The History of Baseball Caps
Whether it’s an iconic team logo or the name of a beloved beer, a baseball cap says a lot about the wearer.hats caps baseball It identifies you as a fan of that particular team, or maybe even that city. It also reveals your chosen or inherited allegiances to political parties or social groups. For these reasons, it’s no wonder that when people want to express their love of a certain team or place, a baseball cap is one of the easiest ways to do it.
The modern baseball cap owes its origin to professional baseball, where players began wearing wide-brimmed caps in the 1940s as protection from the sun.hats caps baseball These hats are typically made of wool and have a flat visor that sits below the crown. They can be worn in a variety of ways, with the front of the cap tilted back or forward. Some hats have a brim that’s longer in the back, and others look more like a derby hat.
There are several key moments in the evolution of the modern baseball cap.hats caps baseball In the 1930’s, Ehrhardt Koch, owner of the New Era Cap Company, began experimenting with adding buckram stiffeners to his caps to give them more structure and support. He sold his first big league cap to the Cleveland Indians, and this was the genesis of what we now know as the MLB-branded cap.
In the 1980’s, Sports Specialties Corporation became a licensed cap manufacturer for major league teams.hats caps baseball Their caps were known as “The Pro” and were made of thick wool with flat logo embroidery and short square visors. They were a hit with fans, and they continue to be a popular style of baseball cap.
By 1994, New Era had taken over the license for on-field baseball caps from Sports Specialties, and this was the beginning of a long partnership between the two companies that continues to this day. New Era makes a different style of cap for each MLB team, and they also make a version of the on-field cap that is used by players in the minor leagues.
The final milestone came in 2013, when the MLB granted New Era exclusive rights to produce the on-field uniform hat for all 30 MLB clubs. Then, in 2014, the league added a secondary trademark for all the other MLB-branded caps to distinguish them from the authentic on-field New Eras.
Today, there are many different styles of baseball caps to choose from, and you can find one that will fit your personal style preferences. Some like structured hats that keep their shape better, while others prefer the softness and comfort of unstructured ones. If you are selling custom embroidered baseball caps, it’s important to know your customers’ preferences so you can offer them what they need.