A couple days ago, I ranked the 2025 City Connect uniforms, which I thought were quite good this year, at least when compared to prior seasons. But sometimes the individual caps can really affect the look (and grade) of the overall uniform, and as was the case with the CC version 1.0 caps (I also ranked those last year), the best overall uniforms don’t always have the best caps, and vice-versa.
This season, MLB has seen fit to also create City Connect Batting Practice caps — for all eight teams who received new CCs this season and for teams who previously had a CC. So, while my rankings for the CC new-for-2025 caps will be based solely on the cap worn on the field, in many cases (I think) the BP cap is actually superior to the gamer. In those cases, I’ll note whether the BP cap should replace the actual caps worn.
It must also be noted that the Chicago White Sox actually introduced two different gamers — I’ll consider both equally in their overall ranking.
Here we go. I’ll rank these from first to worst. Feel to disagree in the comments down below!
There are a few very nice caps (relatively speaking) but the Nats are just a hair above the number 2 team, and not only did they create an excellent on-field cap, they also have a very good looking BP cap as well. While the Capitol silhouette in the negative space of the “W” ain’t exactly original, it’s still a cool feature. The combo of powder and navy blue is always excellent, and I suppose the cherry blossom petals help to bring the pink into the uniform. The BP cap is pretty nice too — with a bit of an easter egg: the 3 petals and two bars beneath the interlocking DC are an allusion to the DC flag. Unfortunately, the interlocking DC gets a bit lost. Still, a nice BP cap.
CAP 1:
CAP 2:
I’m not sure why, but the Sox seem pretty proud of the fact that they have two CC caps — although I’ll admit, they’re both pretty nice. The winged sock is a great logo (again, even if it has roots that are 2,000 years old). I’m surprised at how much I like the red crown with black pinstripes, and I’m sure they’ll move a ton of these at retail, which is pretty much the whole point of the CC program. In fact, I’d say the red pinstriped cap is actually the best of the whole program, but I’m not nearly as enamored with the red brim/solid black crown. It’s still solid, but taken together, they rank just below the Nats. Their whimsical BP cap would be a more appropriate cap for their (now retired) beach blanket bingo throwbacks, but taken just as a cap, it’s really nice as well.
Even though I was in my thirties when the purple and teal fad hit pro sports, and I wasn’t particularly a fan, when done well, they can create a great combo — and Los Serpientes absolutely got the combo right. The “S” logo has grown on me since it was first introduced as a wordmark on the original CC jersey. I always hoped it would be a standalone logo on the cap, and now it is. Of course, they pretty much need to pair that cap with the uniform on-field, even though their BP cap is great, too. Like several other teams, the BP cap inverts the crown and brim colors. The D-backs elected to go with their “A” logo on that one. I’d have liked to see how it would have turned out with a purple snake logo.
The Stros CC cap is good but not great, although I do love the allusion to the unused, prototype cap for what became the tequila sunrise uniforms. Nice nod there, but there’s probably a reason they eventually went with an orange cap (and many years later, switched to navy). I get that the unused prototype had a blue brim, with a white front panel, so that’s what they went with for the CC cap. I think solid blue might have looked better. Still, very nice. I’m not as big a fan of the BP cap, which is a solid light crown (which I think looks better) but contains the new CC sleeve patch as a logo. I’d rather they have used the A logo.
The Sawx may well have the best new CC for 2025, but their cap — while perfect for their CC — is kinda bland on its own. I like it, to be sure, but it also feels like something everyone in Southie wears on March 17th (and probably a lawt of othah days besides that). That’s neither a knock on the cap nor the good folks from Boston, but it feels almost generic. Like, this could be a cap you see at the airport. Maybe that’s damning with faint praise, but it’s a cap that doesn’t scream CC as much as it does a color swap from their standard cap. Now the BP cap…THAT is what they should have done for the gamer. Put the “Circle B” and the ball/strike/out indicator on the green cap and we’re cooking with gas. Even with a white crown (and green brim, eyelets and squatchee) it looks fabulous.
Like the Red Sox, there’s nothing really wrong with this cap, and it works with their CC. But the full powder blue with a cramped three-color logo feels just a bit off. I think the better logo choice, which they actually used for the BP cap, would have been to use the sleeve logo on the cap. The purple BP cap is probably what they should have gone with for the gamer.
The final two teams on this list — the Giants and the Marlins — both absolutely have better BP caps than the on-field versions. My biggest complaint about the Giants CC uniform was the “script in motion” Giants wordmark, and the team went ahead and created an “SF” in the same terrible font for the cap. I actually don’t mind the visor gradient, but the cap logo is terrible (and the SF is kinda hard to read). But…the BP cap: now we’re talking. The orange crown with purple brim and squatchee is a pleasing combo, and even though the sleeve logo is busy, it’s still a much better cap logo than the script SF.
If you thought the discrepancy between the Giants BP and regular CC caps was big, the Marlins absolutely got their BP and CC caps bass-ackwards. Unlike the Giants CC, where the gradient brim complements the cap, the Marlins CC brim tries to wedge too much gradient (light blue to pink) in too small a space. And since I can’t say anything good about the area code logo, I won’t say anything at all. The Marlin by itself would have vastly improved things. But as it is, it’s the worst of this year’s bunch. Why they couldn’t have just worn their BP cap? Look at how much better this looks (although I’d prefer either the fish or the M, not both).
How would you rank the caps? Would you swap any of the BPs with the gamers? If you’re a collector, which (if any) of these will you cop?
