Since the close of the 2024 MLB season, I have had no shortage of blog topics thanks to the flurry of roster moves this offseason. Ass a San Francisco Giants fan I am thrilled at the seven-year deal the team made with shortstop Willy Adames and I am also hoping for a solid addition at first base like Christian Walker and as well as a strong starting pitcher like Corbin Burnes.
Even if neither happens, the Adames signing is huge but sadly I do not have a Giants-related cap with a "W" or "A" logo to write about like I did when having a bit of fun with the "J for Juan" on the Jackson Mets cap for last week's post. Perhaps the "S" can be for Soto on this week's San Bernardino Spirit hat and thus be the conclusion of the "Soto Sweepstakes" celebrations.
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| This week's post is my first featuring a cap from Topperzstore and I have to give them credit for knocking it out of the park with the simple white "S" over the gold star. The colors here all pop beautifully in my opinion. |
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| The side patches have become egregiously large nowadays but the topic of this week's post is the California League so in this case it was fine to go really big! |
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| Bold strategy to have a white sweatband and grey undervisor here which means I will need to be extra cautious not to wear this one on too many hot days. |
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| Another interesting choice in going with a red, white and blue batterman here instead of blue and gold to match the front logo but it's nice and flat so I'm happy! |
My other reason for choosing this Spirit cap was the recent news San Bernardino will once again be the California League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in 2026. This will be the city's third stint hosting the "Baby M's" with the first period lasting from 1987 through 1994. As you may have noticed, the custom colorway of this week's cap is inspired by that era of Mariners baseball.
The bad news coming along with the switch-up is 2025 will be the last season for the Modesto Nuts who have been affiliated with the Mariners since 2017. Modesto been a part of the California League since 1946 with the exception of brief lapse in 1965 in which the city did not field a team when the league was contracted to just six clubs that year.
While the future for baseball in Modesto becomes uncertain in 2026, a new club's history will begin that year in Ontario, CA. The 1947 Ontario Orioles were the only professional team on record to play there and the Los Angeles Dodgers will be the parent team to this new entry of the California League as they move their current team over from Rancho Cucamonga.
To complete the 2026 California League Shuffle, Rancho Cucamonga will become the Single-A home for the Los Angeles Angels to allow for the Mariners to be affiliated with the Inland Empire 66ers for the first time since 2006. My goal for next year to is find a Modesto cap to write about and hopefully Modesto's goal is to start working toward fielding another team someday soon!
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. 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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