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The Campbell-Cardinals Tradition

By Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, @Wear_a_lid on Twitter

In 1970, when I was five years old, my dad took me to my first St. Louis Cardinals game.  In those days Lou Brock and Bob Gibson were in their prime, coming off of three World Series appearances in six years and winning two (very reminiscent of what just took place these last six years).  I was hooked.  Little did I know though at that young age it would take my beloved Redbirds 12 long years to get back to the World Series. 

For their next appearance, I was a junior in high school and was actually able to celebrate a World Series win.  I’ll never forget it.  The Cardinals then went on to play in the World Series in ‘85 and ‘87, however the team failed to clinch the championship both times and suffered painful loses in Game 7 of each.  Again, little did I know it would be 17 more years until the Cardinals were in another World Series (2004). This time I was 38 years old, married with four children; a stark contrast to being 22 and fresh out of college in ‘87.  The great thing about ’04 was that I had the opportunity to take my dad and return the favor from 34 years earlier, when he passed his love for the Cardinals on to me.

Now I fast forward to what just happened this season.  For Cardinals fans alike it’s already been documented how crazy a month it was, from being virtually out of contention with mere weeks left in the season to winning their 11^th World Series in franchise history.  This latest victory put the team in the top spot for most championships in the National League, and second in the sport overall just behind only the New York Yankees. 

Moments like these are so unpredictable, yet I tried to take advantage of every opportunity to share this experience with my family.  This year my wife and I took our 4 kids to multiple playoff and World Series games in St. Louis, and even had the opportunity to make it to Milwaukee and Texas for games.  Hopefully years from now our kids will understand how special this October was, and they will feel the same nostalgia that I did in 1970 when my dad took me to my first game.  And so the Campbell-Cardinals tradition continues…

A Redbirds fan without an official team cap? Not if we have anything to say about it. lids.com is your headquarters for St. Louis Cardinals hats, and all your favorite MLB team hats and accessories. LIDS has a complete selection of St. Louis Cardinals hats--including Authentic Collection, Franchise and more--in all the sizes and colors you need to support your Cards.

LIDS’ LEADER NUTS OVER MLB CARDINALS AND THEIR NEW FURRY MASCOT

By Glenn Campbell, Hat World/LIDS Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, @Wear_a_lid on Twitter

If you have been following the MLB playoffs at all in the last few weeks or watch any of the sports networks, you have no doubt heard about the St. Louis Squirrel. The infamous rodent now dubbed “The Rally Squirrel” by the St. Louis faithful has appeared in both of the Cardinals’ home playoff games. Well I have firsthand knowledge of this legend as he and I had a close encounter in Game 3 on October 4 in St. Louis.

I am a St. Louis Cardinals baseball “nut” you could say. I am certain that is what attracted the Rally Squirrel to me in the first place. I  have been a season ticket holder for the past 13 years and have been a Redbirds fan dating back to my childhood in the 1970s.

This 2011 season has been crazy for so many reasons. I try not to miss any Cardinals playoff games, home or away, but I made the mistake of booking some work-related business trips for early October back when the Cards were 10 ½ games out with a month to play. Oh boy, has my travel schedule been turned upside down! That is the last time I ever write-off my beloved Cardinals before they are mathematically eliminated. They overcame one of the largest deficits in history to make the playoffs on the last day of the season.

In an unbelievable five-game series, capped by one of the best pitching performances I have ever seen by Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals eliminated the Phillies in the divisional round of the playoffs. My Cards are currently tied at one game apiece with the Brewers in the NLCS. I am convinced none of this would be possible without the “Rally Squirrel.”

I was sitting in my front row seats just down the third baseline past the dugout with three buddies for Game 3 of the NLDS. The Cardinals were down 3-0, Philly clearly had the momentum, and we needed a spark. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, play was stopped as our hero came on the field. The squirrel ran from right field all the way to second base then stopped and looked around. I assume he peaked at the scoreboard and saw his team trailing. He continued in my direction and stopped as if he was telling third base coach Jose Oquendo something and then came bounding right over to me.

If you were watching that portion of the national television broadcast like my wife and kids where, you saw one of my buddies reach over the wall and point at our little furry mascot. Then you saw yours truly – donning a red Cardinals hat with my sunglasses atop the visor – reach over and try to grab him. “What would you have done if you caught that squirrel?” I have been asked countless times over the past week. As I’ve told everyone, I was caught up in the moment and all I can remember thinking in that instant was, “Getting that squirrel would surely get me on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays of the day.” Truth is, I just wanted to thank that squirrel for showing up and changing the mojo.

