FanPost

The Friar's Hat Stash #11

Hey everyone! Welcome to the latest edition of the Friar's Hat Stash, where you get an in-depth look at our favorite piece of baseball wardrobe: the baseball cap.

This issue comes hot on the heels of the Matt Kemp signing: a big splash signing the Padres have not made for some time. Question marks are abound on this one, and I'm personally hopeful that he can provide some much-needed offense for the club. I would really like to see if A.J. can bag us at least one more bat, so here's hoping he can work some magic for us!

Thanks for your votes in the last issue! Your votes decided that we should look at alternate logos this time around, so check these out!

I'm a proponent of the Padres utilizing an alternate logo for one of their caps (an away or a second alternate cap, at least). Most of you know our Padres did use something of an alternate logo some time ago with the gold/sand colored interlocking SD. You'll see very few interlocking SDs in this collection, because today is all about alternate logos.

One of the first alternate logos you may remember is the following here:

Number 1!

PhotoDec1133503PM.0.jpgNavy crown and brim, navy New Era flag
White script P

PhotoDec1133510PM.0.jpgNavy and white MLB logo

PhotoDec1133522PM.0.jpg
Gray underbrim, black sweatband


Many of you may remember this script P from the "shampoo bottle" home plate logo and the Petco skyline logo. Our Padres also utilized this particular script P as their logo on their batting practice caps for a time. I particularly like this cap, mainly because the logo and colorway are sharp. As it goes with some alternate logos, people not savvy with the Padres may not recognize this as a Padres cap. Still, I find plenty of opportunities to wear this cap. It helps that navy is an easy color to wear.

Number 2

PhotoDec1133608PM.0.jpgNavy crown and brim
Gray New Era flag
Full-color Swinging Friar

PhotoDec1133614PM.0.jpg
Here's a closer look at our Swinging Friar, complete with a striking maroon robe. Notice the shadow detail done in black and gray here.

PhotoDec1133622PM.0.jpgNavy, sand and white MLB logo with a gray border

PhotoDec1133629PM.0.jpg
Gray underbrim, black sweatband


A favorite of my collection, this particular cap sees a lot of wear with red shirts. If I had a choice of alternate logos for the Padres to go with, I would love to see the Swinging Friar on an alternate cap. Tucson did it as a primary logo, so why not our Padres? The colors of this cap makes it an easy choice for almost any outfit.

Number 3

Here's a familiar cap!

PhotoDec1133653PM.0.jpgNavy crown and brim
Red throwback S

PhotoDec1133707PM.0.jpg
Here's a better look at the throwback S.

PhotoDec1133700PM.0.jpgNavy, white and gray MLB logo

PhotoDec1133715PM.0.jpg
Black underbrim and sweatband


Here's a more familiar cap for many of you (and many of you may own this cap). This cap is the 1948/49 Padres Turn Back The Clock, with the Pads going back to their PCL days. Before the classic interlocking SD, the Padres fluctuated from not having a cap logo at all, to having this block S for some time before implementing a rough version of the interlocking SD. I'm a big fan of this cap because it's so visually interesting and iconic in Padres history. Of course, outsiders may not know that this is a Padres cap. I'll find occasions to wear this cap from time to time.

Number 4

PhotoDec1133736PM.0.jpgGray crown and brim
Purple script P and New Era flag

PhotoDec1133743PM.0.jpgGray, white and purple MLB logo

PhotoDec1133750PM.0.jpgBlack underbrim and sweatband


This cap is an example of an impulse buy, and I happened to grab this particular cap at a decent price. A tip for you: the time to buy a script Padres P cap is when you see it. The script P caps are notoriously hot items for collectors and Pads fans alike, and for good reason. The script P is a pretty cool design, and this colorway adds to the unique qualities of this cap. I had to stretch this cap out a bit, even though it is in my size. Such is a regular occurrence in the life of a collector.

Number 5

Here's something a little different!

PhotoDec1133808PM.0.jpgGray crown
Graphite (dark gray) brim
Black eyelets and button
Black and yellow Swinging Friar
Yellow New Era flag

PhotoDec1133816PM.0.jpg
Here's a much needed closer look at the Swinging Friar. He is a bit hard to make out in black. You can see yellow as a detail in the Friar's sash, Padres script in the bat, and border.

PhotoDec1133826PM.0.jpgYellow and black MLB logo with yellow border

PhotoDec1133835PM.0.jpgHere's some pop! Neon green underbrim, black sweatband

Part of the G-Volt collection, this cap pops in plenty of ways. Although rather obscured by all the black, the Swinging Friar makes an appearance in a very interesting cap. When I bought this cap, I did see the other cap in this particular collection, which was an interlocking SD done in the same colorway. For some reason, I felt compelled to pick this one due to it being unique with the all-black Swinging Friar. Yes, I have worn this cap before, if you're wondering.

Number 6

PhotoDec1133854PM.0.jpgRed crown, brim and New Era flag
White script P

PhotoDec1133900PM.0.jpgRed and white MLB logo

PhotoDec1133909PM.0.jpg
Gray underbrim, black sweatband


The third of the script P Padres caps I own, this particular one is eye-catching in red. I was lucky to grab this particular cap, since it flew off the market when it landed. The script P is a hot design, and this one was no exception. I really enjoy the look of this particular script P cap. The red really sets it off in a way words can't describe.

Number 7

PhotoDec1133926PM.0.jpgBlack crown and brim
Here's something completely different! White interlocking SD and Padres home plate logo
White New Era flag

PhotoDec1133935PM.0.jpg
Here's a better look at this dual-logo cap!

PhotoDec1133942PM.0.jpgBlack and white MLB logo

PhotoDec1133951PM.0.jpgBlack underbrim and sweatband


The last new entry in this issue is one of the most unique caps I own, and is actually an older design you won't find very often. Both the interlocking SD and home plate logo are enlarged and take up most of the real estate on the front of the cap. This particular cap was an eBay score from some time ago. I use eBay to find really unique caps that other collectors or just regular people are selling. I've caught quite a few unique Padres caps just by browsing eBay, and the prices are sometimes even better than retail. I've worn this cap a few times, and have had some interesting reactions when wearing it. It certainly is eye-catching without being colorful.

Here's a couple caps from previous episodes that fit our current issue:


PhotoFeb0624833PM.0.jpg
PhotoFeb0624953PM.0.jpg

Check these caps out back in TFHS #7!

PhotoAug3145203PM.0.jpg

Check out this cap in TFHS #9!

PhotoNov1621753PM.0.0.jpg

From last issue, take a closer look in TFHS #10!

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Thanks for checking out another issue of The Friar's Hat Stash! As always, I thank you guys and gals for reading and talking caps with me in the comments. I've numbered the selections this time around (thanks, Bobby!), so you can choose your favorite and discuss a little easier in the comments. I look forward to seeing what you guys think!

As far as hot deals, check around your favorite retailers now, especially because of the Christmas holiday. Plenty of retailers (Lids and Hat Club) are offering promos throughout the upcoming weeks that include free shipping and buy $X amount and get $10 or $15 off your order. The holidays are always a great time to take advantage of deals, so see what you can find for yourself! You can add that awesome Padres Christmas sweater to my list! (Thanks to Abel for this suggestion!)

At the plate for next issue: Check out some of my fresh pickups!

On deck: The patch collection!

Thanks for reading! Go Pads!

Cheers!

-Tim (The SD Hat Guy)

In case you missed it: TFHS #10 - TFHS #9 - THFS #8 - THFS #7 - TFHS #6 - TFHS #5 - TFHS #4 - TFHS #3 - TFHS #2 - TFHS #1

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball staff or SB Nation.