Let's see your vintage baseball caps

GaryPassamonte · #1 01-14-2021, 03:07 PM

Mark- When do you date these caps to individually? This is a little out of my area and I need all the education I can get as I am looking for a 19th century example for my collection.

1880nonsports · #2 01-14-2021, 04:10 PM

except wayyy out of my area - I need a cap and glove to accompany my bat & balls :-)

personally I think that jockey cap is just great!

vintagesportscollector · #3 01-14-2021, 05:46 PM

The red cap was worn by a pitcher on the 1899 Cornell baseball team. Eight panels, silk interior lining, no leather sweat band, no ventilation grommets, no visor stitching - which are all some indicators of any earlier cap. (There is nothing completely definitive, and earlier features can be seen on more recent caps). The stitched visor was first introduced in 1903.

The boater style cap is University of Chicago, c.1910.

perezfan · #4 01-14-2021, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

The red cap was worn by a pitcher on the 1899 Cornell baseball team. Eight panels, silk interior lining, no leather sweat band, no ventilation grommets, no visor stitching - which are all some indicators of any earlier cap. (There is nothing completely definitive, and earlier features can be seen on more recent caps). The stitched visor was first introduced in 1903.

The boater style cap is University of Chicago, c.1910.

Nice Joe!

Painful to see that gorgeous Boater Style, as I think I contacted the seller about 5 minutes after you got to him. Glad it went to a great home!

perezfan · #5 01-14-2021, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Mark- When do you date these caps to individually? This is a little out of my area and I need all the education I can get as I am looking for a 19th century example for my collection.

Gary:

Here's a link to an 1893 Ad for Baseball Caps. Some very nice illustrations, but the Jockey Style (similar to my Orange/White one) got cut off in the picture...

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rts-1923974706

The slouchy Boston Style and an earlier version of the Pillbox are pictured as well. More to follow...

perezfan · #6 01-14-2021, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Mark- When do you date these caps to individually? This is a little out of my area and I need all the education I can get as I am looking for a 19th century example for my collection.

Here are a few more catalogue pages and ads. The color one is from 1887; The two B&W are from the mid-late 1890s. I would love to get my hands on the pillbox with vertical striping (simply labeled No. 1), but I have never seen one come up for sale.

GaryPassamonte · #7 01-15-2021, 08:10 AM

Thanks for the great information, Mark. Not to hijack this thread, but I have one more question. How do you identify a vintage 19th century cap from a modern one made for use by vintage baseball teams? It seems like a modern one could be easily doctored to fool many a collector.

vintagesportscollector · #8 01-15-2021, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Thanks for the great information, Mark. Not to hijack this thread, but I have one more question. How do you identify a vintage 19th century cap from a modern one made for use by vintage baseball teams? It seems like a modern one could be easily doctored to fool many a collector.

I can add a little here...there are certain features that are common in more recent caps, that you don't usually see in 19th century caps. Of course there are always variations and exceptions, but there are 'indicators' to help give confidence if it is a 19th century cap, or lead you to look closer.

- leather sweat bands: common in more recent caps, but not 19th century. The use of silk interior lining, covering the entire interior, is often seen in 19th century caps. From my honestly limited experience I have not come across a 19th cap with a leather band, but they very well may exist.

- ventilation holes, especially metal grommets. Vent holes are rarely seen in 19th century - where I have seen in 19thc they are stitched holes, and not metal grommets.

- visor stitching - The stitched visor was first introduced by Spalding in 1903 in their 'Philadelphia Style' cap.

- eight panels: indicative of earlier caps, but there is a lot of variation here.

At the end of the day you just kind of know from experience after feeling and comparing the stitching, materials and construction compared to a 19th century cap. A modern cap would stand out, but I am sure with enough effort and expertise you can give a modern cap that older feel and look.

GaryPassamonte · #9 01-15-2021, 12:24 PM

Thanks, Joe. It seems like a certain degree of expertise is required in the area of early baseball caps before making a purchase.

eastonfalcon19 · #10 01-16-2021, 03:26 PM

Here are my caps. The first one is an Oakland Larks Negro league hat.

Chris-Counts · #11 01-17-2021, 03:08 PM

Ron, who's the maker of the Braves cap? Nearly every one I've seen is made by Wilson, but I haven't seen an "M" on a Wilson that looked quite like yours. I have seen a game used McAuliffe cap with a similar "M" as yours. Here's my Wilson version ...

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