Fowlball (The Clink Room)

The date was March 24, 2001 and Randy Johnson was pitching late into his final start of Spring Training. Very few people know or care that the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Francisco Giants 10-6 in a split squad matchup that afternoon.

The game wasn't televised and the box score is virtually impossible to track down however March 24 will forever live in infamy due to the only notable event that afternoon which was when Johnson faced Giants outfielder Calvin Murray in the top of the seventh inning of a game that was already highly contentious, even if it was a "meaningless" spring training matchup.

Johnson fired a heater that Murray never had a chance of hitting, especially because a dove in flight with the worst possible timing got in front of the ball as it made its way from the mound to home plate. Much has been written since the incident but what is also notable is Murray's nephew is Kyler Murray, who is currently the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

The whole thing is so hard to believe but that Murray's nephew is a highly respected football player who plays for a team in Arizona with a bird-themed moniker?!? At any rate, the game wasn't televised but as it happens that moment was captured in a clip which I caution you to watch at your own risk!

The placement and design of the baseball stitching on the dove's head is perfect and it could also be a reference to the need to get stitched up after being on the wrong end of a Johnson fastball. That is, if you survive!

The description on the cap's spec page on The Clink Room site lists the undervisor as being "GS Bright Rose" however I have to believe there's some sort of allusion to the bird's blood being made here. Or not!

As ferocious as he is, even Clink Kong would be afraid of facing Johnson in the batter's box and that's factsssss!

This Fowlball cap stemmed from the mind of Kyle Page who also goes by Page Perception (click here to follow on Instagram) and at the time of the hat's release in 2020 was based out of Charlotte, NC. At the time of writing, Page has released a little over a dozen caps for The Clink Room and has relocated to Milwaukee, WI.

The Clink Room has been real boon to cap collectors over the past few years because instead of getting shut out on "drops" from the more boutique retailers, we're finally able to essentially commission artwork almost directly from the designers which to me seems like a a very equitable system.

One aspect of Clinker caps that I never tire of is how beautiful the detail is on the embroidery of each cap, especially once I get it in my hands. I can also appreciate the uncomplicated handiwork from Ebbets Field Flannels however their recent releases have continued to be heavy on the felt lettering and emblems so I've stayed away.

The international and collegiate collections from Ebbets have been interesting but I'm I'm hoping they'll get back to what got me into them over ten years ago which was the clean embroidered lettering of lesser known minor league teams.

FYI, if the universe is listening I'm praying for a faithful retro release of the 1983 Portland Beavers as well as the cap worn by the Peninsula Pilots and Tidewater Tides in 1992.

This week's Fresh Fitted Friday selection is not going on the Trading Block however please don't hesitate to reach out if you want any other cap from that list and you are willing to part with any of the hats on 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:

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Twitter: @FittedFriday