underbills is another factor. To add to this, the Pirates were the first to use red in 2001.
Printable View
Yes indeed, it was for a short-lived alternate cap. I believe there were different colored undervisors for the "Turn Ahead The Clock" promotion back in 1999 as well. Minor League teams also had different colored undervisors, I have a Bakersfield Blaze cap from 2006 with orange.
All teams are now strictly using only black since 2007 for non-BP caps, with the exception of a few Minor League teams using leftover stock with gray undervisors in 2007. I also believe there are one or two players, one of which played (or still plays) for the Rangers that demands on using caps with gray undervisors. Also, most official team player photos have the players wearing caps with gray undervisors, even as recently as this year (Giants and A's, for example).
All of these changes are "innovations" by New Era. One wonders how much on-field caps would be different today if New Era had some competition.
What about this Mark Teixeira signed hat?
The MLB hologram # is BB063593 and is listed as a signed cap from Texas Rangers signing on May 29, 2006.
The hat clearly looks game worn. It is 100% wool.
New Era 50th anniversary was in 2004.
I figured it could be a 2005 hat and New Era sent some old stock to Texas in 2005. I would not think it would be sent 2 years later in 2006 but who knows.
Or could this be a hat from 2004 and Teixeira just cleaned out his locker for the signing?
Any ideas?
I should have stated that New Era's 59fifty hats anniversary was in 1994, not the company itself.
I meant in 2004 not 1994. :o
Updated. See first post for earlier tags
Joel - the tags you are showing for 2010-2011 were worn in Atlanta during the 2012 season. I recently purchased 24 game used caps directly from the Braves and they assured me they were all from 2012 and some had writing inside with nicknames, etc. that verified they were from the 2012 season. Everyone, all 24 caps had your 2010-2011 tagging.
So if I encounter a hat purported to be from 2002 and it has what you picture as the 2005 Company Tag (without made in the usa) and the Taping is the white background as shown, then I should be confident the hat can only be a 2005?