Over the past few weeks, I have created something of a tradition by posting caps of teams that have fallen in the MLB postseason and this week's Albany-Colonie Yankees cap completes it. This one stings a bit more though because I was at Yankee Stadium for Game 5 of the World Series this past Wednesday and had to suffer through watching the Dodgers clinch over the Yankees. As a fan of the Giants and Yankees that was a tough experience.
Coincidentally, I spent this past weekend in Albany to see some live music and surprisingly received lots of anti-Yankee comments from folks over the first two nights the concerts took place because of the Hudson Valley Renegades "Hudson Line" cap I wore. I suppose those detractors could have been Dodgers fans or perhaps even Red Sox fans but in all likelihood, you could chalk it up to everyone hates the Yankees except for Yankees fans.
I flew under the radar on the third and final night by wearing a Staten Island Pizza Rats cap however over the weekend I thought about how many folks in Albany might not even be aware that the Yankees had their Double-A team in their town for 10 seasons although the ballpark was technically in nearby Colonie, NY. To put it in current terms, this is similar to the Tampa Rays actually playing across the Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Before I go on a tangent about naming rights (or wrongs) or the current weather-related financial hardships the Rays are facing to repair their ballpark I just want to say that I will never not find it so strange that the Yankees still have such a stronghold have in Tampa. Not only is their spring training hosted there, it is also home to the Tampa Tarpons who are their Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League.
I suppose if Yankees superstar right fielder Juan Soto signs elsewhere this offseason, the Yankees might have an extra couple hundred million dollars that they could kick over to the Rays as a life raft. That would surely gain some goodwill for the team but I really do see Soto returning to New York although I have a sneaking suspicion that could also means he ends up with the Mets. Only time will tell, so for now onto this week's cap!
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| The earliest year I can say this logo appeared was 1992 although this particular iteration probably only existed until early 1994. |
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| The 5950 tag first appeared in 1993 so that fact along with the MILB and size tag styles tell me this cap was worn that year or 1994 at the latest. |
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| Recent conversations with fellow cap collector @xclickaroox has got me rethinking my previously firm stance that every cap with the MILB batterman has to be from 1994 and beyond so I am looking forward to diving deeper into this on any future posts involving vintage MILB caps. |
This week's Fresh Fitted Friday selection is a 7 1/4 so by all rights it should go on the Trading Block however keep in mind it is a bit used. It is a rare cap and I would understand still being drawn toward it so if that does not bother you please don't hesitate to reach out if you it 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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