I am writing this post after just coming home from a Norfolk Tides game where my hometown team turned back the clock to their 1989-92 era for the very first time. It would be an understatement to say I was ecstatic to relive so many fond memories of players like Tim Bogar, Steve Springer and Kevin Baez who wore the uniform from my favorite era in Tides history.
It's hard to believe 12 years have passed since my 1992 Tidewater Tides post which accounts for Baez handing me my first ever player-worn onfield cap that is the most prized cap in my collection. My love for that cap was only reignited in 2024 when @yellowsub73 broke the news that a retro of that cap was coming thanks to @djmach716 of the New Era store in Buffalo, NY.
I've already featured that particular retro so this week's Fresh Fitted Friday selection focuses on the Memphis Redbirds which was the team the Tides faced in the turn-back-the-clock game I attended. Since I have also written about the road cap the Redbirds wore in 2017, it is time to turn the clock back to the inspiration for their current logo set which is the 1969 Memphis Blues.
Besides last week's Mariners-themed post, the previous few have been Mets-centric so it makes sense to feature the team's Double-A affiliate in the Texas League in 1969 who were league champions just like the big league club! Also, tomorrow is the first Saturday in the month of August which is International Blues Music Day so there really was no better option this week!
The organizational structure of a minor league system is all about the relationship along the progressive journey of a player's career. When I think about those aforementioned Tides players, it is impossible to not think of the instrumental steps they took in Jackson, Columbia and Lynchburg before taking the field in Norfolk which is why those logos are also special to me.
The Tides first year as a Mets affiliate was 1969 so this week's cap was a logo worn by Mike Jorgensen, Steve Renko and Roy Foster when they played in Memphis the year prior. I imagine most Tides fans from that inaugural season would not have thought much about where their guys played the year before but ones who attended games in 1990s like myself sure do care!
 |
| The colorway and embroidered "M" screams Mets which makes this a perfect cap to wear to CitiField. |
 |
| The wool crown might things a bit toasty if it's a daytime game but that is a price I'm willing to pay. |
 |
| Behold the unadulterated crown here in its pristine state and not smirched with a batterman logo! |
Attending baseball games and live music performances are two experiences I enjoy the most so I'm extra tickled whenever both activities can be combined in one day. On that note, earlier this week I was fortunate to be at CitiField when longtime Mets fan Page McConnell from Phish threw out the first pitch so a fitting tribute to the "Chairman of the Mound" is the "M" on this cap.
After the game I took the subway to Forest Hills to see Phish play their second show of a two-night run at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens and I really can't think of a better way to spend the beautiful summer day! The San Francisco Giants are in New York for a three-game set against the Mets so next week's post should deliver on both fronts!
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
Comments