My Cards lost 3-2 that night but it wasn’t the squirrel’s fault. We stranded 14 base runners, nine after our furry friend came onto the field. Down two games to one, he came back during Game 4 on October 5 and darted across home plate while Skip Shumaker was batting. That squirrel clearly got inside Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt’s head and the Cardinals went on to win 5-3 and tie the series at two games apiece. Then, just when you thought the Cardinals didn’t stand a chance heading back to Philly to face their ace pitcher Doc Halliday in Game 5, Rally Squirrel magically showed up again on the field in Philadelphia before the game. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history. Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter pitched the best game of his career, the Redbirds won, and are now in line to win their 11^th World Series in franchise history.

Everyone has opinions about superstitions and curses, and baseball has its fair share of animal-related lore. Ask Chicago Cubs fans about the Billy Goat of 1945 and the black cat of 1969. I am confident the Cardinals’ “Rally Squirrel” of 2011 can change history for St. Louis in a good way.  When I sit in my seats October 12 for Game 3 of the NLCS, I’ll have a new shirt on that gives a big shout out to my furry friend. The shirt will be available in LIDS, LIDS Locker Room and the Cardinals Clubhouse stores operated by LIDS in the St. Louis area. Don’t be surprised to see that squirrel on the field. My first purchase at the ball park that night will be a cold beverage and a big bag of peanuts. Big enough to share if my friend happens to come by and visit again.

Join the LIDS Community

Are you a part of the LIDS community? Join NOW!
Now through September 22, 2011, lids.com will waive the normal $5 LIDS Club annual fee for new members (or members who let your membership expire) with any $50 online order. In addition, lids.com will hook you up with free U.S. ground shipping as long as you spend $50 or more!  Just enter discount code FREECLUB at check out.  This offer expires at 11:59pm EST on 9/22.   

Current LIDS Club members: You're already a part of the LIDS community, but lids.com wants to make you feel like a true part of the LIDS family by offering you 25% off all online orders until 11:59pm (EST) on September 22. Just enter discount code LOYALTYPAYS at check out. This offer cannot be combined with other discounts and is not valid on clearance. 

Membership in the LIDS Club guarantees you year-round savings of 20% off hats and custom embroidery, and 10% off apparel and accessories. Register your LIDS Club card at lids.com/club and receive special offers and additional benefits. Get the full skinny about the LIDS Club on lids.com or call us at 1-888-564-HATS (4287).

Take your LIDS LOVE to the next level by 'liking' us on Facebook and following us on Twitter...we have been known to have some pretty good GIVEAWAYS and special fan-only offers! Check us out!

No Bad Ideas at LIDS

 
 

We have all heard the saying, “There is no such thing as a bad idea …” Well, we can promise you there are no bad ideas here at LIDS…literally!  LIDS is bringing you select styles from No Bad Ideas Clothing Company, the specialist for the Counter-Culture; and, with No Bad Ideas, you can never go wrong!

These hats strive to fall in line with the hottest fashion trends on the street.  Not only do these products use the most stylish fabrics and the best silhouettes, but as an added bonus ALL of their designs include a concealed stash pocket for that little extra edge!

Want to learn more about this brand? Check out lids.com for the best selection in caps and gear, including No Bad Ideas hats, or ‘like’ No Bad Ideas on Facebook! 

Check out these new styles below and let us know what you think:

_{BAMBOO MILITARY                MASH UP IVY}

 
_{TRAD RIP POP STITCH IVY     PITT IVY}

Where my dogs at?

Winter is a’comin’, and it’s a’comin’ fast!  No need to worry though, Lids has you covered, literally.  I’m referring to the new MLB dog ears caps, yes I said DOG EARS.  Wearing your favorite baseball cap has never been so cool…I mean warm. 

Listen, everyone loves dogs, everyone loves hats, it’s like a match made in heaven - fusing the two! This year, you can still rock out by supporting your favorite MLB team while keeping warm through the frigid winter weather.  Wear the cap with the flaps up or flap down, whatever you fancy. They’ll be sure to keep you warm when you need them.  Let your summer hats hibernate for the winter, it’s dog ears time. 

Be sure to check out Lids.com.  Did I mention there’s free shipping on orders over $50?  Holidays are creeping up, so it’s a great time to grab one now for that special someone! Don’t wait and get caught up in the hectic, last minute holiday shopping. 

Check in daily with the Lids Blog to see what’s good, and what’s really good.  More great winter hats to come, including the MLB Trapper...take a look at our Sneak Peak pictures below. 

 

New Era Snapbacks Are in the Building!

Ladies and gentleman, the long awaited and much anticipated New Era Snapbacks have arrived!  We ventured out back to our warehouse and ripped open a few boxes because, like you, we couldn't stand the wait any longer. Believe us when we say, they are worth the wait!

