If the eyes are a window to the soul, a baseball cap is a window to a town.
Through lore, industry, animals and oftentimes food, Minor League hats in particular tell a story about the culture and history of the area the team represents.
MLB.com continues its annual tradition of celebrating National Hat Day with a look at 11 of the most popular caps in the Minor Leagues in 2025, according to New Era and MiLBStore.com.
Moon Mammoths — Erie SeaWolves (Double-A DET)
In 2025, mammoths roamed the Earth again. The creation from John Oliver and the team at “Last Week Tonight” — which is a nod to George Moon’s 1991 discovery of a large fossil in Lake Pleasant — was an instant hit with fans. With a unique purple, black and light blue color scheme, the design features Fuzz E. Mammoth floating through space. The mascot defies gravity and logic as its tusks and snout appear to come through the helmet bubble. With a fun design, the late-night crew brought a whole new audience to the whimsy of Minor League Baseball. And the Tigers’ Double-A club will continue to rock the out-of-this-world look in 2026. Shop »
Exploding Whales — Eugene Emeralds (High-A SF)
This explosive identity has been among the most popular since it burst onto the scene in 2023. The design, of course, pays homage to the infamous 1970 attempt to dispose of a whale carcass on an Oregon beach. The red spark and bill pop against the sky blue crown with the smirking whale looking right at you. Given the continued popularity, the Giants’ High-A club has released several variants and colorways of the brand. Along with Eugene fans, folks in Florence, Oregon — where the fateful detonation took place — can’t get enough of the look. The Exploding Whales will return this season for another eight to 10 games. Shop »
Duke City — Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple-A COL)
When area codes were first assigned in the United States in 1947, New Mexico was given 505 and it served the entire state until 2007. To this day, the Isotopes continue to provide nods to not only the city but the state as a whole. As part of their City Roots Series, Rebecca Zook and the Albuquerque staff put the area code front and center, but as one looks closer, the outline of New Mexico in the zero is evident. And in the middle is the Zia sun symbol: a circle with four rays, which have a few meanings, including the seasons, the cardinal directions and stages of life. Shop »
Beer City Bung Hammers — West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A DET)
Once a year, folks outside of West Michigan are reminded what a bung hammer is. But the locals know it is the instrument used to whack a cork — or a bung – into a barrel of craft beer. The alternate identity, which the Tigers’ High-A affiliate reps once a season, celebrates Grand Rapids being named “Beer City, USA” as the home to over 80 breweries. Fans both in the area and across the country love repping the hardworking pint and hoppy pastime with this cap, which has graced this list three times in the past four years. Shop »
Frozen Pizzas — Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (High-A MIL)
Did you know Wisconsin is considered the “Frozen Pizza Capital of the World?” Due to the state being home to five of the largest brands and noted cheese production, combined with the cornucopia of ‘za options in the local grocers’ freezer sections, this was a natural choice for a Timber Rattlers alternate identity. The Brewers’ High-A club started repping the cool cap in 2025, though they have celebrated the local delicacy since 2021 with a Frozen Pizza Throwdown. The hat features an icy toaster oven holding a pizza and a peel. With the anthropomorphic oven wearing a blue baseball cap, this is literally putting a hat on a hat. But it’s chill. Shop »
Udder Tuggers — Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (High-A MIL)
While teams don’t typically have multiple entries on this list, it’s tough to choose between Frozen Pizzas and Udder Tuggers. And it seems Minor League hat buyers agreed, because both of these Wisconsin caps are brimming with popularity. Since 2019, the Timber Rattlers have celebrated the local dairy industry with a cow-themed alternate identity. The cap has gone through a couple iterations — including looks that landed on this list in 2019 and 2021 — with the current design featuring the fierce cow snarling at its opponents against a navy crown with a cow print brim. The club can’t mooove product fast enough with this sought-after look. Shop »
On-field primary home — Rocket City Trash Pandas (Double-A LAA)
This cap started out just for the fans. Before the Angels’ Double-A affiliate even debuted on the field in 2021, this blue-and black cap with the primary rocketing raccoon logo was sold in the team store. But as the popularity for the hat grew, the team decided the players should get to rock the colorway as well. It is now Rocket City’s primary on-field home cap. While the all-black version of this design appeared on this list for years, the “halo blue” design rocketed to new heights this season. Sprocket might even be the most popular raccoon in the galaxy now. Shop »
On-field alternate — Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A LAA)
While opening a new ballpark in 2025, the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate evolved its branding and created a few new hat designs. Both their classic bee cap and a new version of the bee logo drew attention from fans, but the most popular this year was the new SL cap that players wore a couple times a week. Manager Keith Johnson would often let the starting pitcher choose which jersey he felt most comfortable in, and the clubhouse manager would follow that up with corresponding cap options. The new, yet vintage-feeling yellow SL on the black cap continued to be a favorite for players and fans alike. Shop »
Hot Dogs — Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A PHI)
With a red, white and blue design, this cap is as American as baseball and hot dogs. The Phillies’ Double-A affiliate celebrates the quintessential ballpark food with this alternate identity. Reading has long been proud of its hot dogs in particular, cooking up local Berks franks on flat top grills. The club even has the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor, who brings joy and dogs to fans in the stands. Since 2021, the team has donned a hot dog jersey and cap on Sunday Family Fun Day games, which feature games and food packages. This hot dog — topped with both ketchup and mustard — is not a sandwich. It’s a ballcap. Shop »
Throwback ’74 — Rome Emperors (High-A ATL)
The Emperors debuted in 2024, and a year later, it was time for a fauxback. This Justin Franklin design pays homage to the 1974 Atlanta Braves, the team’s parent club. Everyone remembers the iconic red, white and blue uniform Hank Aaron was wearing when he broke the home run record. The High-A club took its bat-wielding emperor design and overlaid it with the same shades of blue and red Aaron wore, creating a perfect blend of the past and the present. While the team wore the design and matching jersey on Throwback Thursdays, fans all over Georgia rock this cap anytime they want to rep both Rome and Atlanta. Shop »
Blue Ghosts — Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A HOU)
In 2018, the Hooks celebrated the 75th anniversary of the USS Lexington CV-16 being commissioned. Since then, the Astros’ Double-A club has been honoring the Blue Ghosts and the local Navy ties. This particular design, which debuted in 2025, puts the emphasis on the flight side of the aircraft carrier after focusing on the ship aspects in previous iterations. In Courtney Merritt’s design, the plane is taking off and soaring through the frame into the cap. The cream and greyish blue are a calmer palette than normally seen on a Minor League hat, but it evokes a feeling of flying through the clouds. While Corpus Christi is retiring this look, a new Blue Ghosts design will emerge this summer. Shop »
