The Best and Worst MLB Hats
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.