Top Five Minor League Hats

One of our favorite pastimes is perusing Minor League apparel.  With so many teams to choose from (240 teams are affiliated with the MLB) it is hard not to find team logos that suit your fancy.  Minor league hats offer a way to switch it up from your favorite MLB team logo, or give you a way to just do something a bit different.  Some Minor League hats are a little trickier to find than others - but we've brought together five logos that we love for this post.  I think the rule for making a great minor league logo is to take something that isn't normally that menacing and turn it into something you become a little bit scared of.  We've gone beyond the Cougars, Lions, Tigers and Bears in this post and found some more amusing logos.  

If you're a Milwaukee Brewers fan, you have to check out this Helena Brewers hat.  From my knowledge of watching old western films as a kid, I was surprised to learn they had beer in Montana.  Turns out, they have a lot of beer in Montana. 

The Ceder Rapids Kernal's hat is at once the ugliest and most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life.  Unlike the aforementioned Brewers, I knew they had corn in Iowa.     

I'm straight up in love with this baby blue Myrtle Beach Pelicans hat.  Something about an angry looking, awkward, Pelican just does it for me.  

The Portland Sea Dogs, a AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have long had popular minor league hats.  If you're a fan of the city of Portland or of the Red Sox, wearing this lid would be a great way to switch it up a bit.  

And our favorite minor league hat?  Its hard not to like a team with a cowboy raccoon stealing a baseball as its logo.  We will go with the Quad Cities River Bandits.  

Care to dispute our choices?  E-mail us at welldressedsportsfan@gmail.com

Reviewing the 2009 NFL Draft Hats

The NFL Draft is in two weeks, but each team has already released their draft hat - the hat the selected players put on when they are photographed with their new teams jersey.  Some of these hats are fantastic and others . . . well, let's just say we've got some duds in there.  You can pick up your team's hat here.

Atlanta Falcons - At first, I was a pretty big fan of this hat.  I've cooled on it a little, only because it is a bit too shiny to wear everyday - but this hat would go well with a black Falcons jersey - unless it is Michael Vick.  

Seattle Seahawks - This hat looks like a kindergartner or one of John McCain's staffers threw up all over it.  I guess this hat is supposed to go with Seattle's new alternate jersey, but it mainly gives me a headache.  Wow.  

San Diego Chargers - I really like the old school powder blue Chargers jersey and I'm pumped they've brought the look back. This hat is pretty cool, but if you're going with a throwback design, you might as well go with a throwback looking "relaxed fit" hat instead of a shiny techie looking hat like this.  As you've seen with Seattle, however, you could make a far worse choice. 

Minnesota Vikings - Again, I like to wear hats that you can wear everyday.  That's why the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox hats are so popular - subtle navy with a white or red accent. Purple and yellow with stripes, on the other hand?  Not so subtle. I think most of these hats could be worn with a jersey - this one would go well with the Vikings white away jersey - but wouldn't look so great for everyday use. 

 Houston Texans - This hat is pretty similar to the Atlanta Falcons hat.  Pretty good color scheme, not too overwhelming.  

Carolina Panthers - The Carolina Panthers logo is just so painfully 1990s.  The neon teal color scheme is not unlike the Jacksonville Jaguars - which entered the league at the same time.  And lest we forget, the 1990s also witnessed the expansion of the Florida Panthers hockey team - so that decade couldn't even pick an original team name.  And color scheme?  Remember the San Jose Sharks?  If you're a Panthers hat, go with a black jersey and hat.  

Dear Joba Chamberlain

Dear Joba, 

  We understand.  You want to look cool.  We want to look cool too.  You saw cool young guys coming up in the minors wearing flat billed ballcaps and and cocking them slightly to the side.  The look caught on in the minors and across colleges and high schools across the country.  

Hanley Ramirez, pictured above, wears a slight curve in his cap - but keeps it flat enough so that you can comfortably fit a pair of sunglasses underneath. Look at how cool and effortless this guy looks.  Why wouldn't you want to emulate that style?  Plus, you're a young phenom - if there is a time to do crazy stuff with your uniform - isn't this it?!

