It was typical of Reagan to receive gifts, try them on for the gift-givers, and then remove them for the photographed public event.  Especially with caps, he felt his hair looked better in photos than any camp tamping his coiffure down!  In this case, he wore only the satin Dodgers jacket on the mound, where he was surrounded by U.S. military to honor them after their recent return from the first Gulf War.  (Photo #3)

How did I get it?  I interviewed President Reagan in his Century City (Los Angeles) office on May 15, 1992.  (Photos #4 and #5)  Afterwards, he urged me to visit his new library in Simi Valley, promising a VIP tour by the library's curator.  (Photo #6)  We took the full tour and then wound up in the basement where thousands of boxes of unused material was kept.  (Photos #7 and #8)  Note the boxes say "Domestic Gifts."  The curator tole me that for domestic gifts alone there were at least 75,000 "objects."  All but a small minority would never be used in the museum's exhibits, so many were being given away.

I spotted the L.A. Dodgers cap in an open box during our walk, mentioned that I collect hats and caps, and would it be possible to have this one?  He told me that it was the cap President Reagan received from Lasorda and tried on before throwing the first pitch in the opening game.  He paused for a minute and allowed that this was, indeed, one of the "extra" items that would never be used in an exhibit and could be given away.  But he had to ask permission.  He called back to Reagan's office and had his chief of staff Fred Ryan "ask the old man."  Reagan cheerfully agreed to let me have it.

Unfortunately having collected so many things over the years, I am in the process of downsizing those items to which my children have no connection.  Hence, this rare opportunity for a sports fan and/or Reagan fan to acquire this wonderful hat.