Anyone else think the 07 MLB 5950s sit too high on your head?

[Grandmaster C]

I bought a new Mariners 5950 from the Team Store in Seattle last month. I had to try on a few of them to find one that fit just right, but once I did, I couldn't be happier. It fits like a dream.

I was skeptical about the change, but now I'm a convert. These hats are great.

[SabreGuy]

I forgot I had started this thread.

Ive given up on my 2007 5950. I didn't like the fit when it came out of the box - wayyy too high on your head. So then I tried the "cutting the liner" out business, and it caused the hat to lose it's shape entirely.

Im now using it as decoration, and I've bought an older hat to wear.

Yeah, for the most part I've given up on mine, too. When I bought it, I couldn't find one that was the right size, so my choices were a shade too small and a shade too big. I went for too small figuring the new material doesn't shrink, so I'd be better off trying to stretch it. Well, I've tried several times, but I just can't get it to stretch at all. Short of finding someone with a hat stretcher, I think it's a lost cause for me. I've taken to almost exclusively going with stretch-fit caps, because fitted caps just don't feel right to me anymore.

The one exception being that I bought an Ebbets Field Flannels cap this year, and after finally getting it (it was on backorder) and getting the bill curved properly, I LOVE it. My only regret is buying the NY Knights from The Natural, because... while that is one cap I have always wanted, and it's from my favourite movie... it just feels cheesy wearing the cap of a fictional team. I'd have been better off with the cap of a defunct team.

[CubsFanBudMan]

I finally broke down and picked up a new 5950 yesterday. My current cap was getting a bit dirty and the local Sports Authority was selling all Cubs gear for 30 percent off. So at $24 and change I figured it was worth a shot to see if this would really be the last Cubs 5950 I'd ever own.

Like many of you, I had to try on several to get the perfect fit -- in the end, I dropped down a size, from 7 5/8 to 7 1/2. My old size wasn't even close in any I tried, but I found a 7 1/2 that was just a bit loose. The bill bent easily for me and of the caps I saw, they seemed to be more consistent in construction than the ones I'd tried in the past (not as many off-center logos and/or bills).

I averaged a new 5950 about once every year and a half, so I'm hoping this one will last. If not, I tried on quite a few flexfit versions that were really comfortable, and I might be moving on to those. If the BP caps didn't have different color flaps, I might have switched then and there. I wear my caps all the time, so I'll update if it wears down.... from the looks of it, it might be a while.

[Proc]

I gave up on my Brewers alternate (ball/glove) new 5950. It fits just "o.k" but it really does sit too high on the head. The crown is just too high for my tastes.

I wore my Tigers 2006 BP cap (before the stupid side panels) all summer. I like the lower profile cap. Unfortunately, two full years/summers have taken a toll on this cap. I'd like to find a decent, lower profile Tiger lid to replace it. Any suggestions?

[Gothamite]

I gave up on my Brewers alternate (ball/glove) new 5950. It fits just "o.k" but it really does sit too high on the head. The crown is just too high for my tastes.

Did you cut out the backing? It really breaks in, settling nicely once you do.

[Proc]

I gave up on my Brewers alternate (ball/glove) new 5950. It fits just "o.k" but it really does sit too high on the head. The crown is just too high for my tastes.

Did you cut out the backing? It really breaks in, settling nicely once you do.

Cut out the backing on the front panel (behind the logo)? I haven't done it, but it will help, I will, otherwise, I'll have a brand new cap doing nothing but collecting dust. Is there directions somewhere around here on how to take the backing out?

[Gothamite]

Yep. Way back on Page 2 of this thread.

Try this - it's much easier than it looks, and it works really well. You can skip the "soaking" step, since the new caps don't shrink very much. When you're done, you'll have a great old-fashioned-looking cap that wears well.

[BallWonk]

Yep. Way back on Page 2 of this thread.

Try this - it's much easier than it looks, and it works really well. You can skip the "soaking" step, since the new caps don't shrink very much. When you're done, you'll have a great old-fashioned-looking cap that wears well.

