A baseball cap is a soft, rounded hat with a firm brim in the front. It was first worn by baseball players in the 1800s to protect their eyes from the sun. Over time, it became more than just part of a uniform.
People began wearing it off the field because it was simple, practical, and looked good with almost anything. Today, baseball caps are everywhere—in sports, fashion, and daily life. They’ve become a part of American culture and a favorite around the world.
Let’s explore the complete history of baseball caps, how they evolved, and why people still love them today.
The Origins of Baseball Caps: From 1849 to the 1860s
The story of baseball caps goes back to the mid-1800s, when baseball itself was still new. In those early years, players didn’t have a proper uniform. They wore whatever clothes or hats they already owned. But the sun was a big problem because it made it hard to see the ball. To fix that, teams started wearing hats that could block the sunlight.
In 1849, the New York Knickerbockers became the first team known to wear straw hats, also called ‘chip hats.’ These plain, lightweight hats had no logos or team colors, but they helped players play better by blocking the sun. This marked the beginning of the baseball cap’s history.
Early photo of the New York Knickerbockers, one of the first organized baseball teams (1858), seen wearing straw hats. Image source: 19cbaseball.com
During the 1840s to 1870s, baseball players experimented with various types of hats, like boating caps or jockey-style hats. There wasn’t a single design that everyone used, but teams were slowly figuring out what worked best on the field. As William Arlt, president of the Cooperstown Ball Cap Co., explained in a 1999 Christian Science Monitor article, players just wore whatever was practical at the time.
In the 1860s, the Brooklyn Excelsiors tried something new. Their cap had a round crown and a longer brim that gave better shade and stayed in place during play. This design quickly became popular and is often called the first real baseball cap. It had two key parts we still see today: the crown and the bill.
Around this time, players like Harry Wright were seen wearing this new cap style. It had a fitted shape with a slightly curved top and a shorter bill, which made it easier to wear during games. This early version of the Brooklyn-style cap helped shape the modern baseball cap design we know today.
Harry Wright in 1863, wearing an early version of the baseball cap. His cap shows the rounded crown and visor style that became common in the 1860s. Image: Public Domain (Wikimedia Commons)
How Baseball Caps Evolved Through the Late 1800s
After the Brooklyn Excelsiors introduced their rounded crown and longer brim in the 1860s, other teams quickly followed their lead. The new design was practical and stayed on during play, which made it the standard for years.
But players and teams continued to experiment with different styles. In the 1870s and 1880s, the pillbox cap became popular. It had a flat top and straight sides, giving it a distinct look. The Philadelphia Athletics wore pillbox caps during some of their most successful years, and the style became one of the most recognizable looks in early baseball.
A 19th-century Philadelphia baseball player wearing a striped pillbox cap, popular in the 1880s. Photo by Gilbert & Bacon, from the New York Public Library’s Spalding Collection (Public Domain).
Some teams even brought it back in 1976 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National League. By the late 1800s, the baseball hat was more than just a way to block the sun. It had become a distinctive piece of sportswear that represented both function and team pride. Each team had its own variations, and fans started associating certain hat styles with their favorite teams.
These early changes set the stage for the official baseball cap design that would soon appear in the Major Leagues.
The Rise of MLB Caps and Iconic Brands
By the early 1900s, baseball was one of the most popular sports in America, and caps had become a key part of every player’s uniform, but teams were still experimenting with styles to find what worked best on the field.
The short-brim Brooklyn-style caps were common at first, but soon the Philadelphia-style cap took over. Its stitched brim lasted longer and held its shape better, which made it more practical for players.
In the 1901, the Detroit Tigers became the first Major League team to put an image on their caps. They stitched a red tiger on a black hat, giving the team a unique look.
This historical image shows the 1901 Detroit American League baseball team in their uniforms. Image © National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Used for educational and informational purposes. Source
Two years later, Spalding introduced the Philadelphia-style cap with a longer stitched visor. By 1910, this style was standard for most professional teams.
A major milestone came in 1920 when Ehrhardt Koch, a 37-year-old hat maker, started the New Era Cap Company in Buffalo, New York. Koch had years of experience making hats and wanted to create better-quality caps. He borrowed money from his sister to get started, and in the first year, New Era produced around 60,000 Gatsby-style caps, according to New Era’s official history.
Early 1930s New Era collage featuring a Reds-style baseball cap and the original workshop where the company began making official MLB team hats. Image courtesy of New Era Cap Company.
In 1934, New Era made its first official Major League Baseball team cap for the Cleveland Indians. The cap had a structured front and a green-tinted underside on the brim to reduce glare from the sun. Players liked the fit and performance, and soon other teams wanted similar caps.
By the 1950s, New Era was the only independent company making caps for MLB teams. They supplied hats to teams like the Brooklyn Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. New Era’s quality and consistency made it the most trusted name in baseball caps.
In 1954, New Era introduced the 59FIFTY fitted cap. It had six panels, ventilation holes on each panel, a button on top, and a larger visor with eight rows of stitching. Players liked it, and it soon became a favorite. The 59FIFTY is still one of the most popular caps today.
This historical image shows New Era’s 59Fifty baseball caps from the 1950s, marking the evolution of the iconic style. Image © New Era Cap Company. Used for educational and informational purposes. Source
In 1993, New Era became the official on-field cap supplier for Major League Baseball. The MLB logo was added to the back of every cap, marking it as the official cap for players.
A few years later, in 1996, filmmaker Spike Lee requested a custom red New York Yankees cap to match his outfit, creating an iconic moment in baseball and street fashion.
