Mailbag: Cap Surgery

Reader Michael recently sent us a fantastically detailed note about his experimentation in cap surgery.  

Hello,

 

After purchasing a New Era 5950 Stars and Stripes Phillies Hat, I tried a few of the suggested tips in your blog but I got impatient and decided to perform a "cap surgery" and remove the mesh from the crown. I should note that I practiced on an older adjustable New Era hat with the same mesh but I was successful both time using this method.

 

First, find a small safety pin and open it. Locate an inconspicuous area ( I used the top of the crown near the button on the top of the hat. Gently work the safety pin through the mesh without piercing the front of the cap ( this seem to be hard to do and even if you did it wouldn't hurt the cap much. Once you get the pin through the mesh, twist it gently two or three times. This will open up a small hole and snap some of the black plastic threads. Do this a few more times to open a hole big enough for a pen. Grab a smooth rounded pen, such as a Bic Stick and gently work it under the mesh. The purpose of this is to separate the mesh from the small dots of glue that hold it to the front of the hat. Once you have done this, use the pen as a guide to keep the polyester material of the hat away from the mesh. Use sharp kitchen shears for best results. Once you trim enough mesh and plastic away you can make smaller touch up cuts. This process will make your hat much more relaxed, similar to the style of Twins 47 Franchise hats ( which I own and love). I am hoping to get some cap cleaner and get rid of the glue, although it hasn't been a problem so far. I hope this can help readers.

Preview: 2009 All Star Game

All-Star game balloting has begun. Every year, we suggest pretty much the same thing when it comes to All-Star gear.  If you're a fan of the team that is hosting, now is the time to load up on some unique gear.  If you're not really a St. Louis Cardinal fan, however, you probably won't fall in love with the color scheme of the uniforms coming out for this year's game.  

On the other hand, if you happen to be a Cardinals fan, this is your year.  The All-Star Game logo looks great this year and Majestic has come up with some great shirts already.  

We can't really get excited about shorts, unless you plan on buying a pair from your alma matter and wearing them to the gym periodically.  

If you're a Cardinals fan and you want something a bit different to pair with a standard jersey when going to a game, how about this hat?  

The problem with buying All-Star gear when your team isn't hosting is that we rarely remember where the game was held five years ago - making commemorating the event with a shirt or hat seem a bit ridiculous.  If your team does host, however, odds are you'll remember the event and want some sort of keepsake.  

Have fun voting! 

Best hats of all time?

Our friends at Uni Watch feature an interesting discussion of their favorite baseball hats of all time.  I agree with most of their assessments on a kitsch level, but some of these hats would look a bit geeky on a fan.  Personally, I think the Pirates pillbox hat screams dork.  On the other hand, the old school Cubs and Montreal Expos caps look great.  

Can most of us agree that the 1990s weren't exactly the best of times for hat design?  

Hat tip. 

Mailbag: Low Crown 5950?

Reader Richard asks, 

  

Guys, just read your oven tip for breaking in the 5950 hats. I'll give it a shot. I have a big head to begin with so these hats look particularly silly on me if they aren't broken in. But here's the million dollar question (literally). Why haven't they released a 5950 hat that is broken in already, or sloped in the front. I think they are missing a huge opportunity here. Millions would buy it (I think). It can still be fitted, and look like the real deal, but broken in with the plastic support already broken it. Am I wrong? They have dozens of hat designs, I'm shoked New Era hasn't thought of this. 

Great question, Richard. New Era used to make something quite similar to what you are talking called "low crown" hats.  You can find references to them when you Google the term, "low crown 5950" but I haven't seen one available in stores for years.  

Perhaps we should start an angry petition?!   

Edit: Believe it or not, we get a lot of e-mails about this post.  We've heard good feedback from people heading in this direction for MLB low crown 5950 hats.  Also, New Era claims to be releasing new low crown 5950s soon.  Any further tips would be appreciated! Finally, please visit our sponsors to keep this site alive!