Introduction | kingofhats

Introduction:

It was a Childhood dream, when I started playing baseball as a 12 year old and wanting to own a Baseball Cap from the MLB, The Love of the Sport and the League where the Greatest ever played.

A Simple Dream that someday I will own a Cap from every Single Team from Major League Baseball, a dream that I never thought I would achieve growing up in The Island of The Philippines, until I finally moved to New Jersey, USA and slowly the dream came true.

Baseball Caps Style:

Boston Club Style Caps, worn during early days of baseball 1850's-1870's.

Chicago Style (Pill Box) 1880's - 1890's.

French Seam Box Cap, Before the Philadelphia Style.

Philadelphia Style (Pill Box) 1909-1914 Athletics, the inspiration to the 1976 Bicentennial Pill Box Caps.

Brooklyn Style (8 Panel Caps) 1901-1925, last commercially manufactured was the 1938 Braves.

(6 Panel Caps) the Inspiration to the Modern Cap, for 50 years this is the style used

for baseball caps, though the bill has lengthened, there are various

style of the Brooklyn Style, Standard, Cap band, Peak band, 3 color braid, Soutache and Pinstripe. The Modern Day design started in 1955.

Cap Manufacturers:

A.G. Spalding & Bros. The Official Ball manufacturers from 1876-1976 and also the Uniform Supplier during the early days of Baseball.

Rawlings Official Ball Manufacturer since 1977, supplied uniforms during the early days of baseball.

Horace Partridge (Boston Braves)

Sisler - Hummel (St. Louis Cardinals)

Harry Walker (St. Louis Cardinals)

Goldsmith, MacGregor Goldsmith and MacGregor.

Wilson Dominated the Cap business in the 1960's.

Wilson has a unique Cap tagging, they use the 3 letter markings on their caps.

1st letter (Last digit of the year manufactured) 2nd Letter (Month) 3rd Letter C for Cap.

A=8 Z=January

B=9 Y=February

C=0 X=March

D=1 W=April

E=2 V=May

F=3 U=June

G=4 T=July

H=5 S=August

J=6 R=September

K=7 Q=October

P=November

O=December

Tim McAuliffe, KM Pro and the Leslie Company, Stall and Dean, McAuliffe Uniform and PRO McAuliffe. One of the biggest players in the Cap business.

New Era supplying Caps since 1920, Cleveland Indians first client (1934), manufactured caps for the Wilson Brand and other companies, Exclusive Cap maker of MLB since 1993.

Roman Pro (1977-1994) When KM PRO went out of business Roman Pro who supplied the embroideries bought some of the machines and continued the cap making business, some of the equipments were also bought by the Devon Professional and Twins Enterprises.

Devon Professional Cap (70's-80's)

Twins Enterprises, '47 Brand. (1979-1987)

Sports Specialties, MacGregor, Nike. Sports Specialties by the late 1980's was one of the last two standing manufacturers until 1993 when New Era was granted the sole exclusive rights.

American Needle and Novelty Company (ANNCO).

AJD (Baltimore Orioles 1975-1977).

Mitchell & Ness (1940's-50's, 1998-2003), Ebbets Field Flannels.

California Custom Caps.

Cooperstown Ballcap Company, Ideal Cap Company (1987-2010).

New Era Cap Timeline:

1954 59Fifty officialy made it's debut.

1970's-1980's New Era and some of the teams experimented with Nylon Fabric Caps.

1978 New Era 59Fifty finally available to the public when New Era placed a mail order advertisement in The Sporting News.

1988 Cap manufacturers were narrowed down to the last 2 companies, New Era & Sports Specialties.

1992 MLB Batterman Logo added in the back of the caps, first was a patch then embroidered in, Sports Specialties initially had theirs on the side of the caps, Mid Season the Batterman logo comes in one color embroidery, and it was switched to 3 colors late season.

1993 New Era became the Exclusive Cap maker for MLB, Gray undervisor for all the teams as standard except for the NY Yankees who kept the Green Undervisors.

