Ebbets Field Flannels…the end of an Era and a New Begining

[JJ McGraw]

For those of us who love to collect and wear reproduction baseball wear ( especially from the early 20th century teams) , over the years they were two companies that fulfilled that need…….Mitchell-Ness and Ebbets Field Flannels.
Mitchell-Ness, long ago decided to cater to a younger, different demographic( they assumed anyone under 40 wouldn’t know who Joe Jackson or Rogers Hornsby was…maybe they were right). The last Deadball era jersey they sold was the 1914 Boston Braves Home Jersey( which I bought) for the centennial in 2014. Frankly, by that time, I was surprised they offered it. They had gotten rid of the cardigan sweater line…....I was able to buy three in the 1990’s ( 1913 NY Giants, 1917 White Sox and 1918 Red Sox). If you ever saw that whole line of sweaters , they were amazing reproductions, very pricey at the time, but beautifully made here in the US.
BUT…..Ebbets Field Flannels, started in 1986 by Jerry Cohen, definitely filled the gap with a plethora of products, caps, jerseys, jackets and two years ago……the cardigan sweaters, and not minor league ….actual Deadball era major league teams. From then to this past Dec , I patiently waited for the various sales that Jerry would have and thankfully snagged a Boston Braves, Baltimore Orioles and St Louis Browns cardigan sweaters( pictured below)
A few years back , EFF offered, to my absolute surprise, the 1959 Victoria Rosebuds wool flannel jersey and Cap…….I have lived in Victoria for almost 50 years and the stadium they played at is still here ,refurbished and going strong with the new minor league team, the Victoria Generals. ( Stadium built in 1947)
The jersey and cap were perfect( see photos below) At Munford’s , our oldest barbecue joint in town, they have a framed original photo of that team. I also have a small collection of Rosebud items…they are very hard to come by. This last Fall, EFF offered the 1977 Lone Star League jerseys and caps, six teams….one of which, the Rosebuds.( Santa definitely had those packed in his sleigh)

I am editing this part of my post as it had incorrect info….Jerry Cohen did not sell to LIDS, but after he sold it , LIDS, apparently for a time , did own EFF.

All of the faithful customers received an email from Jerry last week, basically preparing us for the “change” in the line of products. The direction it seems it is headed is not for me . Before, you had Negro league items, Japanese teams, a ton of city teams from the early 20th century and yes, a beautiful line of Federal League items.
If you go to the site, you can see a smattering of what is left as the new era pushes the old to the side. For me, I’ve been collecting this stuff a long time. When Cooperstown Ball Cap was in business, you could get an authentic cap to match that Mitchell Ness jersey. But all this is in the rear view mirror. You can find the occasional bit or piece on eBay, but even that has dried up.
This site is proof that you don’t have to be 90 years old to love the Deadball era, but apparently, marketing firms think just that.
No one replaced Cooperstown Ball Cap Co ( later Ideal Cap Co) ….out of business.
Again, for those of us who collect and wear this stuff….it was a great run and I’m glad I collected and stayed up with it. It was exciting to see what the next year brought….like the Deadball era EFF sweaters two years ago. I’m good, but I feel bad for those who love all this as much as I do and have no company out there that will rise to the level authenticity these companies did. I don’t need a fantasy Kansas City Monarchs jersey, but I’ll take an authentic one and wear it proudly. I don’t see someone taking up the EFF gauntlet anytime soon. If I see one, I’ll let you know.

[JJ McGraw]

Here are a few more images of what was offered , as late as Dec 2024

[jason.1969]

Love that Rosebuds jersey! Tommy Davis would have worn that very jersey!


Jason
Twitter: @heavyj28

[BobbyStrawberry]

I have several of their products and I like them, but I didn't get the email you mentioned. What is the new direction? The website certainly looks different than I remember

[drmiraculous]

I didn't get any email but I did recently email them about replacing my old eight-panel cap and was rudely handled. It was very different than all the previous experiences I have had, which were always fantastic and resulted in some great purchases. This time I was basically turned away flat, and left with the feeling that the company no longer wanted the kind of customer it had worked to build its reputation on.

In a related question, anyone know if EFF eight-panel flannel caps can be dry cleaned?

