Please Do Not Mock Jim Leyland's Beekeeper Hat

rickchand|published: Wed 30th April, 15:15 2008

The year is 1986. Out of Africa wins the Academy Award for best picture; the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates soon after launch over the coast of central Florida; and the Pittsburgh Pirates are wearing very tall hats. I came upon this glorious snapshot in time courtesy of The Ugly Baseball Card Blog; the site that allows us to fall in love with baseball cards once again.

From the site's description of Jim Leyland's '86 Topps card:

Oh, Jim. Before you go. One more thing. We almost forgot. You'll still get the talent, and the raise, and the big chair, and all that. But you're going to have to wear a hat made of mosquito netting. And it's about three feet tall. It's a completely ridiculous hat, Jim, but, well, we feel very strongly about this.

But my favorite card has to be the one below. Bottom of the ninth, down by three, bases loaded with two outs; the only thing that can save us now is a home run. Knoop, grab the biggest bat you can find and get in there!