1994 NY Yankees switched to Gray Undervisors, to commemorate MLB's 125th Anniversary New Era provided the bronze "Batterman" pin that players pinned onto the back of their caps.

1996 Introduced raised embroidery, NY Yankees and Atlanta Braves first teams to have World Series Patch on the side of their Caps. Start of the trend of Caps having commemorative Side Patches (All-Star Game, WS).

1999 Introduced the very first Batting Practice Caps, Mesh Fabric and fitted caps for all MLB

teams.

2001 NY Yankees & NY Mets added the American Flag side patch after the events of 9-11, became a standard for all MLB teams to commemorate the anniversary of 9-11 every year since.

2002 The Anaheim Angels is the first team to use Black undervisors.

2007 On Field Caps are no longer made of wool, New Era started manufacturing caps made of Polyester, All Caps now features Black undervisor.

2008 Coaches started wearing helmets.

2009 Introduction of Stars & Stripe Caps to be worn during 4th of July Games.

2010 New York Yankees switched MLB Batterman logo colors to Blue, White and Gray.

2013 Introduction of Memorial Day Caps, Introduction of Diamond Era Batting Practice Caps, Introduction of the first A.L & N.L. Batting Practice Caps for the All-Star Game, Host Themed (NYM).

2014 Introduction of Home Run Derby Caps, All-Star Game features Special designed Diamond Era Caps for the (Host Themed) All-Star Game in Minnesota.

2016 New Era and MLB Introduced the New Spring Training Caps that features side patches that represent the two States that host the Spring Training (Florida and Arizona).

MLB and New Era Introduced the Special Mother's Day and Father's Day Caps for every Team

2016 Playoffs saw the side patches on the right side of the caps as New Era added the side flag logo on the left side of the On Field Caps.

2017 Introduction of St. Paddy's Day Caps for every MLB Team, with side patch on the right side.

Introduction of the New Diamond Era Spring Training BP Caps with the side flag logo.

New Era Side Flag becomes permanent fixture on the left side of the Authentic Collection On Field Caps. "Fly Your Own Flag" Slogan removed from the inside New Era Tags.

MLB and New Era Introduced the first Players Weekend, wearing special design Caps and Uniforms featuring players nicknames on the back and the Evolution Batterman logo.

Holy Grail:

I called it my "White Whale", Collectors have certain Caps they needed for their Collection and had eluded them, these are the "Holy Grails" or my "White Whale" (based on the book Moby Dick by Herman Melville). Every Single Collector has their very own "Holy Grail".

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Roman Pro Caps

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Holy Grail

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"THE BANNED"

1976 CHICAGO WHITE SOX "ICE CREAM MAN" FITTED CAP.

The Sox wore these for the first 3 series of their first road trip of the 1976 Season (7 Games) April 13-14 vs. Minnesota Twins, April 15,17-18 vs. Boston Red Sox and April 20-21, 1976 vs. the New York Yankees, Teams complained the white cap is distracting hitters as they can't see the ball especially from overhand throwing pitchers, so MLB banned the cap and the Sox went with the all navy version of the cap, 1976 will also be remembered for the Bicentennial and teams wearing Pill Box caps and the Sox wearing the infamous Shorts and that collared Jersey. This Cap is Top 3 rarest Holy Grail's as the cap was only worn for 7 games and I don't believe was reproduced enough if ever.

2013 ATLANTA BRAVES DIAMOND ERA BP FITTED CAP.

2013 New Era and MLB Introduced the new BP caps called Diamond Era to replace the 2010 version of the 39THIRTY BP caps, the new caps has the same structure of the on field caps but with the new diamond era fabric, Teams selected the designs of their new caps and the Braves went back to the retired logo and an old favorite, The Screaming Indian also known as Chief Noc-A-Homa, But the cap generated so much controversy and backlash and the cap was pulled out of the stores and the braves has to settle with a new design, the cap was never worn on the field by the braves.

