New MLB hats next season

[no97]

I know that I've stated my hatred of flex-fit caps on this board before, and I'll do it again. I suffer from migranes, and a majority of flex-fit caps trigger migrane hedaces for me. The problem is that I've got a some-what larger head (7 3/4), and the snug fit is not good for blood-flow. Also, as to the 39thirty (and other caps that use graded sizes), I've fallen in-between sizes, and that's not a good deal either. For example, I've found the M/L too small, and the L/XL (which is the one I own) a bit too loose.

Now, I'm a huge 59fifty fan, as they make a nice cap (once you find a good one). Problems with consistancy aside, I realy like the New Era product (although I've recently purchased a Reebok fitted cap, after hating Reebok caps, and think it is top notch - maybe better than New Era). With that said, I'm not opposed to a new material, as long as they stay fitted instead of flex-fit. My personel worst case scenerio is that it change to flex-fit, as I'd never buy another MLB on-field cap again...

Moose

[29a]

I must be one of the few non-players who prefers high-profile. Honestly, low profiles look dumb on me, so I'm hoping these new ones don't look like the 3930s, those really look small on me. Ideally, something like the mesh 5950s that were the original BP caps would work for me, but I doubt that's happening.

I agree 100%. Couldn't have said it better.

[The_Admiral]

I just showered in my 5950 and it fits like a charm. Well not just as in recently. Just as in "that's all I had to do."

[SabreGuy]

I must be one of the few non-players who prefers high-profile. Honestly, low profiles look dumb on me, so I'm hoping these new ones don't look like the 3930s, those really look small on me. Ideally, something like the mesh 5950s that were the original BP caps would work for me, but I doubt that's happening.

I actually bought one of those as SOON as they came out, and it still looks exactly as it did the day I bought it... mostly because I've never actually worn it, as it looks utterly RIDICULOUS on me.

I do prefer full on fitted over flex-fit... UNLESS the flex fit actually fits, which my MLB Ace New Era's actually do.

[pcgd]

with any hope the bills won't resemble 3 sheets of notebook paper anymore.

Is it too much to ask for a bill that's at least slightly stiff when you buy it? I have yet to own a 59/50 that keeps a curve worth anything.

[FiddySicks]

I really hope the only change to the 59Fifty is the material. The thing I love anout the 59Fifty is the structure (sure they can be inconsistant, but when you find a good one, you CANNOT get a better ballcap. Period.) and the sizing. If they go to the 3930 style and flex fit style, theyll forever lose me as a customer.

BUT!!!!! Im thinking they may release these new caps along the same lines as the new CoolFlow jerseys. Ive seen players on the Angels and Rockies wearing game hats that have a similar material to the 3930s. Im thinking these may just be a new option for players, just as the CoolFlow jersey is just an option.

But im still thinking this is BS. If this were to happen we would have gotten notice to discount our MLB Authentics collection or at least a notice to not backstock them, like we did with the Diamondbacks caps.

[CubsFanBudMan]

As I said on the UW blog yesterday...

Add my name to the list of those that are disappointed with the apparent loss of the 5950. It?s all I?ve ever worn since I went away from mesh caps as a kid. Hope there?s a massive sale so I can stock up on blue Cubs caps for years to come. From low profile 5950, to the earlier mesh BP caps to the current 3930, nothing beats a 5950 for me.

And BucFan, I was thinking the same thing -- why not just unveil a 'Cool Base' cap and have a whole new line of on-field merchandise. It will keep the 5950 crowd happy (wasn't it just recently they made a big deal over "5950 at FIFTY" -- fifty years of being the official cap?) Either way, I'll be sticking with the 5950s, even if they become 'throwbacks.'

As far as the 5950's lack of stiff bills, wrong fit, messed up logo placement, etc, I've had it all happen to me, too, which is now why I buy all of my new Cubs caps at a store and try on every one until I find one that's right. It's a ridiculous process to go through, but it's better than realizing the second time you wear it that you're stuck with a bad cap.