[Huck]

"A Letter From Ebbets Field Founder Jerry Cohen

It seems like yesterday, but the initial inspiration for what came to be Ebbets Field arrived in 1987. Armed only with an idea and an almost evangelical fervor (the business part would have to be learned), I set out with the idea of revolutionizing the athletic apparel industry, or at least a little corner of it. It began with working the phones, having rolls of old wool flannel delivered to my job (hopefully without attracting the notice of my employers), and, when funds allowed, visiting the National Baseball Library and legacy sporting goods manufacturers.

It was our firm conviction that our garments should be constructed traditionally and authentically. A ballcap or jersey from 1935 should look and feel like those made in 1935. The second principle we believed deeply in was the elevation of little-known and underrepresented narratives. In the days before Ken Burns' "Baseball" documentary and celebrations of the Negro Leagues, their stories had yet to be told. Soon, we were fielding calls for jerseys from folks like Spike Lee and David Letterman, and Sports Illustrated ran a full
page article about us. We were off to the races.

As the years passed, despite having a business rooted in history, we
knew we did not want Ebbets Field to become a relic of nostalgia. A business needs to be a living, breathing, and growing thing. Around ten years ago, a new generation of customers began to celebrate the brand for the quality of our products and our commitment to legacy manufacturing, which has given us the chance to venture into territories that weren't on our radar when we started. This is the occasion we're rising to in 2025.

We have an exciting new creative team in place, with the resources
and experience to bring Ebbets into the next several decades. The competitive, marketing, and manufacturing landscape has changed substantially since 1987, and with it comes new opportunities. It is our promise to honor the legacy and achievements of our brand while introducing elevated designs for today's
sensibilities.

Ebbets has never followed trends. We have always led, and we don't intend to stop now. We welcome you - whether you just discovered us or are already part of the Ebbets Community — to this new exciting chapter.

— JERRY COHEN. FOUNDER"

[JJ McGraw]

I’d rather not comment on the new direction Jerry refers to in his letter posted above, let’s just say, “It’s not your fathers EFF” I do encourage all of you to check it out.
For many years Jerry would send out a catalog several times a year……yes, an actual , put in your hands and drool over catalog…..I saved most of them, here is Fall 2012….

As the years moved on, and physical catalogs were replaced by internet site catalogs, EFF’s line exploded……you could get every Federal League team jersey and cap. I think there are a couple still for sale on there right now, but after they are gone, I’m sure that will be it.
I love the 1834 US team tour of Japan story, EFF not only offered some of the Japanese uniforms they faced, but the US All American team cap, jersey and BEEEEAAUUUTIIFUL Jacket. It took time, but eventually I got all three.

If you are interested in snagging the last gasps of the “old EFF” , I know they have a Brooklyn Robins sweater, St Louis Cards sweater and maybe a few others. Their new line , so far, does not interest me in the least. AND , of course, I will follow this new era and maybe they will surprise me…..I’d love that! It’s like with the 1914 Cracker Jack cards I bought back in the early 1990’s…..glad I did….wish I’d have bought more . With Mitchell Ness and EFF, I really got everything one could want…and then some.
As for customer service, until last year could call and talk to Jerry and any of the staff….they, like their boss, were wonderful folks.Last year…..NO NUMBER TO CALL and the packages came from the east, not the home base of Seattle, WASH. I don’t blame Jerry for selling, Jerry did a lot of favors for me , and without him, there would not be much hanging on that wardrobe pipe. It’s a shame the buyer did not want to continue the legacy Jerry created. But again, I’ll keep monitoring and hoping.

[JJ McGraw]

Here is a holiday catalog….as the years went on, and they went with online shopping…..EFF had literally 1,000’s of items….it was truly amazing!

[JJ McGraw]

This was the GOLDEN ERA of Reproduction baseball clothing …Mitchell Ness 1991

[JJ McGraw]

And no one made a more authentic ball cap than Cooperstown Ball Cap Company. Below is just a few pages of his 1994 catalog. He literally would make you any of the caps in this catalog…I treasure mine.Card shop dealers would carry them in their brick and mortar stores, that is how I got my first ones….then, I found his phone number, had him send me a catalog and the rest is history……Remember…no internet in 1994 to speak of, you had to call, write letters and send in the money .Again, you see a few for sale on eBay , but that well has dried up pretty much. ALL U.S. Made, they were so authentic , they could go back in a Time Machine and no one would look twice.