So Joba, you kept that bill flat - the straight off the shelf look. But there was a problem.  When you wear your bill totally flat, something happened.  It turned out that you look like one of the Mario Brothers. 

Exhibit A.) Joba                              Exhibit B.) Mario

And then, Joba, you took it all one step further.  You committed a crime against sports.  You took a pre-curved spring training hat and decided, "Hey, you know what!  This would look better if I tried to straighten it out like I do with the on the field caps."  What ends up happening is that you look like a little leaguer who threw their cap in the washer and dryer for too long.  

For the love of all things, holy, Joba.  Just let the spring training hat be.  If a hat is pre-curved, it is designed to look that way. Trying to straighten it out makes you look absurd.  Look, I don't love the spring training cap design either, but as a pitcher - you don't even have to worry about the sunglasses issue.  

We've come around a little to the straight bill look, but we still think and absolutely straight bill makes you look a bit cartoonish. Throw a subtle curve in there and wear it with your favorite sunglasses instead. 

What's that button on top of your hat called?

Ever wonder what that button on top of your cap is called.  Well, it is called a "squatcho" and it is there to cover up what used to be a messy meeting spot of fabric and materials.  According to at least one blog, you can remove your squatcho with no trouble.  

2009 World Baseball Classic Gear

The 2009 World Baseball Classic is upon us.  Whereas the Olympics is full of numerous pitfalls with potential to look like a complete tool, gear from the WBC is much more consistent.  Unlike a lot of baseball fans, we actually look forward to the tournament.  

We consider the WBC gear a great way to show off your national pride.  Check out this great spring/fall jacket.  If you're from Mexico, or have family in Mexico it is pretty hard to beat a hat like this.  A friend of mine with a unique sense of style and a flavor for all things Dutch couldn't resist this monstrosity, which he actually might be able to pull off.  

All in all, don't go overboard.  But much of this gear can compliment the stuff you already wear to the game - or it might just be something a bit different than your run of the mill gear you see most of the year.  

Minnesota Twins Alternate Jersey

The Minnesota Twins will be wearing an alternate third jersey this season - their last in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.  The jersey will be complimented by an alternate two-tone cap - completing the throwback uniform.  While Well Dressed Girlfriend hates two tone caps, I really like this particular cap.  

While I really like the idea of sporting throwbacks from this era, I think the Twins really should have gone with the powder blue, v-necks from Kirby Puckett's rookie season - my favorite Twins uniform.  The powder blue jersey is the one and only jersey that I can wear to any stadium in the country and get compliments from opposing fans.  

  

Lids Sale

Lids is having a sale on some of their cheaper hats.  Check it out here! In particular, they have some knit winter beanies on sale.

Thanksgiving NFL Throwback Jerseys

Two NFL teams traditionally play on Thanksgiving - the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.  Both teams have worn throwbacks for the special Thursday game.  The Cowboys wore their throwback duds last week, and the Lions are set to wear theirs for Thursday's game; but it got me thinking about those two teams throwback jerseys.  

The Lions recent history hasn't exactly been storied - but these Barry Sanders throwbacks from 1994 should remind you of greener pastures.  These jerseys look solid with a grey hoodie underneath.  

We at The Well Dressed Sports Fan sort of like these Tony Romo throwbacks, but not enough to recommend them more than their current white threads.   They look eerily like the current NFL Pro Bowl jerseys, which are pretty god-awful.

The Titans and Seahawks also play on Thursday - two teams with unfortunate jersey histories. Neither will be sporting throwbacks, but I thought I'd give their jerseys a look too.  The Houston Oilers Warren Moon jersey is pretty cool - but while we normally love powder blue throwbacks, we're not head-over-heels for this jersey.  The darker blue was also a better look for the Seattle Seahawks.  We, do, however, like hat logos that stretch from side to side on the front (think Seahawks, Broncos and Bills rather than the 49ers or Raiders).  If you're feeling festive - and not trying to attract a member of the opposite sex anytime soon - check out this Seattle Seahawks knit hat.  Wowza. 

Don't be "That Guy"

A recent gem in the St. Paul Pioneer Press chronicled the large number of drunken fans who missed the Minnesota Vikings play the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.  Not only did they drop $40 plus on tickets, they missed an epic game, ending with an Adrian Peterson touchdown scamper and a last second missed field goal.  

