2008.14.2

Baseball cap. Dome of cap is navy blue divided into six sections, each with an eyelet. A red button sits at the top of the dome. The top of the bill is red, and the underside is green. A 1-inch band of brown leather lines the interior diameter of the dome. A patch shows a white letter "O" in an Old English font, stitched onto a similarly shaped red background, which is in turn stitched onto the front of the cap. Two tags are found on the interior rim of the cap. One shows the seal of the United Hatters, Cap, & Millinery Workers International Union and the size of the cap, 7 1/2. Another label gives the name and logo of the company, Ebbets Field Flannels, and says "100% wool" and "Made in U.S.A."

Thornton Lee was the owner of this baseball cap. Adam Nilsen, history researcher at the Oakland Museum of California, spoke with Mr. Lee's son, Don, on February 13, 2008 and obtained the following information. The Lee family lived mostly in Phoenix, AZ, but when Thornton became part of the New York Giants, they moved to New York. He was released from the Giants, and that was when the Oakland Oaks picked him up to finish out the season. The family stayed in Arizona and never lived in Oakland while Thornton played for the Oaks. Don remembers his dad wearing the hat around the house after his dad's playing days were over. Don's mom didn't like her husband to wear a hat - Thornton's hair was already thinning, and she thought the hat would cause him to lose even more of his hair.Background information in the donor file, contributed by Don Lee, gives a brief summary of Thornton Lee's life: born in Sonoma in 1906, grew up in Arroyo Grande, attended Cal Poly, played for the San Francisco Seals starting in 1927, then for teams in Salt Lake City, Arizona, Toledo, Cleveland, and then for the Chicago White Sox for 10 years. Subsequently, he played for a team in Hollywood, and finally the Oakland Oaks.

Used: Thornton Lee | Oakland Oaks Baseball Team | Baseball | Oakland