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1998-2001 Fresno Grizzlies Snapback

After last week's double-dose of Denver Bears hats, I must ask if you are prepared for yet another bear-themed cap this week because today is National Teddy Bear Day as well as National Care Bears Share Your Care Day and I had no choice but to break out this 1998 Fresno Grizzlies snapback for the occasion.

It's also California Admission Day and if you've ever glanced upon California's state flag, you are most likely envisioning the grizzly bear featured on it at this very moment. I am almost ashamed to admit this as a former resident of California yet I never once took interest in researching why the state is known as the "Bear Flag Republic" until today.

I'll spare you the history discourse on the Mexican-American war and Mexico's War of Independence for the time being but I should note the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 only lasted a total of 25 days and the events that transpired were a key component in California being officially annexed by the United States four years later on September 9, 1850.

Even though the revolt was short lived, there's a lot more to to discuss on the topic however you came here for photos of a baseball cap from over 20 years ago and that's what you're going to get, folks!

While the Grizzlies have favored the "F-Slash" logo for over twenty years now, this is the one etched into the minds of fans who lived without professional baseball in Fresno from 1988 until it appeared on the team's caps upon their arrival in 1998.

I picked this cap up in the haul I mentioned in the 1996 Erie SeaWolves post from a few weeks back and just like that one, the sweatband here is gnarly. The tags here first appeared in 1997 so this hat was definitely first obtained between 1998 and when the team switched to the "F-Slash" logo in 2002.

The Grizzlies were an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants from 1998 through 2014 although looking at the purple batterman here you'd think they were a farm club of the Colorado Rockies which has actually been the case since the 2021 season.

One final callout of serendipity before closing out is that I'm celebrating the aforementioned bear holidays and California Admittance Day in the friendly confines of Wrigley field and I'm so excited that my first ever trip to the ballpark has me seeing my beloved Giants take on the Cubs. I'll be referring to them as the "Baby Bears" so please join me in that fun if you want!

If it was any team other than the Giants I would for sure bring a bear-themed hat but instead I will be finding out just how friendly fans in Wrigley are to visitors who show up in support of the opponent!

This week's Fresh Fitted Friday selection features a classic logo that I think is great but it should probably go on the Trading Block as I'm not interested in cleaning off that sweatband. Please do not hesitate reach out to propose a trade for this (or any other cap from that list) if you have something you think I might like. Bonus points if it's something from my Wish List!

As always, thanks for coming back to read about baseball hat geekery. I've got comments disabled here so if you'd like to discuss a trade or simply just chat about hats, please feel free to connect via the following social sites:

Instagram: @baseballmilquetoast
Twitter: @FittedFriday


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