I've witnessed first hand the ills of sports drunkenness and I'm here to steer you away from this disease.  It is very important to remember that I am not a doctor, I just consider myself a drinking enthusiast. 

Tip 1: Remember that it takes 45 minutes for the average Joe to process alcohol.  Remember that beer you shot gunned right before heading through the gates?  It is going to hit you right at the start of the second quarter.  This could be a good thing if you had an ever so tiny buzz when you polished off that Bud Light, but if you've already had to much to drink you could be heading for disaster in the middle of the game.  

Tip 2: Know your limit.  This sounds obvious, but a lot of people clearly forget where the line is between having a good time and being so wasted that they won't remember the outcome of the game.  Remember that everyone has a different limit.  Don't force your friend that is three inches shorter and hasn't eaten anything all day to do four shots with you unless you're willing to help him out of the game.  

Tip 3: Make sure you've eaten.  A lot.  That bowl of cereal this morning ain't going to cut it if you're having a few before a noon game.  Go to the game early and eat some protein.  Grill some chicken or have some steak and concentrate on having a good time grilling that, rather than just concentrating on taking shots.  

Tip 4: Limit yourself to one beer at the game.  When I go to a baseball game on a hot summer day, I might leisurely have two beers.  At a football game, you're standing and cheering quite a bit - so it isn't super convenient to have a drink in your hand for four quarters.  I try to take off just before half time to grab a spot in a short line to get a beer.  

Tip 5: Consider drinking after the game instead. This works especially well for dry college stadiums.  If you have season tickets, plan on hitting the bars with your friends after each home game that your team wins.  Bars and restaurants get crowded with the post-game rush, but this adds to the atmosphere if it isn't overly crowded.  The beer is typically less expensive, the selection is better, and you can stand around and re-cap the game with your friends.  

Here and there: A number of Ebbets Field Flannels t-shirts are on sale.  Despite how amused I am by these, please avoid this or this if you are looking to meet a cute female fan at the game. The coolest NFL hat might be this Bills hat.  I think the vast majority of the NFL hats look almost NASCARish.  

Distant Replays is offering a series of Ivy League throwback hockey jerseys that will knock your socks off.  Know anyone who went to Yale?  How about Dartmouth?

World Series Gear

A hearty congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies for making it to the Fall Classic.  

Caps with the World Series patch are always a fantastic memento (but be forewarned - this might sit in your closet collecting dust if your team doesn't win the series).  Also consider the adjustable World Series caps.  

I'm about to make a post arguing that adjustable caps are making a bit of a comeback - so you can be ahead of the curve by picking up a relaxed adjustable cap at reasonable prices.

On the throwback side - we're big fans of these Philadelphia Stars jerseys.  If you live in Philly, these are must haves.  

What to Wear: Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have one of the most dedicated and hardcore franchises in all of professional sports.  They also have one of the most recognizable hats in all of Major League Baseball.  Once the Red Sox finally pulled off a World Series victory after an 86 year long drought - it seemed as though every sports fan in the Northeast was somehow required to purchase one of these on the field caps (and if you did happen to buy one of those 5950 caps, be sure to check out our post on breaking them in). Even if you had never watched a full Red Sox game in your life - you suddenly had an uncle, who had a cousin, who lived right in the heart of the city. Or something.  

Longtime Red Sox fans must feel like serious wine drinkers after the movie Sideways came out. Smothered by newbie fans who suddenly think they are some kind of experts.  The crushing throng has only increased with the addition of popular Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka - making the fanbase increasingly international.

With so much Red Sox gear available, and so many newbie fans, how can you manage to look like a cool fan - instead of some crazed idiot who over does it?  Whether your at Fenway, or just watching the games at home this post is all about how to be a well dressed Boston Red Sox fan.

For as much crap as I give some of my friends who follow the Red Sox about the growing number of bandwagon Red Sox caps I seem to see on a daily basis - the iconic Boston Red Sox hat really does look pretty darn good.  Unlike the Yankees hat, it has a little color, but it doesn't clash with most guy attire.  If you're going to a game; we recommend topping it off with the team's red alternate jersey or outerwear jacket.  The logos here don't duplicate - instead, they compliment each other.  

