.
Thanks to @HatClub for having the #Athletics Spring Training Hat in Stock pic.twitter.com/Q31hLuSVIl
— Will MacNeil (@RFWill149) February 10, 2016
4. Reds:He’s called Mr. Redlegs and he’s as old school as it gets. His mustachedbaseball head always elicits a smile.
#RedsST starts in just 10 days! Grab your @MajesticOnField and @NewEraCap spring gear now! ?⚾️
?: https://t.co/toQIS1Gc7d pic.twitter.com/5vfNMygAxU
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) February 3, 2017
5. Rockies:Pride in place is behind Colorado’s spring training caps, with a mountain and streaking baseball likely representing the Rockies’ best offensive weapon — Coors Field.
The @Rockies‘ new spring training hat is ????? (via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/b83pyLzk0Y
— Purple Row (@PurpleRow) January 28, 2016
Honorable mention:The Cubs (love the baby bears throwback), the Jays and Rangers (pride in geography), Brewers (love the glove throwback) and Rays (I guess it’s a ray of light?)
All of the hats mentioned are pictured above. Those not pictured are not any different than the usual regular season caps.To see them all, visit:http://www.fanatics.com/Hats_Fitted_MLB_Spring_Training/