[Lucas00]

Looking into this a bit more to see the actual changes and it looks like basically eff is just turning into a "You can buy this elsewhere but we make a slightly higher quality version and also we make a bunch of random T shirts and other weird custom designs not based on history. And other basic looking shirts for 3x the price they should be".


Rather than doing their old, make a custom very high quality piece of old forgotten teams/unique weird and cool semi pro/obscure league teams. And we are the only ones who will ever do this and be literal one to one quality with an original.

I don't see how they will be able to charge such premium prices anymore on these literal fanatics quality tshirts. A cotton t shirt with a tiny G on it for $58? uhhh I don't think so. A crewneck that literally just says the word ebbets for $138.

I dunno maybe I'm wrong about something, this is just how it looks to me.

[Lucas00]

Its a literal goldmine for somebody who could make custom wool pieces to come in, take custom orders and fill this new void. Not saying it wasn't before but now it really is.

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Its a literal goldmine for somebody who could make custom wool pieces to come in, take custom orders and fill this new void.

Someone will...

[steveinphilly]

Originally Posted by JJ McGraw

I’d rather not comment on the new direction Jerry refers to in his letter posted above, let’s just say, “It’s not your fathers EFF” I do encourage all of you to check it out.
For many years Jerry would send out a catalog several times a year……yes, an actual , put in your hands and drool over catalog…..I saved most of them, here is Fall 2012….

As the years moved on, and physical catalogs were replaced by internet site catalogs, EFF’s line exploded……you could get every Federal League team jersey and cap. I think there are a couple still for sale on there right now, but after they are gone, I’m sure that will be it.
I love the 1834 US team tour of Japan story, EFF not only offered some of the Japanese uniforms they faced, but the US All American team cap, jersey and BEEEEAAUUUTIIFUL Jacket. It took time, but eventually I got all three.

If you are interested in snagging the last gasps of the “old EFF” , I know they have a Brooklyn Robins sweater, St Louis Cards sweater and maybe a few others. Their new line , so far, does not interest me in the least. AND , of course, I will follow this new era and maybe they will surprise me…..I’d love that! It’s like with the 1914 Cracker Jack cards I bought back in the early 1990’s…..glad I did….wish I’d have bought more . With Mitchell Ness and EFF, I really got everything one could want…and then some.
As for customer service, until last year could call and talk to Jerry and any of the staff….they, like their boss, were wonderful folks.Last year…..NO NUMBER TO CALL and the packages came from the east, not the home base of Seattle, WASH. I don’t blame Jerry for selling, Jerry did a lot of favors for me , and without him, there would not be much hanging on that wardrobe pipe. It’s a shame the buyer did not want to continue the legacy Jerry created. But again, I’ll keep monitoring and hoping.

I couldn't agree more. I bought a lot from them over the years, and a _whole lot_ last Nov-Dec during what I now presume was some sort of inventory reduction clearance sale. I think I have maybe 30+ EFF t-shirts, 15 caps, 3 or 4 jerseys, and 2 wonderful winter coats (1960 Eagles, which I just wore to 7 December/January Birds home games, and 1949 Phillies, which I planned to wear deep into the postseason, alas). I'm glad I bought what I did and didn't put it off, but I'm sad to see it more or less over. It was a great run. I wish I had saved some of my catalogs over the years. Like you, I will wait to see if things improve, but right now the idea of paying $68 for a cap that is a modern interpretation of a minor league or Negro League original doesn't appeal to me.

[Chris Counts]

I'm thrilled see your Victoria jersey because I've long wondered what color it was after finding this wonderful old snapshot of Tommy Davis (see below).

I've bought a couple caps from Ebbets Field Flannels over the years, and each time, they struggled to fill the order or return my money if they couldn't come up with the cap. They do beautiful work, but they couldn't close the deal. I stick to buying their caps used off of eBay.

[Swadewade51]

I was (and still am) extremely disappointed in EFFs new direction. I'm happy I was able to purchase the Bismarck Churchills though. I enjoy having a copy of thebone Satchel is wearing in this type 1.