Perfect Example of how our country has become so sensitive, and how Political Correctness is making us all weak and promotes hypocrisy.

AIR JORDAN I (1984-1986)

Designed by Peter C. Moore, the black and red colorway is the original Air Jordan sneakers, the one that started it all, on October 18, 1984 pre-season game, NBA notified Nike and the Bulls that Michael Jordan broke the NBA "Uniformity of Uniform Rule"

"A player must wear shoes that not only matched their uniforms, but matched the shoes worn by their teammates."

NBA Commissioner David Stern banned the shoe for not having any white on them, MJ continued wearing them and the NBA fined him $5,000 for every game he played wearing the shoes, MJ kept wearing and Nike kept paying the fines, Nike saw an opportunity with this and used this as a promotional tool in advertisements hinting that the shoes gave an unfair competitive advantage and that whoever wore them had a certain edginess associated with outlaw activities.

2015 Michael Jordan said He agree that the Legacy of the Air Jordan sneakers will overshadow what he did in the game.

My AJ1 is the 2nd Retro of the Original Shoe back in 2001, I never wore the shoe then and sadly I can never wear them now as it's 15 years old and I don't want to risk ruining it like how I did with my AJ IV that was the first retro in 1999.

I wore jerseys back in 1989 before the hype of the Jerseys in the 2000s, I wore AJs before everyone is wearing them like it is now.

Introduction:

It was a Childhood dream, when I started playing baseball as a 12 year old and wanting to own a Baseball Cap from the MLB, The Love of the Sport and the League where the Greatest ever played.

A Simple Dream that someday I will own a Cap from every Single Team from Major League Baseball, a dream that I never thought I would achieve growing up in The Island of The Philippines, until I finally moved to New Jersey, USA and slowly the dream came true.

Baseball Caps Style:

Boston Club Style Caps, worn during early days of baseball 1850's-1870's.

Chicago Style (Pill Box) 1880's - 1890's.

French Seam Box Cap, Before the Philadelphia Style.

Philadelphia Style (Pill Box) 1909-1914 Athletics, the inspiration to the 1976 Bicentennial Pill Box Caps.

Brooklyn Style (8 Panel Caps) 1901-1925, last commercially manufactured was the 1938 Braves.

(6 Panel Caps) the Inspiration to the Modern Cap, for 50 years this is the style used

for baseball caps, though the bill has lengthened, there are various

style of the Brooklyn Style, Standard, Cap band, Peak band, 3 color braid, Soutache and Pinstripe. The Modern Day design started in 1955.

Cap Manufacturers:

A.G. Spalding & Bros. The Official Ball manufacturers from 1876-1976 and also the Uniform Supplier during the early days of Baseball.

Rawlings Official Ball Manufacturer since 1977, supplied uniforms during the early days of baseball.

Horace Partridge (Boston Braves)

Sisler - Hummel (St. Louis Cardinals)

Harry Walker (St. Louis Cardinals)

Goldsmith, MacGregor Goldsmith and MacGregor.

Wilson Dominated the Cap business in the 1960's.

Wilson has a unique Cap tagging, they use the 3 letter markings on their caps.

1st letter (Last digit of the year manufactured) 2nd Letter (Month) 3rd Letter C for Cap.

A=8 Z=January

B=9 Y=February

C=0 X=March

D=1 W=April

E=2 V=May

F=3 U=June

G=4 T=July

H=5 S=August

J=6 R=September

K=7 Q=October

P=November

O=December

Tim McAuliffe, KM Pro and the Leslie Company, Stall and Dean, McAuliffe Uniform and PRO McAuliffe. One of the biggest players in the Cap business.

New Era supplying Caps since 1920, Cleveland Indians first client (1934), manufactured caps for the Wilson Brand and other companies, Exclusive Cap maker of MLB since 1993.

