Monday, July 23, 2012

A Closer Look, 2012 Atlanta Braves On-Fields [Part 1]

Aside from the three traditional caps the Atlanta Braves wear, in 2012 the Atlanta Braves are on track to have seven different On-Field hats. Now if we are to make the World Series, that number will jump to ten! But, as of right now, they have only worn three. Lets take a closer look!


The Braves have been absent from the multitude of TBTC [Turn Back The Clock] promotions this year, but got into the specialty, as us hat guru's like to call them, On-Fields with the 2012 Futures Game. This game, a tradition of the All Star Break since 1999 features prospects from all 30 teams, and these players can play in any level of Minor League competition. XM Radio has sponsored the game since forever it seems, but recently Sirius acquired XM Radio, thus making the official name of the event the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game. The only player in the Atlanta Braves organization in the game was stud catching prospect Christian Bethancourt.


The hats, unlike last years version is the road, all navy hat. It features the Siruis XM All Star Futures Game patch on the left side of the hat, and a star to each side of the rear batterman. 


Why the stars, you ask? When did these start showing up?


Well, last year, the original run of the 2011 All Star Game hats did not feature these stars. A few weeks after their release, New Era unveiled these stars that were glued on the hats. The Futures Game last year did not feature these stars. 


Now, if you ordered the 2011 ASG Hat before the stars came out, you could e-mail New Era and ask them for stars, and they would send them to you. I chose not to do this, because I think it looks tacky. 


New Era decided to keep the stars on this years hats, as they have shown up on the Futures Game hats and on the ASG hats. 


This hat is unfortunately sold out and no longer available as New Era only does one run of this hat. 


This hat [thankfully!] is made in the USA. Many of the "specialty" On-Field hats are outsourced and Made in China. I would take time to write about this, but thankfully a much more knowledgeable person than I already has. 


The next hat the Braves have worn is the 2012 All Star Game hat. It is basically the same as the Futures Game hat, except it has a different patch [see right]. All four of the Atlanta Braves All Stars wore this hat this year, and Chipper's hat even made its way to Cooperstown! 


Beware of the Home version of this hat. It is for sale at Lids and on New Era's website, but was not worn during the game. I'm not really sure why New Era did this, or even if they meant to. Shy away from it as it isn't the correct hat.


This hat, is unfortunately, probably made in China. Some retailers including New Era Flagship Stores got the first run of it, which was about 50/50 Made in USA/China. The versions on MLB Shop [which are still available!!! but won't be for much longer] are said to be Made in China. My hat hasn't come yet, but when it does I will post pictures of it. This hat also has the stars that were previously mentioned and seen on the Futures Game hat. 


The last hat that the Braves have worn this year is the Home version of the 2012 Stars & Stripes Hat. Unlike the past 4 years of the promotion, there are multiple versions of this years S&S hats, akin to the 9/11 Tribute hats of last year. There are three in the Braves case, Home, Away, and the now Friday Alternate. These hats were worn on Memorial Day, July 4th and will be worn again on September 11th. The Braves played at home both Memorial Day, and July 4th, but will be on the road September 11th, so we will see 2 of the 3 hats actually worn On-Field. 


Instead of the tacky all navy, or all red hats of previous seasons, MLB decided to go with digi-camo, except with team colors incorporated into the hat. I personally am a fan of the hats, and will at some point own all three, but I know many people who don't care for them at all. All three are available at MLB Shop and major hat retailers, and also at Turner Field and the CNN Clubhouse Store. 


But, if you wait until the season is over, you can usually grab these for super cheap. During opening weekend this year, my girlfriend got a 2011 Stars & Stripes hat from the CNN Clubhouse Store for $10. Saves you about $30 if you're willing to wait. These will also eventually be on sale on New Era's website after the season. 


These hats are, Made in China. Even the ones that the players wore during games. 


Also, the S&S hats have been available in the Turner Field Game Used Store if you want a hat worn by your favorite Atlanta Braves player! 


There are still three more hats, two that the Braves will wear this year during the Civil Rights Game, which is in less than a month! Still no details have been released regarding the uniforms, but be sure to check back, as there will be a post up about them! Those hats are also limited in release, and will not be around for more than a few weeks, so if you want one, be sure to keep an eye out at Turner Field or other major hat retailers. 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Help Tom Glavine Cure Childhood Cancer!

Do you remember Tom Glavine from the 1995 World Series, where his impressive starts in games two and 6 earned him MVP honors? Or do you remember him from his Mets days, in which Glavine won his 300th career game?

Hopefully we will all remember him as one of the many people that put and end to Childhood Cancer.

How? Diamond Nation Charity is having a contest in which athletes such as Jenny Finch, Barry Larkin, as well as the aforementioned Glavine compete for a $15,000 donation to a charity of their choice! Awesome!

All YOU have to do is go to http://contest.clubdiamondnation.com/ and click on 'Vote For Tom Glavine'

Its simple, takes literaly 2 minutes, and you're entered to win a 1 on 1 training experience with Tom!

So, GO VOTE!

The contest ends Sunday 7/15 at midnite and you can vote as many times as you like!

P.S. You can also follow Tom on Twitter :)

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sea Life.

This week's travels bring me to the lovely Bright House Field once again, home of the Clearwater Threshers. This trip isn't specifically for the Threshers, as I have recently attended a game there. The Threshers, this upcoming Friday nite are having one of the most unique giveaways I've ever seen: a bobbletail. Not a bobblehead, bobbletail.

Jump it.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

2011 Atlanta Braves On-Fields

As many of you know, one of my passions is hats, stemming from my love for the game of baseball, specifically the Atlanta Braves.

Most of you know the traditional set of hats, the home navy hat with the iconic white 'A' featuring a red brim, the all navy road hat, and the Sunday alternate hat featuring the 'A' with a tomahawk passing through it. But those three hats were only 1/4th of the hats the the Braves wore last year. Yes, the Braves featured 9 other 'On-Field' hats in the 2011 season. Let us explore them!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Clearwater Threshers Visit

Following a day filled with exquisite beaches, an unexpected stumble into a locally renowned seafood restaurant,  we arrived at our ultimate destination for the day. Bright House Field. Home of the Clearwater Threshers.


Hit the jump to read all about it!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Tampa Yankees Visit

The Yankees organization is one of the wealthiest in all of professional sports, and this wealth extends down into their farm system. The Tampa Yankees boast one of the nicest stadiums I've ever been to, professional or otherwise, yet something was oddly off. The fans didn't really seem to be into the game, the atmosphere was wrong, and the team store had very few items to support the team; the team store was filled with all Yankees merch. Nothing wrong with supporting your parent club, but spring training ended a few months ago; time to put some more home-team merch on the rack.

More after the jump!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Dunedin Blue Jays Visit

This leg of the trip was to span seven days include eight ballparks, and all 12 of the Florida State League [FSL] teams. The first section of my FSL journeys was, unfortunately, financially cut short by the splendors of Opening Weekend in Atlanta to watch my beloved Braves play.

However, I was able to make it to three FSL games; the first of which was the Lakeland Flying Tigers at the Dunedin Blue Jays.


2012 Dunedin Blue Jays Primary Logo
                                                     
More after the jump!