I had some many more pairings I wanted to do with their hats and my photo collection :/

[JJ McGraw]

Great photo Chris. Yes, I was definitely surprised by the colors of the uniform as having only seen black and white photos as well. To this day, I’m amazed that Jerry picked this jersey and cap to make. The caps sold out quickly, the jerseys were still available in Dec of 2024. They had a lot of stock at that time and it all didn’t sell. I wonder where it all went?
Again, great photo….I have an album of Rosebud items( some shown above), very hard to find. And btw, they were the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodger farm team at that time……hence the blue.

[philo98]

Definitely devastated by this news. I was wondering what in the hell happened to their website as I couldn’t find anything of old. I wish I would have known this and would have loaded up on duplicate items and other things to wear over the coming years. I always got compliments on their things as I would wear a lot of their Grays clothing to Pirates games. I heavily promoted that company to people at the ballpark whenever I was asked where I got certain things. I could never walk downtown Pittsburgh without someone asking or making a comment about their products. They were huge hits. I loved EFF.

The new site is junk. Sad to see the company go. They had incredible items before. Negro league, Japan, Latin America, etc etc etc

[ebbets58]

It is hard to read all of the comments here without experiencing a host of different emotions. I chose to not respond to all the social media commentary in the last week because I know from experience that trying to set the record straight on these platforms - even with the best of intentions - sometimes only makes matters worse. But suffice it to say that there has been a lot of misinformation and distortion posted, along with many sentiments that I understand and agree with. Also, as I am still under contract with the new owners I must be somewhat careful in what I can and cannot discuss in a public forum. As to the comments in this thread: First, I appreciate the mentions of Peter Capolino and William Arlt. These were my brothers in arms. We all started at roughly the same time and went through the same experiences. We each dealt with our early successes and challenges in different ways. Sadly, William is no longer with us. He and I went through many adventures together (we were the Wool Barons of Mexico at one point) and if I ever write my promised memoir, some of those adventures will be included. Likewise with Peter, he was the older brother I never had, and I just had dinner with him two weeks ago. I also appreciate the passion for the brand Lisa Cooper and I built. It's good to know that my search for authenticity and stories even in the tiniest corner of recorded memory found resonance with so many. Now on to the tough stuff. We sold the Company in late 2021. It was time. Although we were growing and profitable, the consolidation in the industry, the need to track hundreds of state and local tax jurisdictions, post-Covid supply chain issues, labor costs, etc. all put tremendous pressure on the business and us personally. We did NOT sell to Lids - at least not directly, but after about six months were were put under the Lids organization, and have now been put under a new corporate umbrella. None of these decisions were mine, nor was I consulted on them (other than to be informed after decisions had been made). The last design concept I was personally responsible for was the cardigan sweaters mentioned elsewhere in this thread. I have tried to use what influence I have to preserve as much of the original brand ethos as possible, while being as supportive as possible of current management. I am sure how you can see how that could be a tricky position to maintain. Others can judge how successful I have been. Unfortunately I do not have the power to override decisions regarding pricing, products, etc. To those disappointed by the recent changes, please be assured that the ownership is well aware of the pushback from traditional EFF customers, and I have made my feelings known as well. But it was my decision to sell three years ago, and I have to live with the result that I no longer control the brand. I CAN say that there will come a time when my obligations to current ownership are completed and we will see if something new can arise from the ashes - something perhaps not identical to the old EFF, but more in keeping with that brand's ethos and values. To all of those who supported EFF: I endeavored at all times to treat every customer well and to offer the best possible products with the highest degree of integrity. If I did not succeed 100% of the time, I apologize. But your support and kindness have meant the world to myself and Lisa.

[NiceDocter]

Thank you for all the years of quality work and customer service. Thank you for keeping old time baseball alive with your products. And lastly, thank you for your thoughtful post. We patiently await the Phoenix. Rocky

[JJ McGraw]

Yes Ryan……I sensed something was up during the 20% fall sale.

