Building on last week's Peninsula Pilots post was no easy task as that hat has been high on my Wish List for a long while. So it only makes sense for me to now bring attention to an equally important cap in my collection which is a 1989-92 Tidewater Tides retro which was a recent in-store only release from @djmach716 at the flagship New Era shop in Buffalo, NY.
Once again my friend @yellowsub73 came through in the clutch by no doubt pushing for this cap to get the retro treatment as well as going to the trouble of purchasing it on my behalf but shipping it to me here in New York City. The flagship is the first ever store to retro this design from over thirty years ago and the hype around it will no doubt spawn more releases.
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| After so many years of searching for a vintage version of a cap featuring this logo that is so dear to me, I was just about ready to give up when I caught wind of this release. |
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| The green undervisor here is historically accurate, for which I am thankful. |
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| It goes without saying that this fitted would arrive without the MILB batterman. |
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| A side by side comparison just to show the level of effort that went into working toward matching the original font. Please note, the photos below are from expired eBay listing for a vintage fitted version I missed out on but I was fortunate enough to grab photos so hopefully you enjoy them! |
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| The flat logo here is nice and I hope that someday I can find a vintage version just like this one so that I can see it up close in person. |
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| The sweatband tags are consistent with ones from as early as 1992 yet more common on caps from 1993 however it would be impossible for this cap to be from that year because the team had rebranded as the Norfolk Tides with a new logo for that season. |
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| I do not recall the Tidewater Tides ever wearing fitted caps so the only reasonable explanation I can think of for this and the size tag variance is this one was made for contingency purposes or perhaps to fill a minimum quantity for an order placed in advance of the rebrand. |
I am really looking forward to the next round of caps I get from New Era Buffalo but for now my heart is full beyond description! As you can imagine, 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.
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