Last week was a celebration of all things hip-hop but at the end of the post, I mentioned how I began this blog's Fresh Fitted Friday tradition with my 1992 Seattle Mariners post on August 16, 2013. To that point, it only makes sense that ten years later I'm coming through with a Riverside Pilots retro which to me is undoubtedly one of the best Mariners affiliate logos ever.
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| It's hard to believe it's already been a year since my Wichita Aeros post celebrating National Aviation Day and I am glad to showcase this Riverside Pilots hat to continue the tradition as this year the holiday falls tomorrow, August 19. |
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| Made in U.S.A. tags are a welcome treat here for sure as they become increasingly more rare by the year with whatever is floating around continues to get snatched up. |
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| The teal, navy and silver batterman looks great on a navy crown and especially here. |
I love all things 90s so of course the current colorway the Mariners have rocked since 1993 is near and dear to my heart. The Bellingham Mariners and Appleton Foxes are two others that I appreciate for the same reasons however I also feel a strong connection to the aesthetic that the Montreal Expos and their affiliates employed throughout their history.
If you check out this Jacksonville Expos post you'll understand why I will always associate that hat with the Riverside Pilots and vice versa. My only regret looking back on that post is not emphasizing enough how my trusted trade partner @interstate19 and I worked out a 1-for-1 swap that brings a smile to each of our faces to this very day.
And as someone originally from Hampton Roads, I would be remiss not to mention another legendary Pilots team which is the the Peninsula Pilots from Hampton, VA. The logo the team wore 1989-92 is to me, another one of the greatest—albeit, short-lived—Mariners affiliate logos of all time which is why it is now the top priority in my Wish List.
My only real chance of snagging a vintage one is some joker on eBay currently listing it for $499 and I can't help but blame myself for their attempts at this egregious pricing. After all, am I not the one who pines over that very cap week after week on this blog?
Be that as it may, I refuse to succumb to this sort of gouging and thus will continue holding my breath for a proper retro of the classic blue and red colorway of this cap. And once that goal has been unlocked, the greed in me will then yearn for a classic M's blue and gold What If? remix, hopefully by the hands of @djmach716 from the New Era shop in Buffalo, NY.
While a period-appropriate colorway of the Pilots logo would drive me to jubilation, so would another What If? release featuring the teal, navy and silver the Mariners have worn from 1993 until now.
And I only just put it together that the teal, navy and silver colorway has been officially been employed for exactly 30 years while the "old" blue and gold from 1977 through 1992 actually only accounts for half of that time. Despite my best efforts in resisting to make a National Aviation Day pun, I really must say: time flies!
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:
Instagram: @baseballmilquetoast
Twitter: @FittedFriday
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