While in Boston on Tuesday, I noticed Cliff Lee wearing his batting practice hat while he was warming up in the bullpen. "Oh, I guess he actually is putting it on for the pregame", I said to myself. But when Lee took the mound after the Phillies batted, he was still wearing it. And out came the other seven Phillies fielders wearing them. Why?
I thank my trusted friend @RandallJSanders of Chicago who noticed my tweet asking why the Phillies were wearing them. He pointed me to this tweet:
According to ESPN, several teams wearing their BP caps today at request of MLB.I guess sales of the new lids weren't so hot.
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) May 29, 2013
You hear that fans? Make sure you buy a batting practice hat, or else they will not stop wearing them.
Question: Why does the team need a diffrent hat to take batting practice, when they will switch hats 40 minutes later?
Answer: To sell hats.
Now, I am one who is guilty of buying one of those batting practice hats. I actually like it, though I wish it was not a fitted cap (they tend to run really big). The hats cycle out every three years and they will sell you another one. I have the hat they wore 2007-2009, 2010-2012, and now this latest 2013-2015 variety.
The batting practice jerseys change every three years as well. They are due for a re-design after this season. Expect them discounted later this season.
But I digress. There is your answer: they want you to buy them, so they're hoping you'll notice they exist.
