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A baseball cap is a type of soft
cap
with a long, stiffened and curved peak and it is worn by men, women and
children. The back of the cap often has a
plastic,
Velcro, or
elastic
adjustor so that it can be quickly adjusted to fit any wearer, although
fitted caps also exist. Those with long hair sometimes wear their hair in a
ponytail
which they pull through the gap in the cap above the adjustor. The cap is
normally sewn in sections, and may be topped with a matching fabric-covered
button on the crown. Traditionally the peak
worn over the eyes, but the cap is sometimes worn backwards, or at other
angles. The peak may be functional for blocking view from the sun at a low
elevation.It is most associated with those who play
baseball. However, the baseball cap is far more
than just a part of baseball players' uniforms; it
is arguably the most popular style of hat in the
United States and many Western nations, as well
as
Japan. In many ways, the baseball cap is a
symbol of the
20th century, as it became popular as the
culture of sports increased in popularity, starting
(naturally) with baseball. In
1860, the Brooklyn Excelsiors wore the ancestor
of the modern, rounded-top baseball cap, and by
1900, the "Brooklyn style" cap became popular.
During the
1940s, latex rubber became the stiffening
material inside the hat and the modern baseball cap
was born. Baseball caps are made of all types of material and
shaped in various styles for different purposes.
Major league baseball players wear classic-style
caps made of
wool with their team's simple logo and colors;
the logo is usually
embroidered into the wool. Caps used by players
commonly have sunglasses attached to the peak that
can be flipped down when the player must look into
the sky, but kept flipped up at other times.
Athletes in other sports wear caps with their team's
logo and colors as "sideline" caps; both types are
also sold as authentic team merchandise in retail
stores and are quite popular. Other caps may simply
have a company's logo, such as
Nike or Carhartt; these hats are often made of
brushed
cotton.
Golfers tend to prefer the visor form of cap
which doesn't cover the head but keeps the sun out
of their eyes; women also traditionally have worn
visors casually but a trend towards certain youth
subcultures see an increase in visor popularity
among both sexes.
Farmers and migrant workers might be seen wearing
plastic mesh caps with foam fronts with a farm feed
supply company logo or the like printed on the cap.
This style of baseball cap is sometimes called a
"trucker cap" because of its
blue collar associations.
The baseball cap of the
New York Yankees may be the most popular sports
team cap and comes in many colors (including the
classic navy blue) and varieties. Major athletic cap
manufacturers include Nike and New Era.
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Beginning in the
1980s, the baseball cap also came be associated
with
film directors, especially
Spike Lee and
Michael Moore, replacing the
beret in the popular image.
Wearing a baseball cap with the peak at certain
directions can have significance to
gang members, as well.
The idea of wearing the cap backwards is commonly
attributed to
catchers, when they began using facemasks, as
they had to turn the cap around to fit the mask on.
Apparel
Definition
Headgear
Caps
Beret
Hats
Clothing
Definitions
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