EDIT: Someone named Chip on UW said his new Clemson baseball cap is a 5950 made of different material ("some sort of synthetic rather than wool"), so that might be the testing someone was looking for earlier.

EDIT II: This is the closest I could find. It's a fitted acrylic/wool blend by New Era. No idea if this is it. Clemson cap

[DDR]

I must be one of the few non-players who prefers high-profile.  Honestly, low profiles look dumb on me, so I'm hoping these new ones don't look like the 3930s, those really look small on me.  Ideally, something like the mesh 5950s that were the original BP caps would work for me, but I doubt that's happening.

I agree 100%. Couldn't have said it better.

Totally disagree. I very much prefer the stretch fit. I don't like the 5950s because of the way they sit on my head. It looks like I have an extra few inches of forehead up there. I'm also between hat sizes: a bit bigger than 7 3/8, but not quite a 7 1/2. I know, it's an 1/8 of an inch, but it still makes a difference. The stretch fit hugs the head perfectly and eliminates alot of the height of a 5950.

I can't believe I'm talking this way about a hat, but I feel strongly about this. I'm a White Sox fan and everyone I know has one of the "Cooperstown Collection" 80s style logo hats. I wanted to wear the authentic because weirdly that's much less common than any other hat you'll see at the Cell, but I couldn't because it looks dumb on me.

[SabreGuy]

with any hope the bills won't resemble 3 sheets of notebook paper anymore.

Is it too much to ask for a bill that's at least slightly stiff when you buy it?  I have yet to own a 59/50 that keeps a curve worth anything.

The only way I've ever gotten the bill to be right is by throwing it in the washing machine, and wearing it till it dries, then it dries to a nice, round curve. I absolutely HATE that they cater to the flat-bill crowd now.

EDIT: Someone named Chip on UW said his new Clemson baseball cap is a 5950 made of different material ("some sort of synthetic rather than wool"), so that might be the testing someone was looking for earlier.

EDIT II: This is the closest I could find. It's a fitted acrylic/wool blend by New Era. No idea if this is it.

See, that's my worst case scenario! Oh man... that scares me in so many ways. At least with 100% wool, you can throw it in the wash (or wear it in the shower, or whatever) and it will shrink down and actually look GOOD. Mixing in acrylic means that it doesn't shrink NEARLY as much. Ugh! I'm disgusted. Disgusted. I think I'm going to have to do some stocking up of my own.

[Gothamite]

I know that I've stated my hatred of flex-fit caps on this board before, and I'll do it again. I suffer from migranes, and a majority of flex-fit caps trigger migrane hedaces for me. The problem is that I've got a some-what larger head (7 3/4), and the snug fit is not good for blood-flow.

I agree. The flexfit caps are designed to fit as many people as possible, which means they don't fit many people particularly well.

[BallWonk]

I very much prefer the stretch fit. I don't like the 5950s because of the way they sit on my head. It looks like I have an extra few inches of forehead up there. I'm also between hat sizes: a bit bigger than 7 3/8, but not quite a 7 1/2. I know, it's an 1/8 of an inch, but it still makes a difference. The stretch fit hugs the head perfectly and eliminates alot of the height of a 5950.

You have two different complaints here. First, on size, the slight inconsistency of the 5950 model means that if you try on a couple of sized caps in 7-3/8 and 7-1/2, you will find one that fits you just right. Think about bears and porridge. I say this as someone who has had exactly the same problem as you with exactly the same sizes. But the flexfit BP caps are very consistently sized, so if like me you fall between sizes, no BP cap will ever fit you. Which is to say, with the sized 5950s that fit me just fine, you can find a cap that fits you too if you try. But with the flexfit caps that fit you, I will never be able to find a cap that fits me, no matter how hard I try.

Your second and unrelated complaint is about the snugness of the crown, and it's long been time for New Era to offer every team in both regular 5950 and in low-profile fitted. It's possible to make a head-hugging cap that will please you (and me too! I prefer the lower crown) without switching to a non-fitted cap that doesn't fit most people properly.

