Major league caps...

[STL FANATIC]

I watching the Cards at the Pirates, and they have American flags on the sides of their caps. I believe this started yesterday for them. Anyone know why? Are all teams (perhaps not the Canadian ones) doing this? Maybe it's for Memorial Day weeked, but, not sure I like that idea really. Anyone know what's up?

[Hardman 1]

I'm pretty sure that this is for memorial day weekend.

[CC97]

Yes it's for Memorial Day weekend, they'll do it again on Independence Day, and September 11th.

I hope we will be allowed to wear Canadian flags on Canada Day, but you know how it is.

[STL FANATIC]

If you got a contact, Chris, I say you let them know it is only fair to do it on Canada Day. And for that matter, the US teams should apparently have to wear the Canadian flag too.

[budbowl77]

ahh, I don't think so...

[bosox]

It is fair to have the American teams wear the Canadian flag on Canada Day, since the Canadian teams are wearing the American flag.

[GMS1122]

me too

[JQK]

seeing how baseball is the american sport, and seeing how there are only 2 (really only 1) canadian teams, i don't think the american teams should wear canadian flags. I don't think the canadian teams should wear the american flags, but, if that's how MLB wants to do it, that's the way they want to do it.

[CC97]

I agree with John on this one, we shouldn't have to wear the flag, nor should we have to sing God Bless America.  Same goes for U.S. teams wearing Canadian flags. But we do it, they don't, it's how it works we're used to it.

Our jackets still have a big american flag on the sleeve, they recently added a Canadian flag (which looks very out of place) on the other sleeve.

I figured after 9/11 crossed flags would've been more appropriate, sort of like what the NBA did.  MLB seems to forget that we were involved in the war on terror thing (until recently unfortunately) and we had casaulties as well.

On Canada Day we play on the road... again, so dont expect to see us break out the reds on the road.  I'm hoping to see a Canadian Flag on the caps, but I won't hold my breath.  I would expect to see the red jerseys come out of the closet on June 30th, the final homedate before Canada Day.  They'll be slightly different this year as we do have a new logo since last season.

**note** The Jays did wear canadian flags on their caps for a couple of games in 2002, they were right after Independence Day.  I assume some reason caused them unable to replace a whole set of caps so they just sewed over the u.s. flag from the 4th.  This is just a guess.  They wore em for about a week and away they went.

[STL FANATIC]

Yeah, I really don't think US teams should have to wear Canadian flags, but if they are making the Canadian teams wear US flags, then it is only fair. But, like JQK, Canadian teams shouldn't have to wear US flags either.

[clyon81]

How about each team adopts their state/province flag? Or we could do the really politically correct thing  and let each player sport their own countries flag on their hat.

That would be interesting.

[Puckguy14]

This shows how screwed up baseball still is even if they have a CBA in.  First off, for the Canadian teams, it's somewhat stupid to make the Jays play God Bless America in Toronto.  Maybe on American holidays ok, I would think it would be ok on 9/11, but come on now, MLB!

Secondly, to have the Blue Jays and Expos on the road for Canada Day, is pure stupidity on MLB's part.  I know for a fact, and Chris can back me up on this, that SkyDome draws a good crowd for Canada Day.  

Overall (getting back to the cubject) since they are on the road, make ALL teams wear the Maple Leaf July 1 if you are going to make the Canadian teams Americanize themselves.

[Nate15]

Simple solution - don't have flags on uniforms in baseball.  Don't outlaw it, but don't force teams to wear them.  Leave it up to the individual team.  Therefore, if the Blue Jays want to wear Canadian flags on their hats, they can.  If the Red Sox want to wear American flags on their hats, they can.  But don't force any team do wear them, because all it does is cause people to become angry (as this topic will undoubtedly become if Americans say that American teams shouldn't wear Canadian flags and then Canadians come back offended).

[oz615]

Our jackets still have a big american flag on the sleeve, they recently added a Canadian flag (which looks very out of place) on the other sleeve.

