Unusual Baseball Cap Design

[cohibasmoker]

Today, I found these scans of caps from the 1972 season. They are unusual because by 1972, Professional teams had their team logos embroidered onto the caps. These babies have patches on them.

Jim

[sox83cubs84]

Jim:

Are you ertain that they're from 1972? I say this because the Cardinals began wearing pullover knits for the 1971 season, and these 2 players are wearing flannels.

Dave Miedema

[trsent]

Jim:

Are you ertain that they're from 1972? I say this because the Cardinals began wearing pullover knits for the 1971 season, and these 2 players are wearing flannels.

Dave Miedema

Holy Cow, Dave, what do you not know? Amazing what's in your brain.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Jim:

Are you ertain that they're from 1972? I say this because the Cardinals began wearing pullover knits for the 1971 season, and these 2 players are wearing flannels.

Dave Miedema

The photos appear from Spring Training. Maybe the knits weren't officially introduced.
Anyway, that dude has a a nice grill with some gold inlays. He also has a thick curb-link chain. Trendsetter.
Did the hats change from wool to some sort of nylon, at the same time of the flannel to knit era. The patch is odd. Appears to be a souvenir item.

[cohibasmoker]

The photos appear from Spring Training. Maybe the knits weren't officially introduced.
Anyway, that dude has a a nice grill with some gold inlays. He also has a thick curb-link chain. Trendsetter.
Did the hats change from wool to some sort of nylon, at the same time of the flannel to knit era. The patch is odd. Appears to be a souvenir item.

Here's a link to the Allen photo. It's dated April, 1972

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ronnie-Allen-St-Louis-Cardinals-Press-Photo-/150761268352?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item231a126480

[genius]

The Pirates wore this type of hat patch in 1968, here's a pretty clear photo:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Al-McBean-Pittsburgh-Pirates-8-x-10-B-W-Original-Press-Photo-/360591482083?pt=Vintage_Sports_Memorabilia&hash=item53f4ed5ce3

[sox83cubs84]

Here's a link to the Allen photo. It's dated April, 1972

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Ronnie-Allen-St-Louis-Cardinals-Press-Photo-/150761268352?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item231a126480

It must be from the minor league section of spring training. Ron Allen didn't even play in the majors until 8/21/72.

Dave Miedema

[momen55]

clemente's 67 topps photo shows the cap with a patch. assuming card photos were taken the same year, the photo may be from 66.

[both-teams-played-hard]

http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/3623/165669.jpg

[genius]

actual cap from the era, the patch is very solid and well-built into the front.

[cohibasmoker]

actual cap from the era, the patch is very solid and well-built into the front.

Jeff,

Nice cap. I knew the teams wore patches on their caps into the 1960's but I didn't realize some teams wore them as late at 1972. As Dick Dobbins used to say, "the only thing that is consistent about the hobby is its inconsistencies".
Jim

[genius]

Thanks Jim, what's cool about the patch is that it's not raised over the rest of the front, it's almost as if they cut out a swatch of the original felt and then sewed this in place, rather than just sewing the patch on top of the material that was already there.