Whether it’s a ‘Dodger’ blue cap with the letters L and A stitched to its front panels or a solid black cap with the distinctive letter P shining in gold hues, chances are you know these hats and the teams they represent. Yet the two emblems, along with a handful of others, have also come to represent a whole other affiliation. The Dodgers and Pirates are among a handful of teams to have had hats adopted into gang culture—earning them spots on our list of most gang-affiliated hats.
It’s All in the Hat
The baseball cap is one of the most popular ways to show love for a sports team. This seemingly subtle bit of accouterment is a clear sign of loyalty for a team slightly more involved than the casual fan.
Gang members, however, aren’t exactly pronouncing their loyalty to a team when they rock one of these babies, nor are they riding some local bandwagon. In their eyes, the team logo on the crest of the cap has little to do with sports and everything to do with repping a set. Some of America’s most notorious gangs have claimed sports team logos to signify who they roll with and often who they will die for. So, without further ado…
Top 10 Most Gang Affiliated Hats
Seattle Mariners
Worn by: The Crips (specifically L.A.’s Rollin’ 60’s)
Reasoning: The Rollin’ 60’s Crip set prefers the Mariners shade of blue, as well as the “S” (for sixty) logo.
Oakland A’s
Worn by: Almighty Ambrose Nation (Chicago), Orchestra Albany (Chicago), Spanish Cobras (Chicago)
Reasoning: The Athletics’ “A” represents Ambrose and Albany, while the team’s green matches the Spanish Cobras’ colors.
Georgetown Hoyas
Worn by: Folk Nation (Chicago), Gangster Disciples (Chicago), Black Disciples (Chicago)
Reasoning: “Hoyas,” acting as an acronym for “Hoover’s On Your Ass,” pays homage to Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover. Hoover also organized the all-encompassing Folk Nation, which includes the Black Disciples, among other Chicago-area gangs.
Minnesota Twins
Worn by: Maniac Latin Disciples (Chicago), Crenshaw Mafia Gangsters (L.A.)
Reasoning: The “M” logo stands for “Maniac” and “Mafia” for these two gangs.
San Francisco 49ers
Worn by: Norteños (Northern California), Stoned Freaks (Chicago)
Reasoning: The 49ers’ red and gold are representative of northern California’s Norteños. The interlocking ‘SF’ logo is supposed to disrespect rival southern gangs, as the Norteños commonly refer to them as ‘scraps’ or ‘sewer rats.’ The ‘SF’ also stands for Chicago’s ‘Stoned Freaks.’
Pittsburgh Pirates
Worn by: Latin Kings (Chicago, New York), Piru Bloods (L.A.)
Reasoning: Black and gold Yankee hats used to be a staple among the Latin Kings, but the Pittsburgh Pirate fitted has recently become more prominent. The “P” logo makes an obvious match for L.A.’s Piru Bloods.
Houston Astros
Worn by: People Nation (Chicago), Folk Nation (Chicago), The Bloods (L.A.), Hoover Criminals (L.A.), Puro Tango Blast (Houston)
Reasoning: People Nation reps the Astros because of the team’s five-star pointed logo—a star symbolizing the gang. Rival Folk Nation (their main symbol is the Star of David, which has six points) also takes to the Astros’ logo because the star is broken, a dig at People Nation. Thankfully for these gangs, New Era makes different colorways of the hat—Folk Nation takes to the blue-hued iterations, eschewing any confusion over who’s who. The Hoover Criminals have adopted the retro version of the hat, which features a distinctive and Hoover-worthy ‘H’ in Old Western typeface. Puro Tango Blast naturally takes to the hat because of the hometown Houston affiliation, and the modern scarlet-colored Astros hat plays into the Bloods’ red colors.
Chicago Bulls
Worn by: The Bloods (nationwide), Black Peace Stone Nation (Chicago), Vice Lords (Chicago), People Nation (Chicago), Mickey Cobras (Chicago)
Reasoning: Peace Stone Nation and the Bloods got creative with their acronym game here, with “Bulls” standing for “Boy U Look Like Stone” and “Bloods Usually Live Life Strong/Smart.” Mickey Cobras, People Nation, and the Vice Lords all endorse the red and black color scheme of the Bulls.
Cincinnati Reds
Worn by: The Bloods (specifically L.A.’s Cedar Block Piru)
Reasoning: Despite popular thinking, the Bloods’ usage of the Reds hat isn’t widespread. Popularized by Lil Wayne and his Bloods’ sympathies (he raps “I’m a grown ass Blood, stop playin’ with me” on “It’s Good”), and also The Game (who’s from L.A.), the hat became a universal identifier of the Bloods, but that wasn’t necessarily the practice case. The Reds hat and the “C” logo are limited to the L.A.’s Cedar Block Piru set of Bloods.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Worn by: The Crips (L.A.), Surenos (Southern California), Latin Aspects (nationwide), Gangster Disciples (Chicago)
Reasoning: The Dodger Blue cap has to be the most recognizably gang-affiliated hat, a symbol deeply ingrained in the culture and identity of notable groups such as the Crips and Surenos. Its vibrant hue and distinctive interlocking ‘LA’ logo represent the Los Angeles Dodgers and resonate with Latin Aspects, making it their emblem of choice. Furthermore, the version adorned with the Dodger ‘D’ is equally significant to the Gangster Disciples, showcasing the cap’s versatile appeal across different factions. This widespread adoption by various groups underscores the Dodger Blue cap’s status as the most recognizable gang affiliate hat, blending the worlds of sports loyalty and street allegiance seamlessly.
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