Quick Tip: We recommend - as with most sports apparel - that you wear only one item of your favorite team unless you are actually going to the game or going out to watch it on tv. Stock up on standard colored polos or pocket t-shirts and top it off with your favorite hat if you're going for the casual look.  For playoff runs - we expect that all bets will be off.   

If you want to opt for something a bit different, check out this 1890 Boston Beaneaters t-shirt - which would go well with a kelly green Red Sox hat.  The Beaneaters' home jersey makes more sense to wear with a cap bearing the Red Sox standard colors (extra points for a throwback with a collar).  

I've also noticed a lot of fans wearing business suits to games at Fenway.  Trust me, I respect the fact that you came to the game straight from work - I get it.  But seriously, I don't want to hear your complain three rows back when you spill ketchup on your threads. Why not buy an extra hoodie to leave at work?  If you're invited to Fenway after closing time, grab the hoodie on your way out.  Ditch your suit coat and put the hoodie on instead.

What to Wear: LA Galaxy

With the news that Bruce Arena just took over as head coach and GM, renewed interest may appear in the Los Angeles Galaxy.  The Galaxy are perhaps the best known Major League Soccer (MLS) team of the moment and the acquisition of international superstar David Beckham has brought on board hoards of new fans.  So how do you stand out from the crowd as a Galaxy fan? What looks good?  What doesn't work?  Well, as usual, we're here to help.

As expected, the David Beckham gear is everywhere when going to a Galaxy game.  And unless he is by far your favorite player - we'd advise against buying it.  Sure, the Well Dressed Sports Girlfriend and I are as hot and heavy for Becks as the next couple - but Beckham's role as the soccer's American ambassador means that nearly everyone seems to have his jersey. 

 

Instead, if you're going to go with a jersey, we recommend going with the team's away jersey, which is a bit more colorful than their home duds.  The problem with white polyester jerseys is the fact that they stain.  If you plan on wearing your jersey to a sports bar or a game - this might just be something to consider.  The blue and gold of the road jersey works well, though we'd advise against wearing bright colored jerseys to most non-sports events.

Soccer teams aren't known for the best selection of caps and the Galaxy doesn't appear to be any different.  If you were a fan of the Chicago Fire, a beenie would be a great call, but if you're an L.A. Fan, you probably watch most of your games in Southern California - so we'd advise you to avoid hats here all together.

Instead of wearing a hat - hardcore soccer fans often opt for the team scarf.  I think these team scarfs can actually look pretty cool with a solid color winter jacket and a plain t-shirt or polo. Having an L.A. Galaxy scarf doesn't accomplish the well traveled European look that a foreign team's might - but it still works. 

So if you're a casual fan of the Galaxy - I'd go with the scarf.  A more hardcore fan might consider an away jersey, which I think looks pretty cool.  

Well Dressed Sports Girlfriend's Take: 

I like this scarf.  It reminds me a little bit of a 70's candy bar, and really, can you go wrong wearing campy candy?  No.  Seriously, though, the scarf is a really fun accessory and wears much differently than in-your-face jerseys, body paint, and even hats.  The scarf says Big Fan, but even better, a fan with Style.  And what more can the well dressed sports fan ask for?  

Showing National Pride Without Looking Like a National Goofball

I've just gotta say it, the official Olympics logo usually looks a bit lame on clothing.  Further, the Olympic gear is highly time sensitive.  Sort of like that Super Bowl XL (2006) t-shirt, it won't be cool for another 15 years, when it finally becomes vintage.  The Olympics 2008 merchandise looks neat now, while the games are actually going, but once the craze dies down - the stuff instantly looks dated.

Back in 2002, during the Salt Lake City Olympics, everyone was wearing those god-awful roots stocking caps that looked like they belonged in a Charles Dickens novel.  People were running around looking like little matchstick girls.  Just terrible.  

A number of team sports such baseball (which will soon be discontinued from the Olympics), basketball, soccer, and hockey feature events for both the Olympics as well as a number of world tournaments.  In my opinion - unless you are a huge fan of a particular Olympics only sport - consider picking up something for one of these teams rather than that "USA Field Hockey" shirt that might look cool every four years.