Fire away.
I frankly enjoy that the red sox cc cap is just a recolor. I’d even wager that most CC concept as a whole would be improved if more (well done) recolors existed. Keeping brand identity more intact.
Completely agree on the Red Sox hat. It helps the whole undertaking stay connected to the team’s established look.
The Marlins batting practice hat should be the foundation for an entire new uniform set, aside from just bringing the original teal and black back. If ownership and Nike want to make something with their own stamp on it, this is probably the best route.
Seconded, even with the ghosted typeface.
“I get that the unused prototype had a blue brim and crown, with a white front panel”
Actually, that unused Astros prototype cap had a white crown with a blue brim. That’s what they’ve sold in the team store for years. This photo has a better angle of the entire cap.
link
Oh, FFS, yes — I’ve seen that photo with the rear, but completely missed the all white crown.
Will adjust the text. Good spot!
No worries! Thanks!
I have noticed almost every CC BP cap has the sleeve patch – giving those who don’t want to buy a jersey an option to get something cool from the jersey on a cap. That may be obvious, and Phil may have included that somewhere already – but I thought I would mention it.
Nike and their damn area codes…
People don’t give about area codes on caps or jerseys. And that includes elevation levels ! Respectfully I would have the gorgeous D Back caps as number 1. Love the logo and the color scheme. These city connects should stay within the team historical color scheme in my opinion. The Giants City Connect is more like a shit show. No lie it looks like something a 8 year old would create. A total cow pie on the legacy of the NY/ SF uni history.
All of these are great except the bottom two. Good ranking!
I mean if the Marlins went with their BP hat as their regular hat, it would’ve been #1 on the list, yes? We all agree about that?
Truthfully, I like MOST of the BP hats better than the regular hats. The Nats for sure, the Marlins for sure, the White Sox is at least AS good as their black/red hat, and better than their red/pinstripe hat. Colorado and San Fran are pushes, Arizona needs a purple squatchee. The only one where the game hat is DEFINITELY better is Houston.
I feel like it’s true of a lot of the BP hats for the previous years’ City Connects. Baltimore, St. Louis, Tampa, Philly, Detroit, Minnesota, Milwaukee…
Their whimsical BP cap would be a more appropriate cap for their (now retired) beach blanket bingo throwbacks,
With a slight recoloring from black to navy…perhaps.
these close up pics show a cool detail I hadn’t seen. the “air holes” (is that what they’re called?) in the front of the black white sox hat are instead stars based on the Chicago flag
I believe “eyelets” is the technical term
I also would like it if SF and Boston used their BP caps for the games but instead with the colors of the brim and crown flipped. Miami BP cap is the most obvious to take the place of the game cap.. i personally would like it even more if it were just the fish without the M, but M with fish is still miles better than the area code
as a regular uni watcher, eyelet myself down for not knowing that
Lol! I’m surprised there’s not a hat-specific term, since to me an eyelet is a hole on shoes for the laces.
The astros and d-backs are definitely winners. The Rockies, Red Sox could have been better but they are perfectly fine hats. The rest can go in the trash bin along with the BP caps.
The Red Sox BP would have been a better option for the main age and the astros would have been an acceptable option but the garbage fabric they use for BPs is a deal breaker for me. What is the assumption that BP is so much more work than playing the actual game that they just use a fabric that appears more breathable. Even though I doubt this fabric is more breathable.
Hello, I like the article, but when you do ranking lists, would it be possible for you to have last place at the top, and first place at the end of the article? It’s not imperative, since I can just scroll down if I have to, but I would rather start with the worst, and then get to the best. It’s not really needed for me, but that would be nice if you are able
From on-field highlights I have seen of these, Los Serpientes reigns supreme! And a reverse version just might be better.
With the Rockies being my geographically closest team, I agree that the BP cap is much better.
I haven’t seen the Nationals’ cap in action, but its silhouette of the Capitol is a much better presentation than what the Caps’ logo did- and since I brought it up, that is the Caps logo’s only fault.
I just read a comment “Nike and the damn area codes”. Yes the area code and airport codes are terrible but it is a New Era cap, not Nike. I have asked a few times but would like to know how much input New Era has on the CC program.
I think Boston is the best. The B is classic and although in a different color, when seen we know it is Boston. Don’t care for the circle B at all.
I like the Diamondbacks colors very much and both hats look good,
The Rockies game cap is okay, though I don’t care for the BP cap.
The Astro cap looks like a baseball cap not a fashion cap and is okay. The BP cap is so-so.
Washington’s cap doesn’t remind me of the Nats or Washington but the color reminds me of the Tar Heels which greatly improves it.
I don’t care for the White Sox caps, but the black is decent. The pinstriped and BP cap is a hard no!
The Giants cap would be ok with a solid bill but as is, not a good look. The BP cap is awful.
The Marlins game cap is horrendous! However, the BP cap is great. In fact the BP cap is bay far the best look of all of the caps shown in this article.
How am I just now noticing that the black White Sox Cap with the red brim has the pointed stars from the City’s Flag as a replacement for two of the holes on the front of the cap?
Has the Rockies pulling their original CC BP hat been addressed on this site? Would love to know why since those were great hats
Are you sure the Rockies actually had a CC batting practice cap (for their green license plate unis)? The CC BP caps, to my knowledge, were only unveiled this year, and the Rockies wouldn’t have received one for their old CC uniform since they were destined for a new one with the unveiling of their neew 2025 CC uni.