In Defense of the Judge/Ohtani Hat
Because No One Else Would Dare Do This...
By the time you read this, we’ll already be deep into the 2024 edition of the World Series. On one side it’s the Evil Empire Yankees. A team that’s looking for their 28th championship, and is considered by some to be the class of the entire league. On the other is the Evil Empire [West] Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that put up close to a BILLION dollars last offseason to fortify their offense. In a world of Davids vs. Goliaths, we got ourselves a Goliath battle. Straight Godzilla status.
Because of this, Major League Baseball is hoping its “two most famous teams and strongest brands” bring new eyes to the sport. While I didn’t mind last year’s Arlington, Texas vs. Phoenix, Arizona World Series, a lot of people did. And so, to commemorate such an occasion, New Era in association with Major League Baseball released the cap pictured above: A “split-cap” that features Yankees star and former MVP Aaron Judge and former MVP and current Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. And well, the results have been as expected.
PEOPLE HATE IT.
Why? Well, let me count the ways. 1) The two players depicted play on opposing teams 2) The cap is navy blue, which is closer to Yankees colors. 3) Yankee uniforms don’t feature last names so ‘Judge’ would never appear over his number and 4) Nobody loves people who don’t pick a side these days. That’s like saying you’re a fan of both people running for US President in this year’s election.
I haven’t lived in New York City full-time for over fifteen years, but when I saw current mayor Eric Adams rocking a Mets X Yankees cap this year, I instantly wanted him impeached.
Caps, and the teams/cities/identities they represent say a lot about the wearer. While celebrating two teams is a crime on its own, this Ohtani/Judge number basically says you like two guys over the teams that they are on. They are GUARANTEED to rub people the wrong way. Now, with all of that said, I actually understand why they decided to release the cap in the first place. Observe:
I got into Formula 1 during the pandemic and yes, I’m a ‘Drive to Survive’ fan. And while it’s not unheard of for Formula 1 fans to buy merch, the hat I’m wearing in the above image has a story attached to it. You see, thanks to a friend from better means than my own, I was able to visit Miami for the 2022 edition of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
I was so hyped to be swept up IN the hype, that I bought that Lewis Hamilton Mercedes hat from a kiosk at the venue. Usually the hats retail for $50, but you can get them online for $39. The price I paid for the one I got? ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS. Two years later and I’m still asking myself “Why?! Why did I do that?”
Because I look so fly, that’s why.
No, because I was a prisoner of the moment. I liked F1 enough, but not enough to draw a line in the sand with the merch I would buy. I threw out all rational thinking and bought an overpriced item because I wanted something to commemorate my attendance and participation. No matter what happened, the hat on my head came from the one time I had the opportunity to see a Formula 1 race live.
Look: It’s ugly. It’s busy. It defies the rules of everything that should be on a cap. However, I can tell you the “I just like good baseball crowd” AND the “well, I really got into baseball in November of 2024” crows are going to EAT THAT UP.
Not me though, I have standards. Paying three digits for a Formula 1 cap standards.