The use of hats has a long history that dates back centuries. Throughout the years, they have been utilized as functional accessories – to fulfill practical needs like protection against the weather. Today, caps and hats are not just functional but are also hugely popular fashion items. Here’s what you should know about the transformation of baseball caps into athletic fashion.
The first-ever baseball game that took place in New Jersey, 1846, featured the wide-brimmed hats that were made out of thin plaited wood strips, worn by the players from New York Knickerbockers. Within the next few years, the Knickerbockers changed the materials of their hats to merino wool and opted for a narrower front brim design, along with unique stitching that supported a more comfortable high crown comprising six panels. This design was more for the practicality of keeping the sun out rather than for style.
In 1901, the Detroit Tigers arguably made the first ground-breaking innovation that changed the face of baseball caps forever. The team opted to place their popular namesake animal on the front of their caps, turning the practical sunshade into a form of a battle flag. This move highlighted the cap’s marketability, not just its usefulness, and possibly marked the beginning of the USA’s greatest fashion export.
Fast forward several years, and the “Philadelphia style” began to make waves in the market, featuring a sturdier brim. This unique design was widely embraced by professional sports teams in Major League Baseball. The designs continued to evolve, with materials becoming sturdier and crowns getting higher. A breakthrough and surge of popularity came with the advent of television in the early 1940s – where every single MLB team was sporting its very own branded hat and a range of accessories.
By the 1970s, even agricultural companies started putting their company logos on their foam-front hats with plastic adjustable straps. The introduction of the mesh backing also improved breathability for workers. Many long-haul drivers loved the addition, resulting in the trucker hat phenomenon.
From the 1980s onwards, companies like New Era which supplied the MLB teams for decades began selling authentic team-branded hats to the public. Since then, the popularity of baseball caps as athletic fashion has been on an ever-increasing surge, with many celebrities and figures of interest like Paul Simon, Princess Diana, Jay-Z and even Barack Obama, choosing to sport baseball caps to complete their outfit.
If you’re looking to get a baseball cap for your favorite baseball team, Hat Heaven is a perfect choice! We have a wide range of authentic MLB hats that come in a variety of styles, colors and hat types featuring snapbacks, dad hats to fitted hats. For example, you will be excited to hear that we carry the Chicago White Sox Navy 1950 All Star Game New Era 59Fifty Fitted cap and many other choices. What’re you waiting for? Come check out our collection of hats now!