And now to respond to Jerry’s recent post.
You always treated me as a singular customer and through the years , help me fulfill many dream projects, like my grandfather’s 1920’s Mill team CALPINE jersey from the mines of N California.
I will correct the LIDS post, I had read that LIDS owned EFF , and I guess I was right about that, but not the “how” of it all. For that I apologize. As I’ve stated several times in this thread, I'm going to keep an eye on the new EFF and hope they hear the comments of the old customer base. I never for a moment thought you would go on with this forever….things change. I’m just disappointed they didn’t continue more of your vision. My post was primarily more of a retrospective of what was and praise for you. If you took it another way, I’m sorry for that. As for people being disappointed in the current situation, they are the customers, they spend the money. But as far as you and your wonderful Seattle team, I would believe all hold you in the highest regard, especially for all the joy and actual fun you brought to the baseball experience. I don’t like the new products thus far but I’m willing to see what happens. And thank you for briefly filling the gap in the cardigans that Mitchell-Ness used to produce. Love the teams you picked to do it with as well. All the best to you.

[ebbets58]

JJ: My post was more a general comment on this thread. I did not take any of your comments personally at all, and I appreciate the kind words. In the past it has always been my policy to try to be responsive to customer questions or even complaints, so in that spirit I posted here. Thanks.

[67Rally]

Originally Posted by ebbets58

It is hard to read all of the comments here without experiencing a host of different emotions. I chose to not respond to all the social media commentary in the last week because I know from experience that trying to set the record straight on these platforms - even with the best of intentions - sometimes only makes matters worse. But suffice it to say that there has been a lot of misinformation and distortion posted, along with many sentiments that I understand and agree with. Also, as I am still under contract with the new owners I must be somewhat careful in what I can and cannot discuss in a public forum. As to the comments in this thread: First, I appreciate the mentions of Peter Capolino and William Arlt. These were my brothers in arms. We all started at roughly the same time and went through the same experiences. We each dealt with our early successes and challenges in different ways. Sadly, William is no longer with us. He and I went through many adventures together (we were the Wool Barons of Mexico at one point) and if I ever write my promised memoir, some of those adventures will be included. Likewise with Peter, he was the older brother I never had, and I just had dinner with him two weeks ago. I also appreciate the passion for the brand Lisa Cooper and I built. It's good to know that my search for authenticity and stories even in the tiniest corner of recorded memory found resonance with so many. Now on to the tough stuff. We sold the Company in late 2021. It was time. Although we were growing and profitable, the consolidation in the industry, the need to track hundreds of state and local tax jurisdictions, post-Covid supply chain issues, labor costs, etc. all put tremendous pressure on the business and us personally. We did NOT sell to Lids - at least not directly, but after about six months were were put under the Lids organization, and have now been put under a new corporate umbrella. None of these decisions were mine, nor was I consulted on them (other than to be informed after decisions had been made). The last design concept I was personally responsible for was the cardigan sweaters mentioned elsewhere in this thread. I have tried to use what influence I have to preserve as much of the original brand ethos as possible, while being as supportive as possible of current management. I am sure how you can see how that could be a tricky position to maintain. Others can judge how successful I have been. Unfortunately I do not have the power to override decisions regarding pricing, products, etc. To those disappointed by the recent changes, please be assured that the ownership is well aware of the pushback from traditional EFF customers, and I have made my feelings known as well. But it was my decision to sell three years ago, and I have to live with the result that I no longer control the brand. I CAN say that there will come a time when my obligations to current ownership are completed and we will see if something new can arise from the ashes - something perhaps not identical to the old EFF, but more in keeping with that brand's ethos and values. To all of those who supported EFF: I endeavored at all times to treat every customer well and to offer the best possible products with the highest degree of integrity. If I did not succeed 100% of the time, I apologize. But your support and kindness have meant the world to myself and Lisa.

One of the common responses to the negative realities of the corporate world (or the underworld) is, "its just business." That refrain does apply to this situation in that the new owners have zero personal investment into the lore of baseball history nor do they share one iota of the historical baseball sentiment a people at our bottom-feeding level care about.

The bottom line is the bottom line.

Jerry, if this is truly you, I met you in your office a dozen years ago when I brought in some military flannels for you to document. I personally witnessed your dedication not only to the history (as if decades of creating some of the fantastic recreations wasn't convincing enough) with your people, manufacturing and engagement with your customers.

I have had great conversations throughout the past few years with Peter Capolino who took the time not only to share what he went through with M&N and why he ultimately decided to sell, but he provided me with perspective when you arrived at the same decision.

It is just business.