Look for these New Era Snapbakcs to hit lids.com very soon!  The New Era Snapbacks will also be available in select stores.  If your local store isn't carrying them though, you can always order from lids.com and have them shipped to the nearest store at no charge!  Just choose the Ship-to-Store option at checkout.  The best part is, no need to worry about sizing issues with these New Era Snapbacks!

Check out some of our behind the scene pics below.  Are you as excited as we are?!?

The Rays Play with Plaid

Last month, the Tampa Bay Rays donned plaid blazers in Rays colors during a trip to the West coast.  Rays Manager, Joe Maddon has embraced the concept of creating theme road trips while the Rays travel.  So far this season, the team has dressed in all white while in Miami (thank you, P. Diddy) and has sported hockey jerseys while in Toronto. The team has also participated in Urban Cowboy and Johnny Cash themed roadtrips, just to name a few.

The plaid Rays blazers, thoughtfully named BRaysers, created quite the buzz after the Rays bullpen donned the jackets while making their way from the dugout to the bullpen. As a result of the fanfare, New Era has created a lmited edition BRayser inspired 59Fifty Cap.  The Rays will wear the BRayser hat during tonight's game in New York. 

If you're a diehard Rays fan or just a fashionista, you'll want to get your hands on one of these hats quickly.  Currently, this limited edition hat is available at both the LIDS and Sports Fan-Attic stores at the West Shore Mall in Tampa, Florida.  If you don't live in the Tampa area, no worries!  The BRayser hat and a BRayser t-shirt will be available for purchase at lids.com in the coming weeks. 

In your opinion, should teams have more freedom to change up their attire or are you an advocate for sticking to the classics?  Share your comments with us or send us a Tweet or Facebook post. 

ACTION SPORTS SNEAK PEAK: JUNE 2010

New for June will be some fresh new styles that should help get summer rolling in a major way!  DC Shoes and New Era have teamed up for some collaborations that are super hot!  Fox Racing has come strong with some cool new styles.  Hurley will be back with some of their best new designs.  You will also see new product from Alpinestars, Metal Mulisha, Skin Industries, Famous, Element, Nixon, Quiksilver, and Billabong.  Below are four new styles you can expect to see in the next few weeks......

DC SHOES LASPSE 210 FLEX

DC Shoes has teamed up with Flexfit to produce this vibrant summer style.  This is a 210 flex and will only be available in the color shown below.

FOX RACING LATIN BASE FLEX

This new style screems Fox Racing!   It features both a screened and embroidered logo creating a very unique "Fox Riders" logo.  This will be available in black, white, and red. 

METAL MULISHA DESCENDANT FLEX

Metal Mulisha continues to come hard with another style that exemplifies everything Metal Mulisha.  Edgy and tough are what I think of when I see this style.  This is available in black.

HURLEY PUERTO RICO PLAID FLEX

The legend is back!  This plaid style has been featured on board shorts, t-shirts, and has been a staple in our collection.  This will be available in black, white, gray, and navy. The Puerto Rico plaid never goes out of style!

Be on the lookout for these styles at lids.com and a store near you......

FOX RACING IN-STORE PROMO

Fox Racing and Lids have teamed up for a special in-store promo starting April 29th.  All styles shown below will be available in stores and Lids.com.  Get there fast as they will only be available for a limited time..... 

TOP SHELF FLEX

DESTRUCTOR FLEX

CAMPLOSION FLEX

ACTION SPORTS SNEAK PEAK: MAY 2010

May will be an exciting month for all you Action Sports fans as we are bringing in some heavy hitters to get the summer kicked off right!  Energy drink collaborations will be in full effect, we have some hot new plaid styles for you fashion geeks, also we are reloading with some of our best styles for 2010.  May will be hot!  Below are a few of the styles hitting Lids.com and stores in May:

BILLABONG - MONSTER NE FITTED

Billabong has teamed up with Monster Energy and New Era to create this masterpiece.  Under the Monster logo is an offset tonal Billabong wave logo.

METAL MULISHA MUGSHOT NE FITTED

The M/M skull says it all....ROCKSTAR!  Another collaboration featuring Metal Mulisha, Rockstar Energy, and New Era. 

FOX RACING SKEPTIC 210 FLEX

Sometimes simple but stylish is all you need.  Don't be fooled by the picture though, the under-visor matches up to the plaid fill.  Hot!!!

DC SHOES OK THEN FLEX

Tonal camo print with an oversized DC logo.  The picture says it all!