I would add to those instructions that the best way to remove the stiff black threads is to use the back of an X-Acto knife to lift them up and tweezers to pull them out. (In most cases, the back of the X-Acto blade will be enough to pull them entirely out without tweezers, but some of the black threads are stitched in pretty hard, and you need to pull with tweezers.)

Removing the backing makes such a huge, positive difference for the cap, and it works even better with the new 5950s than with the old wool ones. The new-model 5950 is a very good ballcap. A new-model 5950 with the stiff backing removed is a great ballcap. I have never before preferred the fit and feel of a New Era cap to an Ebbets Field cap, but honestly I prefer the fit and feel of a backing-free new-model 5950 to any of my recent Ebbets caps. If I were a ballplayer, I'd find some teenager, a neighbor or the child of a front office staffer, and I'd offer to pay the kid $20 each to rip the backing out of a box of new caps in the spring, with the understanding that any I didn't use during the season, I would autograph and he could keep to sell or whatever.

[Gothamite]

Agreed on all counts. The new ones are just beautiful. I was wrong.

Like many of you, I had to try on several to get the perfect fit -- in the end, I dropped down a size, from 7 5/8 to 7 1/2. My old size wasn't even close in any I tried, but I found a 7 1/2 that was just a bit loose. The bill bent easily for me and of the caps I saw, they seemed to be more consistent in construction than the ones I'd tried in the past (not as many off-center logos and/or bills).

Just want to echo this sentiment - I have been extremely critical of New Era in the past for their shoddy quality control. These new caps are much improved in this area. Still don't think I'd trust them enough to order them sight unseen, but credit where credit is due.

[BallWonk]

My very first new-model 5950 died today. Washington Nationals road cap. The button popped off the top while the cap hung on the hat stand, drying from the rain. Wouldn't go back together again.

I had been thinking about getting a minty-fresh new Nats cap for the Home Opener later this month anyway.

This is analogous to one of those cases where an otherwise healthy person just keels over of heart failure: Aside from being dead, he's in perfect shape. Well, aside from the button falling off, this cap was in great shape. Looked and fit better after a year of heavy use than an old wool model would after three months. No shrinkage, no sweat discoloration, no fading, no dye running, no embroidery separation (don't know how the new cap materials could have resulted in an improvement in that department), no seam fraying.

So I'm willing to close the books on the experiment of my first new-model 5950 and rate it a significant success. Assuming you take the time to remove the backing, which may explain the loose button in this case, the new 5950 is in every way a superior cap. And I went in as a pretty big skeptic.

I've even bought two of these caps sight-unseen, and both have fit perfectly. Possibly just good luck, but there's also no denying the improvement in construction quality control on these new caps over the old model.

[Gothamite]

You're right - New Era has gone a long way towards correcting their terrible quality control.

They're still nowhere near Twins Enterprise, but it's a huge step in the right direction.

[BallWonk]

You're right - New Era has gone a long way towards correcting their terrible quality control.

They're still nowhere near Twins Enterprise, but it's a huge step in the right direction.

Yeah, but Twins Enterprise caps never fit me just right like a proper New Era cap does, so therefore Twins Enterprise is crap.

Actually, the thing that makes me prefer the 5950 over all other caps is the round bill. Basically every other cap made by every other manufacturer, and every non-5950 made by New Era, has more strongly squarish bills. The corner-less bill of the 5950 provides the perfect balance between sun protection and not-blocking-your-view, in my opinion. More squared bills, like on a Twins Enterprise cap, produce a tunnel-vision effect with the corners of the bill dropping down into my field of vision on the right and left. Annoys the heck out of me.

[Gothamite]

Hmm. Guess I just don't see that.

I understand not liking the fit or style of the Twins caps, but you have to admit that the quality control is uniformly excellent. The logos are always perfectly centered, the bills are never crooked, etc.

[BallWonk]

Hmm. Guess I just don't see that.