Spike Lee wearing a red New York Yankees cap during the 1996 World Series. Image via The Guardian, used for educational and informational purposes.
Until then, team hats were only made in official colors. Fans saw him wear it and wanted one too. This moment helped bring baseball caps into mainstream fashion.
Baseball Caps Become a Fashion and Cultural Icon
Baseball caps didn’t stay on the baseball field. People started wearing them in everyday life. They wore them to look cool, show which team they liked, or just keep the sun out of their eyes.
By the 2000s, baseball hats were everywhere. Celebrities wore them in music videos, on stage, and in movies. Some special caps were made with artists or in limited numbers, so people wanted to collect them. Streetwear brands made them popular too, and different styles like snapbacks, dad hats, and fitted caps became popular for casual fashion.
Caps also started appearing in other uniforms. Even the U.S. Navy used baseball-style caps because they were easy to wear and practical.
U.S. Navy commander on USS Russell in 2004, wearing a baseball-style command cap. By the 21st century, caps had even become part of military uniforms.
Over time, baseball caps became more than just sports gear. Fans wore them to support their teams, musicians and actors used them to express style, and designers made them as statement pieces. Baseball caps had become a common fashion accessory, practical, recognizable, and loved around the world.
Popular Types of Baseball Caps Today
Even though baseball caps started as part of a sports uniform, they’ve evolved into one of the most versatile hats you can own. Today, there are many kinds of baseball hats, each with its own look and feel. Here are some of the most popular ones you’ll see everywhere.
1. Fitted Caps
These caps have no adjustable strap at the back and are made to fit your exact head size. They look neat and clean, which is why many professional players and collectors prefer them.
2. Snapback Caps
Snapbacks come with a plastic adjustable strap at the back. They became a big part of 90s streetwear and are still popular for their bold, structured look and flat brim.
3. Dad Hats
Dad hats are soft, unstructured, and slightly curved at the brim. They give a casual, laid-back vibe and go with almost anything.
4. Trucker Hats
Trucker hats have a foam front and a mesh back that keeps your head cool. They were first made for truck drivers but later became a pop-culture hit, especially in the early 2000s.
5. Flexfit Caps
Flexfit caps stretch to fit different head sizes. They’re a good mix between fitted and adjustable styles, offering comfort and flexibility.
Each type of cap fits a different mood, outfit, or occasion. Whether you like the clean look of a fitted cap or the relaxed feel of a dad hat, there’s a baseball cap style that suits everyone. If you want to see what makes each cap different, our guide on the parts of a baseball cap breaks down every piece so you know exactly what you’re looking at.
Key Facts and Trivia About Baseball Caps
Baseball caps have been around for more than 170 years, and in that time, they’ve picked up some pretty interesting facts and stories. Here are a few things you might not know:
1. The first baseball caps were made of straw.
Back in 1849, the New York Knickerbocker wore “chip” or straw hats as part of their uniform. It sounds funny now, but it worked for keeping the sun out of their eyes.
2. The first modern-style cap cost about $2.
In the 1860s, the Brooklyn Excelsiors wore a cap designed by a New York sporting goods company called Peck & Snyder. It had a soft crown and a visor—just like the baseball caps we wear today.
3. The Detroit Tigers were the first to add a logo.
In 1901, the Tigers became the first Major League team to put an image of their team nickname on their cap—a red tiger embroidered on black.
4. The iconic 59FIFTY cap changed everything.
When New Era introduced the fitted 59FIFTY cap in 1954, it became the standard for Major League Baseball. It’s still the official cap worn by every MLB team today.
5. Over 400 million baseball caps are sold every year.
That’s a huge number, showing just how much people love wearing them—whether for sports, fashion, or everyday use.
6. The black underbill wasn’t always black.
Before 2007, most caps had green or gray underbills. Then New Era switched to black because studies showed it helps reduce glare from the sun.
Final Thoughts on the History of Baseball Caps
Today, baseball caps are everywhere. In the U.S. alone, around 400 million caps are sold each year, which is almost 80 percent of the global hat market, according to Cognitive Market Research.
What started as a simple way to keep the sun out of players’ eyes has become much more. Now, baseball hats are about style, comfort, and personal expression. Whether it’s a snapback, a fitted cap, a dad hat, or a trucker hat, there’s a cap that fits everyone’s taste.
Want to explore more about hat history? Take a look at our guides on the evolution of hats and the story of Panama hats.
FAQs About Baseball Caps
Who invented the baseball cap?
The baseball cap doesn’t have a single inventor, but it started taking shape in the mid-1800s. Teams like the New York Knickerbockers and later the Brooklyn Excelsiors experimented with hats that had rounded crowns and longer brims, which eventually evolved into the modern baseball cap.
Why was the baseball cap invented?
Originally, it was invented to solve a simple problem: the sun. Players needed something to shield their eyes while they were on the field. Over time, it became part of the uniform and eventually a fashion item too.
What caps do MLB players wear today?
Today, MLB players wear official fitted 59FIFTY caps made by New Era, the league’s exclusive supplier. These caps come in team colors and logos, and they’re designed to fit comfortably during long games.
What does a baseball cap symbolize?
A baseball cap often represents team support, personal style, and cultural trends. People wear it for comfort, self-expression, and a sense of identity.
Why are there six holes on a baseball cap?
The six small holes, called eyelets, are there for ventilation. They let air circulate and help keep the player’s head cool while running, catching, and sliding on the field.
Is a baseball cap just an American thing?
Not anymore. While it started in the U.S., baseball caps are now worn around the world. They’re popular in sports, music, and street fashion, making them a global accessory.