New Fashion Hats for Spring and Summer

We're all tired of the cold and snow which is why we've decided to look forward to spring and summer (instead of looking outside at the inclement weather)!  New styles will soon be arriving in stores and online.  These killer fashion hats are the perfect accessory to make your new spring threads stand out! 

Below is a SNEAK PEAK at some of the latest styles to be popping up this spring.  Check them out and be sure to stop back by the Lids Blog to see when all these new styles are available.

 

Linen 6 Panel Driver (Shown left in Olive)

Nothing says spring like linen!  This lightweight driving cap can turn even the blandest outfit into a well-styled look.  Perfectly preppy but easy to pull off with any outfit. 

Trilby 10 (Shown right in Black)

The trilby is by no means a new style; however, we've updated the Trilby 08 to be more in line with changing trends.  The Trilby 10 features a shorter brim and lower crown.  The update makes it very wearable!  

PL Straw Fedora w/Grosgrain Band (shown left in Natural)

Straw hats are an excellent compliment to your summer look--throw on some shades and a pair of comfy sandals and you'll be paparazzi ready!  This straw fedora, much like the trilby, has also been updated with a shorter brim and lower crown.  The grosgrain band adds a playful touch and a punch of color. 

 

PL Patterned 6 Panel Driver 10 (shown right in Brown)

Tonal patterns are great for spring.  This brown plaid driver has enough texture and pattern to make it interesting, but not overbearing.  This driving cap (or ivy cap) is very versatile--the neutral color and classic silhouette make it must have item to add to your collection.

Remember, these are SNEAK PEAKS, but all of the hats shown today will be arriving in stores and online soon...very soon!  Check back often to find out when you can get your hands on these fabulous fashion hats.  Be sure to leave us your comments and ideas for future styles on the Lids Blog, Facebook or Twitter.

Sneak Peak: New Era Fresh Goods Friday

It's November and the start of a new month which can only mean one thing...a new Fresh Goods Friday release is just around the corner.  And while it may be around the corner for most people, we've got a special sneak peak for all of our Lids Blog readers.  Hey, it's nice to know people -- we take care of our VIP Blog customers!

Without further ado...here's your first look at the November Fresh Goods Friday release, the MLB Trapper.  Not only is this the sickest winter look, but it's super warm too.  Whether you're wearing it for style or warmth (or both), this cap is sure to trap some hotties.   Even Jay-Z rocked a similar style in his music video Empire State of Mind (snapshot below).  And, of course, if it's good enough for the guy who "made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can," it's good enough for me.

The MLB Trapper is a solid black New Era trapper hat that originated from New Era's EK premium headwear line.  The cap features faux fur on the dogear flaps and on the flip-up front.  The New Era cap has a solid black, raised embroidery team logo on the front panel, MLB logoman on the back, and two metal New Era flags on the left-wear side.  This is a limited edition hat and will only be available at select stores in the following teams: New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. 

**Use the team links above to purchase your MLB Trapper before they're available to the general public!

Sneak Peak: New NCAA Hats

We've got lots of great new hats coming in and we wanted to give you a quick sneak peak at one of the new NCAA hats you'll soon be seeing online at lids.com and in select Lids/Hat World/Hat Shack stores. 

Introducing the newest starter to our NCAA lineup...the NCAA Chalkline.  This white NCAA hat features clean lines and simple style with just a pop of color on both the front and back team logos.  This flat-billed, stretch-fit NCAA hat matches anything and everything which is why it's the perfect addition to your NCAA hat collection.  Just remember to keep some cap cleaner handy so that your hat stays bright white!

Here are a few quick photos we've snapped for you.  You're getting your first look at the NCAA Chalkline here on the Lids Blog.  So...what do you think?  Will you be picking up your team?  Stay tuned to get this cap when it becomes available.

Major League Gaming Hats Coming Soon

Lids Blog Readers--Have you ever heard of the only digital sports league in America? Well for those of you who haven't it's Major League Gaming or MLG.

Major League Gaming, founded in 2002, is a North American professional video gaming league.  Not only does MLG host video game battles online for thousands of gamers, but the MLG Pro Circuit features a multi-city, live competition tour for video game enthusiasts throughout the United States and Canada.  MLG has even had tournaments broadcast on national television, ESPN.com and other prominent broadband websites. 

Lids has jumped on board with MLG. On November 15, 2009, four exclusive MLG hat styles will be available in select Lids stores and online at lids.com.  Below is a sneak peak for three of the four hat styles that will be available.  Check out the Lids locations that will be carrying these exclusive MLG hats here.

To find out more info about Major League Gaming and Lids' exclusive MLG hats, check out this video.  They talk about the hats around the 6:31 mark.  Happy Gaming!