D-NICE sits down with BUCKSHOT (fma BUCKSHOT SHORTY fma The BDI EMCEE) of BLACK MOON for the latest episode of True Hip-Hop Stories. The DUCK DOWN RECORDS General is sporting one of their latest NEW ERA fitted baseball caps which we reported on last week. If you aren’t familiar with D-NICE’s pedigree, get your Wiki or Google on. The multi-talented Hip Hop artist’s passion for the music and photography has merged into this video project which is catching a serious critical buzz. Sidenote: Enta the Stage has to be the BEST worst mixed album ever. Time for a remaster edition package on vinyl. We’ll buy 10 copies of that classic album the way it really should be heard. Make Munne Munne, Make Munne Munne Munneeee…

To the average eye a vintage cap might not outshine their more flashy modern cousins. History is an acquired taste. But once you get hooked on sports memorabilia, its hard to kick the habit of digging for those rare historical gems.

Before they made their home in Atlanta Georgia, the Braves played in Milwakee, Wisconsin from 1953-1966. The Braves Baseball franchise is one the National League’s last remaining charter members. The club’s originated in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871.* For all the vintage fitted baseball cap “heads” out there, ANTIQUE ATHLETE has come up on a Milwaukee Braves stadium souvenir baseball cap. The piece is listed as Near Mint to Mint condition for $125. Contact them for the sizing.

*WIKI

LELANDS auction house is the temporary home of museum quality pieces of sports memoriabila. An great example of this is a prior auction for a game worn Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates fitted baseball cap. This special cap was used during a monumental moment during his Clemente’s career. At 35 years old and showing no signs of slowing down, he racked up a career high batting average of .352 during the 1970 season. Clemente’s stellar performances were prematurely and tragically cut short when he died during a plane flight, while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 1973, becoming the first Latin American to receive that recognition. Roberto Clemente is the only Hall of Famer for whom the mandatory five year waiting period was dismissed. This classic New Era cap was under the care of close friend and personal assistant Phil Dorsey. Handwritten on the interior is “1970 Forbes Field” and “21″ in Black marker. The first is a very rare detail. Size tag is worn but appears to be a size 6-7/8 to 7. At the close of this auctions the final bid reached $12,231.80

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Photographer: Joe Scherschel, June 08, 1953

GOOGLE has given iconic magazine LIFE a digital facelift launching a online photo gallery featuring millions of images from their archive. Founded in 1936 by Henry Luce, the publication has fascinated millions of readers through the decades with their focus on photo-journalism. Though LIFE ceased publishing (again) in 2007, GOOGLE’s latest project showcases some of the best imagery from the media titan for generations to appreciate. Of course, since this is Strictly Fitteds we had to highlight some classic images of fitted baseball caps. More after the jump.

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In 1903, Spalding introduced the “Philadelphia Style” cap, which featured an innovative first: the stitched visor. The subtle addition resulted in a longer-lasting cap that better retained its shape. By the end of the decade, nearly every baseball cap featured the stitched bill. Pictured above is the“Philadelphia Style” cap as advertised in Spalding’s Base Ball Guide of 1903.

via: BASEBALL HALL OF FAME [Image used with permission]

Just a few months into their inaugural season of 1961, the American League Los Angeles Angels adopted caps with a Silver halo on the crown. The Angels’ halo cap lasted through the 1970 season, after which the design element was removed from the top of the cap and a small halo was incorporated into the team’s logo. Pictured above is Baseball cap worn by California Angels pitcher Clyde Wright, Circa 1970.

via: BASEBALL HALL OF FAME [Image used with permission]

Don’t call it a comeback. Sure, there has been a recent surge of interest in fitted baseball caps. The next time you slap on your favorite fitted / lid / cap, take a minute to consider its history. In baseball’s early days, a variety of hat styles were used in baseball. Some of the first were straw wide brimmed hats. This image of the 1860 Brooklyn Excelsiors Baseball team, shows an early ancestor of the modern fitted baseball cap. Pay close attention to what Thomas Reynolds, SS (first from the left) and Asa Brainard, LF; (second from the right) are holding in their hands. More historical information about the 1860 Brooklyn Excelsiors follows after the jump along with images of some true old school baseball caps.

[via: 19TH CENTURY BASEBALL] (Image used with permission)

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