I understand not liking the fit or style of the Twins caps, but you have to admit that the quality control is uniformly excellent. The logos are always perfectly centered, the bills are never crooked, etc.

I meant the little emoticon to communicate that I was making fun of my opinion of Twins Enterprise, not making fun of Twins Enterprise itself. There's no denying the quality of their workmanship -- I just don't like the style of cap they make, no matter how well they make it.

[gosioux76]

I agree that the 5950s are a superior cap. I used their arrival as an excuse to buy a Twins road cap last year, and it's been the most comfortable cap I own. I had previously been wearing BP caps because they were more comfortable than their wool counterparts. While the 5950 initially sat higher on my head, it doesn't so much now -- or at least it doesn't bother me and I don't notice it anymore.

[Hardman 1]

I gave up on my Brewers alternate (ball/glove) new 5950. It fits just "o.k" but it really does sit too high on the head. The crown is just too high for my tastes.

Did you cut out the backing? It really breaks in, settling nicely once you do.

Cut out the backing on the front panel (behind the logo)? I haven't done it, but it will help, I will, otherwise, I'll have a brand new cap doing nothing but collecting dust. Is there directions somewhere around here on how to take the backing out?

I tried this yesterday on my new Rockies hat that sat on my head higher than even Joe Torre's hat. It fits better, but it still is square, and if you try to push it back, it just makes a dent in the hat because the backing is gone. I just wish they still had low profile 5950s because those fit me the best out of any hat ever.

[Don]

i broke down and bought a new 5950 the other day. my old new 5950 actually shrank! it was a little snug in the first place and it shrank the more sweat sunk in. it didnt shrink as much as the old wool ones did, but it still shrank. so i bought a size up hoping to avoid this and i may take those instructions on how to take out the backing cuz the crown is a bit high.

[FiddySicks]

i broke down and bought a new 5950 the other day. my old new 5950 actually shrank! it was a little snug in the first place and it shrank the more sweat sunk in. it didnt shrink as much as the old wool ones did, but it still shrank. so i bought a size up hoping to avoid this and i may take those instructions on how to take out the backing cuz the crown is a bit high.

I had to switch up a size due to that problem. It doesn't shrink much, but enough to kill your head. And the worst part is if it shrinks, you can't crack it out over your knee like you could the old ones.

[oakland ehs]

Umm, the new ones still have the "cracking" spot just beyond the bill on each side.

[dahatman]

My very first new-model 5950 died today. Washington Nationals road cap. The button popped off the top while the cap hung on the hat stand, drying from the rain. Wouldn't go back together again.

I had been thinking about getting a minty-fresh new Nats cap for the Home Opener later this month anyway.

This is analogous to one of those cases where an otherwise healthy person just keels over of heart failure: Aside from being dead, he's in perfect shape. Well, aside from the button falling off, this cap was in great shape. Looked and fit better after a year of heavy use than an old wool model would after three months. No shrinkage, no sweat discoloration, no fading, no dye running, no embroidery separation (don't know how the new cap materials could have resulted in an improvement in that department), no seam fraying.

So I'm willing to close the books on the experiment of my first new-model 5950 and rate it a significant success. Assuming you take the time to remove the backing, which may explain the loose button in this case, the new 5950 is in every way a superior cap. And I went in as a pretty big skeptic.

I've even bought two of these caps sight-unseen, and both have fit perfectly. Possibly just good luck, but there's also no denying the improvement in construction quality control on these new caps over the old model.

Instead of buying a new hat, call New Era and tell them the bottom popped off. This happened to my 1995 Kansas City Royals hats (the grey w/blue bill). When I called customer service, they told where to sent it to (I had to pay shipping) but then New Era sent it back fix, on their nickel, included a letter that looked handsigned not stamped that apologized for the defect and even threw in a tee shirt. I forgot to mention that the hat was approximately 9 years old when it happened and I wasn't charge to fix it. I agree with all of the posting regarding New Era's quality control but instead of spending $30-35 for a new one, ask them to fix it.