Minor League

When you drive around the country with the main focus of trying to take in baseball, one unintended consequence is that the entire trip takes on its own memory. It’s more than just a ballpark, what the score was, or a cool new hat you bought. Being that there is baseball literally everywhere, that just means being able to enjoy countless unique cities, local traditions, favorite restaurants, and significant landmarks. These are the major bonuses of baseball road trips in America.

Some of our favorite hats are small furry mammals. We call them rodents, but regardless of the scientific definition, they’ve invaded baseball and are taking over the hearts and minds of hat collectors everywhere. Give us some breadth here with the rodent description, we aren’t trying to be scientific here. As any minor league hat collector can attest to, these hats are conversation starters. Wear a rodent logo on your baseball hat, and you will find yourself talking baseball with complete strangers. It’s a great way to socialize these smaller leagues and teams to fans of baseball that may not know about how much baseball exists around us in America. When you are done with this article, find more great logos and baseball near you by clicking around our map of baseball.

Baseball Twitter is a beautiful place. Yes, I really mean that. I think most people would assume that it’s nothing but hate and venom spewed at teams, but that’s not really the case at all in my experience. It’s a diverse group of team super fans, former players and current ones, coaches, front office staff, ballpark chasers, collectors, artists, and other makers. In other words, it’s an eclectic group where you can easily find people who share a common interest. And who knows…maybe you can even make some friends.

Earlier in the year, the question was asked on Twitter by Benjamin Hill wondering if anybody could build a full meal from their own MiLB hats. That got us thinking: one of the major draws to baseball games for fans (and even non-fans) is the ballpark fare. Maybe not coincidentally, both main and alternate identities in MiLB (as well as other leagues) are often food items or food themed. Put a sandwich with a ball in “its” hand and people want it! There really is a TON to choose from. We thought it was worth listing a few of our favorites in one place right now…in case you wanted a food/drink themed hat of your own. Let’s start with the food!

Taking one last look from the upper deck at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, I knew I was saying goodbye to an era of baseball in Alabama. We were never going to be able to make it back there for a game on the next beach vacation. It seemed like, perhaps, Mobile residents had already come to that conclusion over the last few years. It was hard not to notice a lack of turnout for the games we attended. Rows of empty seats made for easy work in regards to retrieving foul balls, but it wasn’t without its consequences on the team. That final time at The Hank, I had my camera ready and took pictures of the empty 755 Club, closed shops on the concourse, and an empty lawn out in the outfield.

GAME DAY MEMORIES: Geneva, IL (Kane County Cougars/Class A Midwest League)

One of my favorite baseball stories of all time has nothing to do with the game being played on the field but more so tied to my experience in the stands.

Growing up watching Chicago Cubs baseball on TV, I always felt jealous of the people who lived off of Waveland Avenue across from the ballpark. I mean, how amazing would it be to have baseball in your backyard?