Yankee gang hats

[grmuckrakers]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/..._rail_headlines

Here's a link to a story about Harlem parents asking New Era and the Yankees to stop with caps targeted at gang members. When you're on the link, look for the link to the photos. The "bandana" caps are beyond description.

I'd post the photos here, but I'm not sure how to do it. Hopefully someone who knows how can post them.

[SabreGuy]

To me, this is the most ridiculous part of that article...

but a spokesperson for Major League Baseball said: "Major League Baseball was not previously aware of the symbolism of the cap design and, of course, is very concerned about the issue."

For MLB, New Era or any license holder to pretend that they were "unaware" of the blatantly obvious symbolism here is just insulting.

EDIT:

Though, to me, the second most insulting part of that article is the fact that they didn't seem to even wonder whether this was a Yankees only thing (which it isn't) or whether those designs existed for other MLB teams (they do, at least the crown cap).

[BB61]

[MJD802]

WOW, those are blatantly obvious. I read the article from uniwatchblog and thought the hats just had some minor printing all over them like the DC Shoes hats. I can't believe these were produced in the first place, but at the same time if you purchase one of these you probably already know what they stand for.

[totc]

It's about time someone got on New Era about this; they've been marketing black, red, navy, and gold "pop color" and "fashion" hats to market to Crips, Bloods, and Latin Kings for years.

[nyk]

What in New Era right mind made them want to put out this design. I live in Harlem and I agree with article, these hats have got to go.

[jeremyb]

that is terrible on some many accounts, first off what is stands for and how they are profitting from it. and honestly they are jusy terrible looking caps

[CS85]

This makes me sad.

[powersurge]

So they didn't notice huh?

....wow.

[Brass]

Not just because they are the Yankees, but those bandana-style caps are just downright ugly. If someone wears that, they deserve to get beaten down.

[FlyersHockey1967]

I'm reading the article about the kid who got jumped for wearing the wrong hat in the wrong neighborhood, and I'm wondering: Isn't it generally known that the gang-wannabes are the ones who clearly display and wear a gang's color/symbol in a conspicuous fashion, while the more experienced members don't? If so, why make hats that obviously show off the colors and symbols in the first place? Wearing that kind of stuff in the first place is just asking for trouble.

And I agree with SabreGuy; if you're going to use those designs, it should be obvious what they mean. How do you make hats for New Yorkers with those and claim to not know what they mean? That's like the Sabres designing their new logo and saying they didn't realize it looked like a slug, or that it has nothing to do with the team image?

[FiddySicks]

I can tell you from experience it's not just New York. When I worked at Lids in Santa Ana and Westminister we had similar problems with the "Bandito" (Yeah, thats great. Not only make a hat that promotes the gangster lifestyle and sell it in a highly hispanic area, but also give it a Spanish name, you know, be conspicious about it too) hat. One of the most blatant things I noticed were the kids who obviously had no connection to any gang, but who sported it like they shot the gun in the last drive by (I actually had some idiot brag to me about that one). And it's amazing just how many looks they can turn into a gang symbol. I once wore a Reds Authentic road cap to work and was confronted by a bunch of jerkoffs outside the store who thought I was repping The Game's gang. Oh yeah, the fat white kid in khaki Dockers shorts, Vans, and a black T Shirt that says Lids across the front really remotely cares about whos gang you rep let alone who your "rollin" with.

[BrySmalls]

I'm reading the article about the kid who got jumped for wearing the wrong hat in the wrong neighborhood, and I'm wondering: Isn't it generally known that the gang-wannabes are the ones who clearly display and wear a gang's color/symbol in a conspicuous fashion, while the more experienced members don't? If so, why make hats that obviously show off the colors and symbols in the first place? Wearing that kind of stuff in the first place is just asking for trouble.

And I agree with SabreGuy; if you're going to use those designs, it should be obvious what they mean. How do you make hats for New Yorkers with those and claim to not know what they mean? That's like the Sabres designing their new logo and saying they didn't realize it looked like a slug, or that it has nothing to do with the team image?

Any possible way to boycott New Era Caps? Their "quality" hats have never really been impressed. It is more a hack job than anything else I've seen.

[leopard88]

So they didn't notice huh?

....wow.

Of course they didn't notice. Someone in their design department just happened to come up with these ideas, purely for their high aesthetic value. The fact that the designs happened to imitate gang fashion and/or symbols was purely coincidental.

Oh, yeah --

[SabreGuy]

OK, so I haven't gone and looked at many fashion 5950's in a while, because... well... they're terrible. But this article got me interested enough to go look.

You want to talk about a hat that will get you beat up in NY? How about a Yankees hat in Mets colors?!?!

EDIT: Which, I guess, makes about as much sense as a Dodgers hat in Giants colors.

[BallWonk]

The story leaves me with two thoughts:

1. If a street gang started using some kind of altered ballcap as a calling card on the bodies of those they kill, would New Era produce a manufactured version for sale in several known gang colors? If so, there is ample precedent for prosecuting New Era's executives for conspiracy and manslaughter in the state of New York. And if not, how could New Era justify drawing the line at that line of products but not at this line of products?

2. Whatever happened to the days when gangsters tried to show their status by dressing up instead of down? Tailored suits, silk shirts, ties ... gangsters used to want to look like the richest guy in the room, like the mayor or Frank Sinatra, not like the poorest guy in the room. And it's not a race thing. Your average Italian, Russian, and other white gangsters dress like unemployed slobs these days too. At least the sociopaths of old had some style. ("Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, at least it was an ethos.")

[SabreGuy]

2. Whatever happened to the days when gangsters tried to show their status by dressing up instead of down? Tailored suits, silk shirts, ties ... gangsters used to want to look like the richest guy in the room, like the mayor or Frank Sinatra, not like the poorest guy in the room. And it's not a race thing. Your average Italian, Russian, and other white gangsters dress like unemployed slobs these days too. At least the sociopaths of old had some style. ("Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, at least it was an ethos.")

Wow, and I thought I sounded old when I wanted Minor League Baseball to matter again!

But it's a good point. The Godfather, if made today, would look a WHOLE lot different. And would probably be terrible, too.

[OMMF]

When I worked at Lids in Santa Ana and Westminister we had similar problems with the "Bandito" (Yeah, thats great. Not only make a hat that promotes the gangster lifestyle and sell it in a highly hispanic area, but also give it a Spanish name, you know, be conspicious about it too) hat.

Thats a bit unfair, no? I'm sure they sell the hat in most areas and not just stocking them in locations with higher Hispanic residents.

[powersurge]

2. Whatever happened to the days when gangsters tried to show their status by dressing up instead of down? Tailored suits, silk shirts, ties ... gangsters used to want to look like the richest guy in the room, like the mayor or Frank Sinatra, not like the poorest guy in the room. And it's not a race thing. Your average Italian, Russian, and other white gangsters dress like unemployed slobs these days too. At least the sociopaths of old had some style. ("Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, at least it was an ethos.")

Wow, and I thought I sounded old when I wanted Minor League Baseball to matter again!

But it's a good point. The Godfather, if made today, would look a WHOLE lot different. And would probably be terrible, too.

HA! What happened to the days of fat shoe laces and break dancin'?

Before we all reveal our ages through "uncool" and dated assessments of todays youth culture, I'll just say that it never ceases to amaze me how ridiculous fashion statements continue to become. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse....it does. People wore regular hats with bandanas around them when I was in school, now they put the whole look together for the young cool and lazy bandito who wants to look cool but doesn't have the time or the skills too tie a bandana.

[powersurge]

d/p