So I grabbed my trusty MLB backpack yesterday, ya know the big official one with team patches all over? Figured it’d be cool to actually match it to my Dodgers gear for game day. Sounds simple, right? Boy, was I wrong at first.
Started simple. Dug out my favorite blue Dodgers hoodie and a crisp white tee. Tossed ’em next to the backpack. Nope. Just… nope. The hoodie’s blue looked kinda dull compared to the backpack patch’s bright “Dodger Blue”. Felt off, like wearing mismatched socks. Thought maybe it was just the light. Checked near the window, still not hitting right.
Got stubborn. Okay, maybe shirts are tricky. Pulled out my blue Dodgers cap. That’ll match for sure! Held it next to the backpack patch. Dang it. The hat’s blue leaned slightly royal? Or brighter? Couldn’t tell exactly, but it wasn’t the same blue as the patch. Like arguing over sky blue versus baby blue. Annoying!
Felt dumb staring at “Dodgers” stuff not matching Dodgers backpack patches. Time for a smarter move. Went online, searched “exact Los Angeles Dodgers colors official”. Found a team color guide thing, gave me hex codes: #005A9C for “Dodger Blue” and #EF3E42 for “Red”. Pulled them up on my screen. Grabbed the backpack. Held the screen next to the patch. Ohhhhh! Finally! This blue – #005A9C – looked WAY closer than my actual hoodie or hat under the light.
Started checking other teams I liked, like the Angels. My Angels gear leans kinda navy sometimes. The official guide said “Red” (#BA0021) and “Navy” (#003263). My navy Angels hoodie? Pretty close to #003263. The red on my cap? Spot-on #BA0021. Made sense now!
Here’s the messy truth I bumped into hard:
- “Team Color” ain’t just one shade. Merch varies wildly!
- Blues and Reds are sneaky! Royal blue ain’t navy ain’t Dodger Blue. Carmine ain’t scarlet.
- Trust the actual source, not just your merch. That “official” jacket might not use the exact official color from the team’s site.
So the new game plan? Easy:
For any team gear I wanna match to this backpack? Check the official MLB team color guide online first. Get those digital swatches (# codes). Then hold that color on my phone screen RIGHT against the backpack patch. Compare my actual clothes under the same light. If it vibes? Perfect. If not? I know before I waste time trying to force it.
Saved me headache this morning trying to find a shirt for my Angels day. Checked the guide, knew which reds/navys would actually play nice with the backpack patches. Simple once ya know the trick! Live n learn.