I figured after 9/11 crossed flags would've been more appropriate, sort of like what the NBA did. MLB seems to forget that we were involved in the war on terror thing (until recently unfortunately) and we had casaulties as well

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**note** The Jays did wear canadian flags on their caps for a couple of games in 2002, they were right after Independence Day. I assume some reason caused them unable to replace a whole set of caps so they just sewed over the u.s. flag from the 4th. This is just a guess. They wore em for about a week and away they went.

apparently someone from MLB was reading the message board and even though is out place the importaint thing is that the at least the Canadian is on the jacket,i just wish to say the same for the caps,and as far as the '02 caps are concerned does anyone has a picture of them???

[oz615]

How about each team adopts their state/province flag? Or we could do the really politically correct thing and let each player sport their own countries flag on their hat.

That would be interesting.

not to change the subject but i remember a few years ago the White Sox had the City of Chicago flag on their batting helmets

[CubsFanBudMan]

The sad thing is that MLB sells the caps with flags on them -- which ultimately means they're just trying to make a buck off of this, too.

So many were probably made after 9/11 that they're using Memorial Day, July 4, etc. to exhaust New Era's supply.

For the record, I did not rush out and buy a Cubs flag cap. (Then again, I never caved and bought a Cubs road cap, either.)

[mjrbaseball]

Why shouldn't players be allowed to wear the flags of their native countries? Just because they play here doesn't mean they don't have pride in their homelands. In fact, MLB has been making a big deal about how international the game has become the flags would let fans know where everyone is from.

(Or maybe let foreign players wear crossed flags U.S. or Canada ... and their own.)

[CC97]

players used to put pins of their home flags on their caps before MLB starting handing out fines for anyone that did.  I know Delgado used to have a Puerto Rico pin, and I can recall many others doing the same.

Same goes for putting the initials on the cap, or a players number, for a player who is injured and cannot play.

While in the Jays locker room I saw a very large sign, in english and spanish, "Do not make any marking on your cap or uniform"  in very large letters.

Point taken.

[STL FANATIC]

players used to put pins of their home flags on their caps before MLB starting handing out fines for anyone that did. I know Delgado used to have a Puerto Rico pin, and I can recall many others doing the same.

Same goes for putting the initials on the cap, or a players number, for a player who is injured and cannot play.

While in the Jays locker room I saw a very large sign, in english and spanish, "Do not make any marking on your cap or uniform" in very large letters.

Point taken.

There's a certain point when that rule needs to rightfully be ignored though, as we saw last year. My cap bears initials and numbers even.

[yh]

MLB doesn't want to clutter up team caps with flags and other non-logo markings so that when the time comes they have lots of pristine, open space to sell advertising.  I wish I could say that I am being sarcastic, however I think that may become a sad reality sometime - hopefully not soon.

I hope that nobody here considers the following comments to be unpatriotic.  I am very proud to be an American citizen; I proudly fly the flag on the front of my house, vote in every election, pay my taxes and support our military.  I was a Reagan Youth in my teens and will always refer to him as "my president" in reverential fashion.   However, I think placing the American flag on sports uniforms is superfluous and MLB's hyperAmerican policies of late are just silly and somewhat embarassing.  

The National Anthem is played prior to every sporting event in the United States and the flag flies within or above every major league sports stadium in this nation.  That's enough.  One of the most important messages that the U.S. government has tried to impart to the nation over and over again since 9-11-01 is that it is essential for Americans to go about their business.  Fine, let's do that then, but plastering the American flag on uniforms, caps, helmets, etc. is not a natural consequence of "going about our business."  Sports uniforms and sporting events should appear as they did on 9-10-01.  However, if we are going to proceed with the wearing of the flag, I think it's only fair and truly American to allow the Canadian teams to place a Canadian flag on their uniforms and for players from other nations to also wear their flag together with the American (and Canadian, if applicable) flag(s).  After all, America's strength comes from its diversity and the fact that it was built with tremendous contributions from foreign nationals and immigrants.  And over a hundred different nations lost citizens in the horror of the 9-11-01 terrorist attacks.  This was an assault on America that resulted in a global tragedy, lest we forget.