While that is the reality of our world in the aftermath of the sale of EFF (and their current trajectory), it is hardly a consolation for those of us who have been handing over our hard-earned dollars to you these many years. I first read about your story in the Seattle Times when I was serving in the military (and on a night shift). As soon as I was off shift, I drove down to your shop at 3131 Western and bought my first ballcap, which I still have. While I don't own the largest collection of EFF, my gathering of jerseys numbers near 30 and my ballcaps are at least double that. I am but one of the thousands who are quite disappointed with the way things have progressed since the sale.

For the corporate owners of the EFF brand, it is quite apparent to the loyal customers that they do not have us in mind as they change course. I remember the difficult Stall & Dean days and would prefer them to Lids/Fanatics. Dare I say that it would be better to see the doors shuttered than what we're seeing done to the brand that you, Lisa, your employees and customers built together?

It is just business, but without those of us who care, it won't be.

[lhg39]

Appreciate your thoughts Jerry. You and your team always did a great job and were a pleasure to deal with. Appreciate your situation and as with Peter and M&N it was certainly your prerogative to sell when you did.

It is just a shame that companies buy brands for what they were, but instead of appreciating the reasons for success, feel a need to turn them into something else. EFF and M&N were successful for a reason, and drifting from what the brands were known for only weakens their core strengths.

[accidental]

Originally Posted by ebbets58

It is hard to read all of the comments here without experiencing a host of different emotions. I chose to not respond to all the social media commentary in the last week because I know from experience that trying to set the record straight on these platforms - even with the best of intentions - sometimes only makes matters worse. But suffice it to say that there has been a lot of misinformation and distortion posted, along with many sentiments that I understand and agree with. Also, as I am still under contract with the new owners I must be somewhat careful in what I can and cannot discuss in a public forum. As to the comments in this thread: First, I appreciate the mentions of Peter Capolino and William Arlt. These were my brothers in arms. We all started at roughly the same time and went through the same experiences. We each dealt with our early successes and challenges in different ways. Sadly, William is no longer with us. He and I went through many adventures together (we were the Wool Barons of Mexico at one point) and if I ever write my promised memoir, some of those adventures will be included. Likewise with Peter, he was the older brother I never had, and I just had dinner with him two weeks ago. I also appreciate the passion for the brand Lisa Cooper and I built. It's good to know that my search for authenticity and stories even in the tiniest corner of recorded memory found resonance with so many. Now on to the tough stuff. We sold the Company in late 2021. It was time. Although we were growing and profitable, the consolidation in the industry, the need to track hundreds of state and local tax jurisdictions, post-Covid supply chain issues, labor costs, etc. all put tremendous pressure on the business and us personally. We did NOT sell to Lids - at least not directly, but after about six months were were put under the Lids organization, and have now been put under a new corporate umbrella. None of these decisions were mine, nor was I consulted on them (other than to be informed after decisions had been made). The last design concept I was personally responsible for was the cardigan sweaters mentioned elsewhere in this thread. I have tried to use what influence I have to preserve as much of the original brand ethos as possible, while being as supportive as possible of current management. I am sure how you can see how that could be a tricky position to maintain. Others can judge how successful I have been. Unfortunately I do not have the power to override decisions regarding pricing, products, etc. To those disappointed by the recent changes, please be assured that the ownership is well aware of the pushback from traditional EFF customers, and I have made my feelings known as well. But it was my decision to sell three years ago, and I have to live with the result that I no longer control the brand. I CAN say that there will come a time when my obligations to current ownership are completed and we will see if something new can arise from the ashes - something perhaps not identical to the old EFF, but more in keeping with that brand's ethos and values. To all of those who supported EFF: I endeavored at all times to treat every customer well and to offer the best possible products with the highest degree of integrity. If I did not succeed 100% of the time, I apologize. But your support and kindness have meant the world to myself and Lisa.

Thanks for your comments Jerry, I fully understand the difficulty of the situation for you and am thankful for what you achieved and created, I’m glad I purchased many items in the past.

My only gripe is that this whole situation was not without precedent, I mean Ames Watson is the same company that helped ruin Mitchell & Ness, so the path is pretty much set, I guess. The name change to Ebbets Field surely also is an indication which aspect isn’t of importance to them.