All 30 MLB Hats, Ranked From Worst to First

How is your MLB team’s hat looking these days?

Baseball hats have come a long way since being made out of straw in the 1800s. Nowadays, everyone wears a baseball cap, just about anywhere in the world. Some rock them for style. Others do it for function. Whatever the reason, baseball hats are a staple of sports fandom.

Wearing Major League Baseball team colors and logos on a hat lets other fans know where you stand and (to a certain extent) how you feel about the current state of your squad. Mainstream representation gives teams massive amounts of visibility, which can translate into merchandise sales and perhaps a better product on the field.

The pop culture relevance of a team even matters today for free agents. Players have to envision themselves in a hat and love that feeling.

So how is your major league team’s hat looking these days?

30. Tampa Bay Rays

Julio Cortez / AP Photo

Established: 1998

Colors: Navy blue, light blue, yellow, white

Other nicknames: Devil Rays

Famous fans: Dick Vitale (basketball broadcaster)

Get a Tampa Bay Rays hat: On Fanatics

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Bottom Line: Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell

Chris O’Meara / AP Photo

The Rays have been wildly successful, despite their lack of widespread fandom or interest.

Similar to their home dojo, the Rays’ cap is lacking in modern style and falls pretty flat in terms of design.

A fairly generic looking “TB” leaves a lot to be desired for Major League Baseball’s latest expansion franchise.

29. Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado

Tony Avelar / AP Photo

Established: 1993

Colors: Purple, black, silver

Other nicknames: The Rox, Blake Street Bombers

Famous fans: Matt Stone and Trey Parker (creators of “South Park”)

Get a Colorado Rockies hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez

David Zalubowski / AP Photo

The purple and black color scheme jive well with the Denver scene, but while the color scheme is solid, the hat doesn’t deliver all that it could.

There isn’t much team branding built into the cap aside from the colors. It also doesn’t help that this franchise is king of the alternate uniform, which makes their standard design get lost in the shuffle.

28. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Archie Bradley

Alex Gallardo / AP Photo

Established: 1998

Colors: Sedona red, Sonoran sand, black, teal, white

Other nicknames: D-Backs, Snakes

Famous fans: Alice Cooper (singer)

Get an Arizona Diamondbacks hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte

Ross D. Franklin / AP Photo

Give the Diamondbacks some credit. Their original design in the 1990s and early 2000s was a solid first attempt, but the color scheme didn’t jell with the desert.

Their rebrand landed on a “D” made out of a snake, which is a step in the right direction. Now, they have an “A” logo.

But a combination of middling teams and the color scheme still not being quite right has left this lid on the lower rung of the league.

27. Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto

John Minchillo / AP Photo

Established: 1881

Colors: Red, black, white

Other nicknames: Redlegs, Big Red Machine

Famous fans: Nick Lachey (actor, singer), Josh Hutcherson (actor, producer), Darius Rucker (singer, founder of Hootie and the Blowfish)

Get a Cincinnati Reds hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray

Ted S. Warren / AP Photo

The Reds’ hat, once seen as classic and a symbol of excellence, has aged poorly as the franchise has slipped further and further into mediocrity since the era of the “Big Red Machine.”

Ken Griffey Jr. tried to make it a cool look when he signed there in his later years, but injuries kept him from flexing his greatness, meaning the Reds will have to wait for a pop culture imprint.

26. Texas Rangers

Richard W. Rodriguez / AP Photo

Established: 1961

Colors: Blue, red, white

Other nicknames: None

Famous fans: George W. Bush (former U.S. president), Owen Wilson (actor), Dirk Nowitzki (retired NBA player), Russell Wilson (NFL player)

Get a Texas Rangers hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Mike Minor

Richard W. Rodriguez / AP Photo

Pop culture-wise, you’re only likely to see this cap on the head of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who had a brief stint with the club in spring training.

The Rangers have had an up-and-down last 20 seasons, with a few more downs than ups, but the hat is pretty unremarkable for a Texas-based team.

They have a red alternate cap, but we see a rebrand in the near future.

25. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Gail Burton / AP Photo

Established: 1977

Colors: Royal blue, navy blue, red, white

Other nicknames: Jays

Famous fans: Geddy Lee (musician, lead vocalist/bassist for Rush), Justin Beiber (singer), Avril Lavigne (singer)

Get a Toronto Blue Jays hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Toronto Blue Jays

Julio Cortez / AP Photo

For the record, we are a big fan of the bird design on the Blue Jays’ cap. The problem for the team is, nobody else appears to be on board.

Perhaps that will change, since they have just called up a squad of baby big leaguers who promise a new era of electricity north of the border.

With a leap into relevancy, you may see this hat in a Drake video or two.

24. Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals Nicky Lopez and Whit Merrifield

Colin E. Braley / AP Photo

Established: 1969

Colors: Royal blue, gold, powder blue, white

Other nicknames: Blue Crew

Famous fans: David Cook (singer), Rob Riggle (actor, comedian), Eric Stonestreet (actor, comedian)

Get a Kansas City Royals hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis

Charlie Riedel / AP Photo

The color palette is nice.

And the uniforms themselves are a strong representation of the team name.

The hat, though, not so much.

23. Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout

Nick Wass / AP Photo

Established: 1961

Colors: Red, navy blue, silver

Other nicknames: Halos

Famous fans: Reggie Miller (former NBA player, current broadcaster)

Get a Los Angeles Angels hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney

Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Not many celebrities rock the Halos’ cap. For most of their tenure in Southern California, they’ve played second fiddle to the Dodgers.

Anaheim always seemed like an odd place for a baseball team, which is partly why they rebranded themselves as “Los Angeles” a few years back.

Not much has come of it, and the Angels’ red cap remains a distant No. 2 to the Dodger blue.

22. Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo

Established: 1894

Colors: Red, navy blue, white

Other nicknames: Tribe, Wahoos

Famous fans: Drew Carey (actor, comedian, game show host), Tom Hanks (actor, filmmaker)

Get a Cleveland Guardians hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber

Tony Dejak / AP Photo

This was a tough call. Although there has been a lot of mainstream amplification of the old-school Chief Wahoo logo via the “Major League” movies and “The Drew Carey Show,” it’s only fair to base this off the current iteration, which doesn’t leap off the page.

It used to be a classic look, sure, but the only pop culture icon to wear it was LeBron James, and we all know that was just pandering. Now the Guardians need to create a new legacy.

21. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Established: 1882

Colors: Black, gold, white

Other nicknames: Bucs, Buccos

Famous fans: Wiz Khalifa (rapper)

Get a Pittsburgh Pirates hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chris Archer

Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Wiz Khalifa and his Pittsburgh roots brought some swagger to the Buccos near the turn of the century.

A revitalized group with Andrew McCutchen leading the way helped the team’s notoriety.

The Pirates’ hat has a great, classic look (especially their alternate throwback), but it needs to gain some more traction to move up the list into relevancy.

20. San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado

Rick Scuteri / AP Photo

Established: 1969

Colors: Blue, white, brown, yellow

Other nicknames: Friars, Pads

Famous fans: Kendra Wilkinson (TV personality), Lil Jon (rapper)

Get a San Diego Padres hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis

Orlando Ramirez / AP Photo

If we were talking about simply the classic brown and yellow combo for the Padres, this would be higher up the list.

The constant rebranding and altering of the “SD” look on the hat have gotten out of control, and it’s time for the team to go all-in on its roots.

That should help garner some mainstream support, similar to what the Astros are seeing in Houston.

19. Houston Astros

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve

Ben Margot / AP Photo

Established: 1962

Colors: Dark blue, orange, white

Other nicknames: ‘Stros

Famous fans: Travis Scott (rapper), Matthew McConaughey (actor)

Get a Houston Astros hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Houston Astros

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander

David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Gone are the days of the gold and red star of the Biggio, Bagwell, Berkman era.

The newly dominant Astros sport a classic look, and the young bucks make it look good. It fits the region and the vibe of the franchise, a grassroots effort to become a baseball powerhouse.