Roman Pro (1977-1994) When KM PRO went out of business Roman Pro who supplied the embroideries bought some of the machines and continued the cap making business, some of the equipments were also bought by the Devon Professional and Twins Enterprises.

Devon Professional Cap (70's-80's)

Twins Enterprises, '47 Brand. (1979-1987)

Sports Specialties, MacGregor, Nike. Sports Specialties by the late 1980's was one of the last two standing manufacturers until 1993 when New Era was granted the sole exclusive rights.

American Needle and Novelty Company (ANNCO).

AJD (Baltimore Orioles 1975-1977).

Mitchell & Ness (1940's-50's, 1998-2003), Ebbets Field Flannels.

California Custom Caps.

Cooperstown Ballcap Company, Ideal Cap Company (1987-2010).

New Era Cap Timeline:

1954 59Fifty officialy made it's debut.

1970's-1980's New Era and some of the teams experimented with Nylon Fabric Caps.

1978 New Era 59Fifty finally available to the public when New Era placed a mail order advertisement in The Sporting News.

1988 Cap manufacturers were narrowed down to the last 2 companies, New Era & Sports Specialties.

1992 MLB Batterman Logo added in the back of the caps, first was a patch then embroidered in, Sports Specialties initially had theirs on the side of the caps, Mid Season the Batterman logo comes in one color embroidery, and it was switched to 3 colors late season.

1993 New Era became the Exclusive Cap maker for MLB, Gray undervisor for all the teams as standard except for the NY Yankees who kept the Green Undervisors.

1994 NY Yankees switched to Gray Undervisors, to commemorate MLB's 125th Anniversary New Era provided the bronze "Batterman" pin that players pinned onto the back of their caps.

1996 Introduced raised embroidery, NY Yankees and Atlanta Braves first teams to have World Series Patch on the side of their Caps. Start of the trend of Caps having commemorative Side Patches (All-Star Game, WS).

1999 Introduced the very first Batting Practice Caps, Mesh Fabric and fitted caps for all MLB

teams.

2001 NY Yankees & NY Mets added the American Flag side patch after the events of 9-11, became a standard for all MLB teams to commemorate the anniversary of 9-11 every year since.

2002 The Anaheim Angels is the first team to use Black undervisors.

2007 On Field Caps are no longer made of wool, New Era started manufacturing caps made of Polyester, All Caps now features Black undervisor.

2008 Coaches started wearing helmets.

2009 Introduction of Stars & Stripe Caps to be worn during 4th of July Games.

2010 New York Yankees switched MLB Batterman logo colors to Blue, White and Gray.

2013 Introduction of Memorial Day Caps, Introduction of Diamond Era Batting Practice Caps, Introduction of the first A.L & N.L. Batting Practice Caps for the All-Star Game, Host Themed (NYM).

2014 Introduction of Home Run Derby Caps, All-Star Game features Special designed Diamond Era Caps for the (Host Themed) All-Star Game in Minnesota.

2016 New Era and MLB Introduced the New Spring Training Caps that features side patches that represent the two States that host the Spring Training (Florida and Arizona).

MLB and New Era Introduced the Special Mother's Day and Father's Day Caps for every Team

2016 Playoffs saw the side patches on the right side of the caps as New Era added the side flag logo on the left side of the On Field Caps.

2017 Introduction of St. Paddy's Day Caps for every MLB Team, with side patch on the right side.

Introduction of the New Diamond Era Spring Training BP Caps with the side flag logo.

New Era Side Flag becomes permanent fixture on the left side of the Authentic Collection On Field Caps. "Fly Your Own Flag" Slogan removed from the inside New Era Tags.

MLB and New Era Introduced the first Players Weekend, wearing special design Caps and Uniforms featuring players nicknames on the back and the Evolution Batterman logo.

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Holy Grail:

I called it my "White Whale", Collectors have certain Caps they needed for their Collection and had eluded them, these are the "Holy Grails" or my "White Whale" (based on the book Moby Dick by Herman Melville). Every Single Collector has their very own "Holy Grail".