The Different Origins Of Baseball Caps And Trucker Hats

If you are a hat aficionado, or you just like to plop a hat on your head every now and then, you may wonder what the difference is between baseball caps and trucker hats. Is there a difference at all? Is one better to wear for certain occasions than the other? Here, we are going to take a specific look at both baseball caps and trucker hats to see what the difference is and why some people refer to a certain style of baseball cap as a "trucker hat".

A Quick History Lesson

Of course, there could be no trucker hat without the baseball cap. Even so, we'll look the trucker hat first.

As a promotional giveaway item, this hat got its beginning in the early 1980s. Farming supply and feed store companies were giving them away. To fit almost anyone, it was adjustable. Compared to baseball caps, it was less expensive to make. Best of all – at least for the companies giving them away (think Mountain Dew, Budweiser, John Deere, etc.) – the high front panel was ideal for advertising.

To rural workers such as farmers and truck drivers, these breathable mesh hats were given away by numerous companies. Though the name "trucker hat" eventually stuck, they were also referred to as "feed caps" and "gimme caps".

The baseball cap, though not socially acceptable for wearing at anything but a sporting event until late in the 1970s, was a uniform staple for ballplayers since the middle of the 1850s. Worn by the New York Knickerbockers, baseball caps were first made of straw. Within a few years, they would be made of wool.

When did it become acceptable to wear a baseball cap? Around the 1970s and 80s, there was an explosion of televised sports. That helped. It didn't hurt that Magnum PI (Tom Selleck) sported a Tigers cap, either. Through the decades, details have varied slightly, but the design of the baseball cap remains relatively standard.

Speaking of Designs

This time we will give first dibs to the baseball cap.

As already stated, this hat showed up in the 1850s. It was traditionally worn as part of the uniform of a baseball player. With a slightly curved brim or bill in the front, these typically have six triangular sections to their structure. On top, you will find a fabric colored button. Metal grommets or fabric eyelets are used for ventilation and situated on top of the cap. Until 1980, the only kind of hat available was a fitted baseball cap. Featuring a rear strap, adjustable hats became available eventually utilizing strap closures with buckles, Velcro, plastic snaps, and fabrics that were "stretch fit".

What makes a trucker hat different from your basic baseball cap is, more or less, the front. Standing straight and tall, the front foam section is its distinguishing feature. It's one-size-fits-all adaptability comes courtesy of the rear snap closure. This begs the question, "Can a trucker hat be classified as a snapback?" The answer is yes. However, not all snapbacks can be referred to as trucker hats. Additionally, trucker hats have a breathable mesh to help keep heads cool.

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