Houston has plenty of hip-hip roots, so expect to see that Astros cap in more than a few Bun B and Travis Scott videos in the near future.

18. Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins third baseman Brian Anderson

Brynn Anderson / AP Photo

Established: 1993

Colors: Midnight black, Miami Blue, Caliente red, Slate grey

Other nicknames: The Fish

Famous fans: Drew Barrymore (actress), Justin Long (actor), Marlins Man (Laurence Leavy, American sports fan and lawyer)

Get a Miami Marlins hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Miami Marlins

Chris O’Meara / AP Photo

We’re torn on this one. The hat itself is gorgeous. It’s a prime representation of Miami with vibrant colors and a sleek design of the “M” to incorporate the mascot.

However, the team is terrible and has little to no fans. The Marlins Man visiting all major sporting events gets more recognition.

There is hope here, but it’s a ways off.

17. Minnesota Twins

Jim Mone / AP Photo

Established: 1901

Colors: Navy blue, scarlet red, Minnesota Kasota gold, white

Other nicknames: Twinkies

Famous fans: Josh Hartnett (actor), Jesse Ventura (media personality, retired wrestler)

Get a Minnesota Twins hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Minnesota Twins

Tom Olmscheid / AP Photo

Props to the Twins for sticking with a classic.

Minnesota has been up and down as a franchise, with more downs than ups in the last few years, but the hat has remained a consistent “TC” to represent the Twin Cities.

The Twins can only climb so high, since you won’t see many pop culture icons in the stands. However, the look is distinguishable and has held up over time.

16. Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer

Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

Established: 2005

Colors: Scarlet red, navy blue, white

Other nicknames: Nats

Famous fans: Bill Nye (scientist, “The Science Guy”), Wale (rapper)

Get a Washington Nationals hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto

Alex Brandon / AP Photo

Bill Nye, aka “The Science Guy,” is the most notable celebrity to carry the flag for the Nats.

But even before they won the World Series, their hat was popping up in more and more in hip-hop videos. The team’s recent success will add to that acclaim and exposure.

The hat is a phenomenal blend of the nation’s colors, a strong representation for the capital of the United States.

15. Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis

Gail Burton / AP Photo

Established: 1901

Colors: Black, orange, white, gray

Other nicknames: O’s, Birds, Birdland Power Co.

Famous fans: Michael Phelps (swimmer)

Get a Baltimore Orioles hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means

Tommy Gilligan / AP Photo

The Bird is the word with their primary cap, and their alternate is pure class. That classic orange “O” with the black background is a look synonymous with some of the best teams in MLB history.

It’s still a great look, but the problem lately has been the team. Baltimore is a city ready to erupt if the Orioles become relevant.

This is about as far as they could fall from a hat ranking standpoint, though.

14. Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez

Louis DeLuca / AP Photo

Established: 1977

Colors: Navy blue, metallic silver, Northwest green, royal blue, yellow, cream

Other nicknames: M’s

Famous fans: Dale Chihuly (glass sculptor, entrepreneur), Chris Pratt (actor)

Get a Seattle Mariners hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Seattle Mariners

Stephen Brashear / AP Photo

A fantastic joining of Seattle’s fisherman culture with its modern companies, the nautical “S” on the Mariners cap is a big win.

The Northwest is crazy about its sports teams, but the on-field product has been lacking recently. Ken Griffey Jr. made the Mariners cool, and they’ve held up until now.

The luster is fading unless the team can get its act together soon.

13. New York Mets

Charlie Riedel / AP Photo

Established: 1962

Colors: Blue, orange, white

Other nicknames: Metropolitans, Amazin’s

Famous fans: Jerry Seinfeld (comedian), Billy Joel (singer), Hank Azaria (actor), Jon Stewart (comedian), Jimmy Kimmel (TV host, comedian)

Get a New York Mets hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: New York Mets

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

The hat isn’t perfect, but it is a good contrast with the in-town rival Yankees.

While the Yanks have always been about polish, the team from Queens has had a more workmanlike feel, which is represented in the logo.

Jerry Seinfeld and his frequent Mets references on his “Seinfeld” show vaulted the team into the pop culture pantheon, and they’re still hanging on.

12. Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper

Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

Established: 1883

Colors: Red, blue, white

Other nicknames: Phils, Fightin’ Phils

Famous fans: David Beckham (retired soccer player), Tina Fey (comedian, actress)

Get a Philadelphia Phillies hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Philadelphia Phillies

Matt Rourke / AP Photo

There have been a few shifts leading to the Phillies’ resurgence.

Philadelphia always has represented a blue-collar vibe, but when the team signed Bryce Harper as the missing piece to compete, all that went out the window.

Polarizing as he may be, Harper brings eyes to the product, and the hat is a good look for him.

11. Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson

Jose Juarez / AP Photo

Established: 1900

Colors: White, silver, black

Other nicknames: Sox, Chi Sox, Pale Hose, South Siders

Famous fans: Barack Obama (former U.S. president), Chance the Rapper (rapper)

Get a Chicago White Sox hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Chicago White Sox

Mark Black / AP Photo

The White Sox have charged up this list in recent years.

While the team became known for a massive gambling scandal in the early 1900s, Eazy-E flipped the script by donning the black and white in N.W.A. music videos and at concerts in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The South Siders even had a rep in the White House with Barack Obama, who has gotten more popular since leaving office, giving the White Sox a prominent place in American pop culture for the foreseeable future.

And the team’s red, white and blue alternates are nice, too.

10. Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson

Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Established: 1901

Colors: Hunter green, gold, white

Other nicknames: A’s, Swingin’ A’s, White Elephants

Famous fans: Randy Couture (retired mixed martial artist), MC Hammer (rapper)

Get an Oakland Athletics hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers Mike Fiers

Jeff Chiu / AP Photo

There’s just something about Oakland, which is what makes the recent news of the A’s potentially leaving the city so tragic.

Without the Raiders or the Warriors, the A’s are the big show in town, and they have held up as a prime example of what sound management can bring.

They peaked with the “Bash Brothers” of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire in the late 1980s, but “Moneyball” brought the A’s back into the fold. They will need some help from the city to stay this close to the top.

9. Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

John Bazemore / AP Photo

Established: 1871

Colors: Navy blue, scarlet red, white

Other nicknames: Bravos

Famous fans: Usher (singer), Ludacris (rapper), Big Boi (rapper), Ciara (singer, songwriter), T. I. (rapper)

Get an Atlanta Braves hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Atlanta Braves

Frank Franklin II / AP Photo

The Braves are a perfect example of how performance can mirror perception.

With rap icons Big Boi and T.I. wearing the “A” on their cap for years, the Braves’ logo has been prevalent in hip-hop culture for the last two decades.

Now that the on-field product has caught up, Atlanta is poised for a solid run near the top of the relevancy charts.

8. Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera

Paul Sancya / AP Photo

Established: 1901

Colors: Midnight navy blue, orange, white

Other nicknames: Motor City Kitties

Famous fans: Kid Rock (singer), Eminem (rapper)

Get a Detroit Tigers hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Detroit Tigers

Paul Sancya / AP Photo

The Tigers are rebuilding, but the vintage look of the Old English “D” with the navy background is distinctive and recognizable.

As Kid Rock’s and Eminem’s stars have faded, to a degree, so has the Tigers’ mainstream currency. And it may be some time before the team threatens on the field again.

However, the hat remains a symbol of toughness and grit, embodied by the city itself.

7. San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner

Morry Gash / AP Photo

Established: 1883

Colors: Black, orange, metallic gold, cream

Other nicknames: Los Gigantes

Famous fans: Grateful Dead (rock band), Steve Perry (singer)

Get a San Francisco Giants hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: San Francisco Giants

Jeff Chiu / AP Photo

A West Coast version of the Orioles, with less accent and more composting, the Giants’ hat hasn’t changed in the slightest since the team first moved to the Bay Area.

Some of the coolest players ever wore the orange and black, including Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Barry Bonds.

That hat will forever be a prime example of how far a simple design can go.

6. Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich

Morry Gash / AP Photo

Established: 1969

Colors: Navy blue, gold, white

Other nicknames: Brew Crew

Famous fans: Aaron Rodgers (NFL player), Colin Kaepernick (former NFL player), Bob Uecker (former MLB player, current sportscaster)

Get a Milwaukee Brewers hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Milwaukee Brewers

Aaron Gash / AP Photo

The Brewers have a phenomenal hat and logo. The team dropped the wheat hat as their primary and went back to ball and glove as official primary a few years ago.

Wanting to highlight the team’s origin, a sprig of wheat sits below the big “M.” That was Milwaukee’s primary cap for a years. But they came to their senses and took a step to take two steps forward.

Now, their primary is a unique combination of the sport with a glove and a ball, forming the “M” and “B” to signify the team name.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw

Kelvin Kuo / AP Photo

Established: 1883

Colors: Dodger blue, white, red

Other nicknames: Doyers

Famous fans: Alyssa Milano (actress), Will Ferrell (comedian, actor), Dr. Dre (rapper, producer), Kendrick Lamar (rapper)

Get a Los Angeles Dodgers hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger

Mary Altaffer / AP Photo

Los Angeles fans get a bad rap.

Do they leave early? Sometimes. Do they show up late? Sure. Is the most famous highlight in Dodgers history hilarious because you can see hundreds of brake lights as Kirk Gibson’s home run sails into the right-field pavilion? You bet.

However, the team’s cap represents more than that. It represents a love of L.A., and it’s a love shared by many celebrities and media icons, which is why the Dodgers (as long as they’re good) have a permanent spot in the top 10.

4. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter

Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

Established: 1882

Colors: Cardinal red, midnight navy blue, yellow, white

Other nicknames: Red Birds, Cards, Birds

Famous fans: Jon Hamm (actor), Jenna Fischer (actress), Nelly (rapper)

Get a St. Louis Cardinals hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt

Orlando Ramirez / AP Photo

Representing more quiet confidence, the Cardinals and their celebrity fans have had a lot to look forward to for basically their entire lives.

That level of consistency, combined with the St. Louis hip-hop culture makes this one a mainstay.

It’s a design that pops because of the colors and the intricacies of the little “T” incorporated into the logo.

3. Chicago Cubs

Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Established: 1876

Colors: Blue, red, white

Other nicknames: Cubbies, Lovable Losers

Famous fans: Bill Murray (actor, comedian), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (actress, comedian), Vince Vaughn (actor)

Get a Chicago Cubs hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester

Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Finally over the hump as far as championships go, the Cubs and their famous fans are just now coming back down to Earth from their World Series win a couple of years back.

It was a moment in the sun for the long-destitute franchise, and it made the simple look cool again.

We’ll see if that lasts.

2. Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts

Elise Amendola / AP Photo

Established: 1901

Colors: Red, navy blue, white

Other nicknames: Bo Sox, Sox

Famous fans: Ben Affleck (actor), Matt Damon (actor), John Krasinski (actor), Robert Redford (actor, director, producer), Stephen King (author)

Get a Boston Red Sox hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale

Tony Dejak / AP Photo

The Red Sox have tweaked the uniforms and alternate logos a little too much the past 15 years, but something that has remained untouched is that pristine red “B” against the navy blue background.

Organizationally, they are kind of a mess, but pop culture-wise, the brand is as strong as ever coming off the 2018 World Series win, the team’s fourth in 15 years.

1. New York Yankees

Michael Owens / AP Photo

Established: 1901

Colors: Midnight navy blue, white

Other nicknames: Yanks, Bronx Bombers, Evil Empire

Famous fans: Jay-Z (rapper, entrepreneur), Billy Crystal (actor, comedian), Jennifer Lopez (singer, actress)

Get a New York Yankees hat: On Fanatics

Bottom Line: New York Yankees

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

The pinstripes. The ambience. The greatness. The Yankees are No. 1 for an endless number of reasons, and they have no challenger to the throne.

So ingrained in pop culture, the Yankees’ cap is a symbol of success. Famous fans from all over don the “NY” logo, and the team continues to shine.

No end in sight for this spot.