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Evolution of the 5950


rmackman

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Sports Specialties used to make authentic hats up until 1994. My dad used to own a Sports Specialties store so I would get all the baseball hats for cheap. They were way better than the New Eras. New Era became the official hat for Major League Baseball in 1994. Nike ended up acquiring Sports Specialties.

Oh yeah!

Those were great hats. My memory is that technically New Era was the Authentic cap, but SportsSpecialities made a better one, in my opinion. (It did take them a little while to start putting the MLB logo on the back, so I have one without it still).

The cap had a better shaped bill and a much lower profile. When they stopped making those, it was a few years before I bought another because I could not get used to MLB hats that made me look like a chef.

I have a few new eras now and I think they are better than there were in the early 1990s, but they are not as nice as Sports Specialties.

Disclaimer: If this comment is about an NBA uniform from 2017-2018 or later, do not constitute a lack of acknowledgement of the corporate logo to mean anything other than "the corporate logo is terrible and makes the uniform significantly worse."

 

BADGERS TWINS VIKINGS TIMBERWOLVES WILD

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I'm pretty sure that Sports Specialties used to make authentics until New Era became the exclusive supplier.

From the New Era Website

In 1991, the company's multi-decade relationship with Major League Baseball evolved into New Era becoming the co-exclusive supplier of caps worn on the field of play.

In the same year, New Era worked with Major League Baseball to add the MLB silhouetted batter logo to the rear of every Authentic Collection (formerly called Diamond Collection) cap.

New Era has supported Major League Baseball's strategy to build their own brand by only allowing the Club mark and the MLB mark to be visible on the outside of the Authentic Collection caps and in 1994 New Era became the global manufacturer, distributor and marketer of the Authentic Collection headwear. This exclusive agreement has been in place ever since and both parties have enjoyed the fruits of this partnership.

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when talking about options of low, mid and high profile, I was talking about getting like a HS hat made by new era. I didn't know they offered the different options to the public in the way of MLB hats. I figured they had to the pros, cause half of them obviously have low profile caps.

If I can only find a low profile 5950 for the cardinals, I might actually wear it instead of the billboard one I currently have.

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Sports Specialties did make some authentics, specifically the A's and Rockies. There may have been more, but those I know for sure. For a few years, ads for "The Pro" by Sports Specialties featured an A's hat, and New Era's A's hats had a slightly different A on them than what the team (in the S.S. hats) had.

"Hats for bats. Keep bats warm. Gracias"

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I really like some knock offs i found at the ballpark- look good and hav all the stitching. my new era nats hat looks horrible- i dont wear it anymore its so high on my head

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Oh yeah!

Those were great hats. My memory is that technically New Era was the Authentic cap, but SportsSpecialities made a better one, in my opinion. (It did take them a little while to start putting the MLB logo on the back, so I have one without it still).

Anyone remember when they used to slap the MLB logo on the side of the hat?

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On 11/19/2012 at 7:23 PM, oldschoolvikings said:
She’s still half convinced “Chris Creamer” is a porn site.)
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Sports Specialties did make some authentics, specifically the A's and Rockies. There may have been more, but those I know for sure. For a few years, ads for "The Pro" by Sports Specialties featured an A's hat, and New Era's A's hats had a slightly different A on them than what the team (in the S.S. hats) had.

The two companies had Orioles hats that looked different. The first New Era cap I ever bought was Orioles, because it had a better looking bird. But the hat had such a high profile that I hardly ever wore it.

Disclaimer: If this comment is about an NBA uniform from 2017-2018 or later, do not constitute a lack of acknowledgement of the corporate logo to mean anything other than "the corporate logo is terrible and makes the uniform significantly worse."

 

BADGERS TWINS VIKINGS TIMBERWOLVES WILD

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I remember Sports Specialties making the authentics for the Mets, Reds, Giants and Padres (as well as the A's) in the mid to late 80's.

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You know another thing I realized with the 5950 is that sometimes the wool is softer on some than others. It's almost like a different type of wool. Sometimes when you set the hat down you'll notice some of the backs of hats stay stiff enough to still hold their shape, and some are soft and sag in. I don't know why it seems to be different, and I know I'm nitpicking, but it's just an observation. :wacko:

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be eaten. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you'd better be running." - Unknown | 🌐 Check out my articles on jerseys at Bacon Sports 🔗
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You know another thing I realized with the 5950 is that sometimes the wool is softer on some than others.  It's almost like a different type of wool.  Sometimes when you set the hat down you'll notice some of the backs of hats stay stiff enough to still hold their shape, and some are soft and sag in.  I don't know why it seems to be different, and I know I'm nitpicking, but it's just an observation.  :wacko:

Interesting point. I always try on several different 5950s in my size before buying one, since each one is slightly different. And some have more of the Elmer Fudd effect than others. If I can't find an obliging rainstorm to wear my hat in (and keep it on until it dries) I'll just put the cap in the shower for a few minutes, until it's good and soaked, and then wear it on a long dog walk in the sun. Either way, wearing the wet cap until it dries pretty much eliminates the Elmer Fudd effect and creates a nice medium-profile cap.

I had a guy at RFK last month ask me where I found my low-profile Nats cap; I gave him my instructions for water-treating the wool.

Oh, and do not try this with saltwater. I did once, with a new cap I wore to the ocean, and somehow the salt water released all the dyes in the cap and the embroidery thread, making the logo bleed all over itself. Not pretty.

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The only problem is that wool hats shrink big time, so I'd have to buy bigger hats.

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be eaten. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you'd better be running." - Unknown | 🌐 Check out my articles on jerseys at Bacon Sports 🔗
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Sports Specialties did make some authentics, specifically the A's and Rockies. There may have been more, but those I know for sure. For a few years, ads for "The Pro" by Sports Specialties featured an A's hat, and New Era's A's hats had a slightly different A on them than what the team (in the S.S. hats) had.

I don't remember S.S. making hats for the Rockies. I bought mine in '93 in the Rockies pro shop and all they sold were New Era's, and I think New Era advertised in Rockies programs back then as being the "official" supplier to the team...

Smart is believing half of what you hear. Genius is knowing which half.

 

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