1993-94 Central Valley Rockies

After two weeks of retro versions of most short-lived––yet iconic––logo designs of the early 1990's, it's finally time to feature a true vintage cap from that era with this Central Valley Rockies hat which could be from either 1993 or 1994 as that was the last year of the team's existence.

Behold! I can't think of any other time that a Rockies farm team employed teal on a cap whose logo was repurposed from the big league club. Fun fact: the V is for Visalia, which was where the team called home for those two seasons.

Because the Central Valley Rockies were only around for two years, the only name associated with the team that clicks with me is Paul Zuvella (the happy smiley guy shown above) who managed during the inaugural season in 1993.

 

In the previous photo from the team's first season in 1993, you'll notice that Zuvella was wearing a cap with a grey undervisor. Because it's green on this week's cap, I'm thinking the team just must have had both flavors on hand and perhaps green might have only been used on snapbacks.

Based on the solo sweatband tag, green undervisor and materials used inside the crown, I would have sworn this cap was probably from the late 1980's or 1992 at the absolute latest.

The lack of the MILB tag only confirms my suspicion that New Era used whatever base cap they had laying around for this run of Central Valley Rockies caps. It's all good as team's ephemeralness did not call for a large production run of hats after all. Still though, I feel extremely lucky to own such a rare cap. 

This week's Fresh Fitted Friday selection is not going on the Trading Block however please don't hesitate to reach out if you want any other cap from that list and you are willing to part with any of the hats on my Wish List.

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