Astros team up with Bun B to celebrate 713 Day
HOUSTON -- July 13 may be a normal day around the country, but for Houston it is an unofficial holiday.
The date represents the oldest area code (713) in Houston, which has turned into a yearly celebration of all things in the city, including culture, entertainment and more. In years past, people celebrated 713 Day by going out to Houston-area bars, live musical performances and community events hosted by various organizations.
This year, Houston locals celebrated their city with the Astros and local rap legend Bun B, collaborating on the design of a series of hats highlighting the style and culture of Houston. The project was made possible because of the strong relationship the rapper and the local ballclub have forged over the years.
“I don’t know if any recording artists have the kind of relationship that I’ve been able to build with the Astros over the last few years,” Bun B said. “The way that they brought me into the organization opened the doors to allow me to be a part of everything from throwing pitches to literally traveling with the team to World Series games. I’m just grateful for everything they have done for me. I'm just happy to get back to them and do something in partnership with them to get back to the city.”
The Houston rapper and the team released a collection of four hats:
7-1-3 Hat: A limited-edition snapback that features a crown and bill made from leather. The metal “Trill OG” badge coordinates with the metal star eyelet and buckle closure with the Astros logo on the right side of the cap. The embroidered under-visor of the cap details Bun B’s discography and the liner of the crown is screened with Bun’s signature logo. The cap comes packaged in a limited-edition orange, Houston slab inspired collectors’ box.
2-8-1 Hat: The Snapback cap, which celebrates the area code 281, features Astros Cooperstown logos around the crown, with the current star logo centered between the front panels. The under visor is stamped with the “Trill OG” logo and leads to the crown liner that depicts the Astrodome roof from the perspective of standing on the field and looking up.
Concept Moon Man Cap: This hat has white front panels, navy back panels, an orange bill and button, with vintage green under visor. The front logo is based on the popular concept cap “A." Offset between navy and white panels is the Trill OG moon man, while the right side of the cap showcases a Houston, Texas license plate. Finally, Bun B’s signature logo is on the back of the cap.
Trill OG Cap: An alternate cap-inspired look features “Trill OG” flanking the Astros star on the front panels, with classic grey under visor.
The four hats combine the Astros logo and other iconic Astros visuals, such as the Astrodome, with Bun B representations from his signature logo, discography and unique items used in the hats like leather and metal.
“The merchandise is not just Astros centric, but Bun B centric as well,” Bun B said. “It’s like a love letter to Houston. It is not just another piece of merchandise, it means so much more than that.”
The Astros celebrated the collaboration with a special release event in the Union Station team store. Folks lined up in the Houston heat around Minute Maid Park to get inside, where they were treated to a live DJ and a stand that had the four hats available to them. A special Bun B bobblehead was also available in the store.
Once they made their purchase, fans lined up to meet and greet the man behind the collaboration.
“This city means a lot to me,” said Ruben Lopez, a longtime Houston resident. “To get to celebrate the city with my favorite team and a rapper that means a lot to us, it’s a blessing. Not many fanbases will get to experience something like this.”