It looks like it was printed on the material first when it was flat, then cut out and assembled. I say this because it appears the top letters of the graphic on the front are cut off and under the seam. Without seeing this in person to look at the stitching and printing I can't say if it is original to the 1880's. When I first saw it I thought it looked like someone took an old sack and cut it up to fashion into a cap. The typography looks like it is of the turn-of-the-century vintage.
I can't ever recall seeing one of these in an old photograph worn by an American delivery guy or store clerk but I suppose it is possible. The seller mentions a sign for this product in Dodge City, Kansas but to me this looks like something of English manufacture.
More importantly I don't think it is baseball related, but if real it's a really neat turn-of-the-century advertising piece.
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