Let's see your vintage baseball caps

[Huysmans]

While I can appreciate the MLB caps...
Does anyone have any 19th century pillbox or early-1900s specimens they can post?

.... I'd post 'em if I had 'em.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

While I can appreciate the MLB caps...
Does anyone have any 19th century pillbox or early-1900s specimens they can post?

.... I'd post 'em if I had 'em.

Here's a few, if you don't mind risking a stiff neck....

Pillbox
Boater style
Jockey style
Boston style
Short Brim

[GaryPassamonte]

Wow, Mark! Great caps.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Here's a few, if you don't mind risking a stiff neck....

Pillbox
Boater style
Jockey style
Boston style
Short Brim

Spectacular as always Mark, and I hope all is well with you lately. I love the green piping on the short brim. Great caps!

[perezfan]

Thanks Gary and Brent...

Brent, that green one was tailored to match the uniform (which I have as well). The lime green piping and pinstripes match the Uni to a tee. It's a Draper & Maynard specimen from the 20s. So much pride in workmanship back then!

[GaryPassamonte]

Mark- When do you date these caps to individually? This is a little out of my area and I need all the education I can get as I am looking for a 19th century example for my collection.

[1880nonsports]

except wayyy out of my area - I need a cap and glove to accompany my bat & balls :-)

personally I think that jockey cap is just great!

[vintagesportscollector]

The red cap was worn by a pitcher on the 1899 Cornell baseball team. Eight panels, silk interior lining, no leather sweat band, no ventilation grommets, no visor stitching - which are all some indicators of any earlier cap. (There is nothing completely definitive, and earlier features can be seen on more recent caps). The stitched visor was first introduced in 1903.

The boater style cap is University of Chicago, c.1910.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Mark- When do you date these caps to individually? This is a little out of my area and I need all the education I can get as I am looking for a 19th century example for my collection.

Gary:

Here's a link to an 1893 Ad for Baseball Caps. Some very nice illustrations, but the Jockey Style (similar to my Orange/White one) got cut off in the picture...

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rts-1923974706

The slouchy Boston Style and an earlier version of the Pillbox are pictured as well. More to follow...

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Mark- When do you date these caps to individually? This is a little out of my area and I need all the education I can get as I am looking for a 19th century example for my collection.

Here are a few more catalogue pages and ads. The color one is from 1887; The two B&W are from the mid-late 1890s. I would love to get my hands on the pillbox with vertical striping (simply labeled No. 1), but I have never seen one come up for sale.

[GaryPassamonte]

Thanks for the great information, Mark. Not to hijack this thread, but I have one more question. How do you identify a vintage 19th century cap from a modern one made for use by vintage baseball teams? It seems like a modern one could be easily doctored to fool many a collector.

[antiquebaseballuniforms]

Here are some from my collection:

https://www.antiquebaseballuniforms.com/caps

Cheers,
Mark

(Mark's post above is amazing!!)

[Chris Counts]

That's a proper man cave on your welcome page, Mark! I rarely see a collection displayed that makes mine feel small. I am truly impressed.

Since we're on the subject of caps, here are a few minor league beauties I haven't posted before. Here's an early 1950s Indianapolis Indians cap, a 1939 American Association All-Stars cap and a late 1940s Rochester Red Wings cap ...