[Mingjai]

I know that I've stated my hatred of flex-fit caps on this board before, and I'll do it again.  I suffer from migranes, and a majority of flex-fit caps trigger migrane hedaces for me.  The problem is that I've got a some-what larger head (7 3/4), and the snug fit is not good for blood-flow.

I agree. The flexfit caps are designed to fit as many people as possible, which means they don't fit many people particularly well.

My problem with flex fit hats is that many of them don't have enough volume in the cap or have too tight of band. Anyway, OT, but here's how I rank the fit of flex fit hats I own:

1t) Nike -- own two and both fit great

1t) New Era -- my Twin BP and "MLB Ace" hats fit great

3) Zephyr -- the hats are a little tight and the crown looks wierd

4) TOW -- way too tight (TOW's 100% wool fitted one are nice though)

[edensker]

So if New Era and MLB are ditching the 5950s, does that mean they'll all be on sale soon??? Please oh please...

That's what I was stinking. I'll buy a lifetime supply if they go on sale for cheap.

[leedsunited]

I'll say this, Nike, Zephyr and that old Top of the World brand (TOW) made the worst hats I have ever had the misfortune of placing on the ol' noggin.

[MJD802]

With all of this hat talk I need some help finding one. In the Twins Cap line of "The Franchise" they make a low profile/unstructured hat that is solid on the front and the visor but the back is mesh. Its a micromesh type of material that is unlike the trucker hat style. I live in SEC country and I've seen Auburn, Alabama and Georgia. I was wondering if anyone has seen these on the net. I haven't found them on Lids.com or twinscap.com.

[amare32]

You know, if you buy the 5950 a size or two too big, you can soak it and let it dry on your head. It'll form perfectly w/o the Elmer Fudd effect and shrink to fit. Try it at home, kids.

[SabreGuy]

With all of this hat talk I need some help finding one.  In the Twins Cap line of "The Franchise" they make a low profile/unstructured hat that is solid on the front and the visor but the back is mesh.  Its a micromesh type of material that is unlike the trucker hat style.  I live in SEC country and I've seen Auburn, Alabama and Georgia.  I was wondering if anyone has seen these on the net.  I haven't found them on Lids.com or twinscap.com.

Actually, the only caps I've seen like that have been made by Reebok, not Twins. I own an adjustable Buffalo Bills one, but I have also seen a flex-fit version when I was up in Ontario, where a couple of people in the mall were wearing Belleville Bulls (OHL) hats that fit that exact description. It may have been fitted, but my guess is it was flex-fit.

The one I am talking about, you can see by going HERE, clicking on "Bulls souvenirs" and then "Bulls hats." (As a side note, I HATE Flash for eliminated the ability to deep link! grrr)

[BallWonk]

You know, if you buy the 5950 a size or two too big, you can soak it and let it dry on your head.  It'll form perfectly w/o the Elmer Fudd effect and shrink to fit.  Try it at home, kids.

I've done this with most of my 5950s, so I'm with you, but folks who haven't tried this should be warned before they do that:

1. Unless you remove the buckram backing on the front two panels, the front will continue to be stiffer and will sometimes force the whole shrunken hat into a forward-leaning slug.

2. Caps with big puffy logos will often develop unsightly creases on either side of the embroidery, because foam doesn't shrink like wool does.

3. New Era fabric and thread colors can run, and sometimes do. This is most likely to result in white embroidery turning the color of the cap, but on non-blue caps sometimes this will result in the embroidery dye bleeding onto the cap.

[hormone]

As far as fit, I don't like the "high rise look." As far as quality, there are (as mentioned previously) a ton of crooked logos, etc. I hate how the button piece on some of them stick up because of extra material and you look like you have a dunce cap on. And on two I have, the bill seems like its made out of note cards. Its not sturdy at all.

[pooter]

I must be one of the few non-players who prefers high-profile. Honestly, low profiles look dumb on me, so I'm hoping these new ones don't look like the 3930s, those really look small on me. Ideally, something like the mesh 5950s that were the original BP caps would work for me, but I doubt that's happening.

Absolutely. I hate the low-profile caps. They look look like a yamaka with a bill.