More SABR Fallout: Gary Matthews Sr., Mad Hatter

One of the highlights of this year’s SABR conference was a spirited former player session with ex-Phillies Dickie Noles, Gary Matthews, and Brad Lidge. Noles regaled the crowd with his version of events from the 1980 playoffs and World Series, when he apparently was bound and determined to throw at every single hitter on the Astros and Royals who dared to stand in against him. Brad Lidge talked about being on the mound to close out the 2009 2008 World Series, and also the beginnings of his career.

Sarge, as he’s prone to do as one third of the26^th ranked broadcast team in the Majors, rambled on extensively about how he doesn’t trust numbers, he trusts heart, and barely discussed his playing career. He did, however, provide the greatest revelation of the conference, as it was revealed that Gary Matthews is not just a former ballplayer. He’s not just a broadcaster. He’s not just the father of Gary Matthews Jr. He is all of these three, and he is also a hatter.

That’s right, Gary Matthews makes hats. Beautiful hats. All the hats you could ever want, if your head wasn’t shaped funny like mine, and therefore you looked ridiculous in a hat. Hats galore. He’s even starting a line of little fedoras for kids. Which will be adorable because kids in hats. His website boasts, “Along with his family and baseball, Sarge has a great love for stylish headwear. A quality hat always tops off his look and Sarge wanted to share his passion for headwear with his friends and fans. Creating a collection of his favorite styles, SargesHats.com is the on-line destination for classically styled and high quality hats and caps for men and women.”

Perhaps his meandering on television and in person are because he is still using the traditional mercurit nitrate for felting his hats, and prolonged exposure is driving him mad. That would explain a lot anyway. Well, as he slowly succumbs to mercury poisoning, he is leaving behind a fine legacy of headwear. Here now are the 10 best hats available for the discriminating gentleman to purchase today-right now, in fact-on SargesHats.com*:

*Sarge also has a bevy of hats for the ladies, which I feel less qualified to judge. Though I really liked this, this, and this. And some femme fatale could wear this and get me in all involved in a murder rap, and I wouldn’t mind.

1) Brooks Hat, $100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Bamboo Mowbray, $54

3) Habana Hat, $95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Tropic Player, $53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) Agnelli Plaid Cap, $76.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6) Charlie Pork Pie, $52.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) Tilden Cap, $52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8) Billy Fedora, $60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9) Recycled Tropic Duke, $53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10) Canvas Fisherman’s Hat, $44