A USA baseball hat, Canada hockey jersey, or washed Brazil soccer t-shirt, not only looks cooler, it will be useful for more occasions than a "Beijing 2008" hoodie.  

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all about cheering on your country, but I would avoid wearing more than one piece of flare unless you are traveling to see your country play a match.  A cool Team USA baseball hat, however, can be worn with a solid t-shirt or polo should to make you look great at any ballpark.  

If you are traveling to an Olympic event, consider picking up a simple t-shirt that will look good when handed down to your kids.  I would kill for a vintage 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics t-shirt.

Final call: If you are traveling to the Olympics, pick up a fun piece of clothing with the year and location proudly front and center.  The gear will look cool around your friends when you get home and once it has runs its course and looks a bit out of date, you can save it and pass it along to your kids along with your stories from your trip to the games.  

Read a bit more about the tragedy that is Olympic fashion here.

Quick Tips: Wear Glasses? Go for the Crushed Hat

Do you wear glasses and look like a bit of a dork in a 5950 hat?  Opt for a crushed hat instead. The looser dome will allow a bit of room for your eyeglasses.  

If you insist on wearing the MLB on the field cap, do the same thing that you would to fit your sunglasses under the bill of the cap - don't bend it quite as much as you normally might.  We recommend the Francisco Liriano look, rather than the Joba Chamberlain look.  Joba looks like one of the Mario Brothers with the perfectly straight bill.

Check Out Our New Cafe Press Store

We've opened an online store!  Grab one of our t-shirts and throw on your favorite hat and you know you'll look great for the game.

Check it out here.

Dos and Don'ts of The Well Dressed NFL Fan

With the NFL season upon us, The Well Dressed Sports Fan thought it would be a good time to address some football fan fashion dos and don'ts for the upcoming year.  The Well Dressed Sports Girl will join me for this post.

Picture 1: Jessica Simpson sporting her boyfriend, Tony Romo's, jersey.  

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take: Jessica Simpson is so damn close to nailing it here.  Plus she is hotter than that time I found a bunch of girly magazines next to a dumpster.  Replace that slightly pink jersey with a more authentic looking jersey and she's got it.  Jessica is clearly wearing the the women's cut jersey, which is a great call here.  The long curly hair tops it off.  Be warned, dressing like this at a game will get you a lot of attention.  If attention is what you're going for - copy this look with your favorite player's jersey and wear it with pride.

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take:  Agreed.  But come on, are you really faulting her for wearing a little pink?  Jessica Simpson and her look-a-likes can wear the girly version of fan gear

 without shame.  A "real" version might add a few points, but this works.

Sports Guy's Response: A lot of hardcore fans complain about pink hats and jerseys, but if you're hot enough to pull it off, my guess is that even the most hardcore fan won't be complaining.  

Picture 2: Bills fans tailgating.

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take: These guys actually do a pretty reasonable job of dressing for the game.  The guy on the right could consider subbing the Bill's hat for a plain blue stocking cap, but they don't commit any sins against spot here.  These guys are doing two things correctly -- they are dressing for the weather and they aren't over doing it.  No face paint, no shirtlessness.   

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take:

 Average.  They don't make me cringe, but there's no reason for a second glance, either.

Sports Guy's Response: I'll agree with your take here, lady, but part of the goal of this blog is not to look like a jackass.  No second take, sure, but they avoid many of the most common crimes against fandom.  

Picture 3: The Shirtless Train Wreck.

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take:  Here is a wonderful example of what NOT to do.  Nothing says, "Heckle me," like an overweight, shirtless, drunk, sports fan.  The terrible helmet and nipple decorations sort of make me want to jump of a bridge and break both of my ankles on my way down.

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take: Once, I thought enthusiasm was everything.  This is the exception.

Picture 4: A Bit Too Skimpy?

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take:  If you're going for reasonable attention, copy Jessica Simpson's look in picture one.  If you're looking for the drunk guy in picture 4 to rub his nipples and make an inappropriate comment about your rack, this is the way to go.  Dignity goes out the window here.  If all you're looking for is to get on TV - oh, and you're hot - this might be the look for you.

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take: Where are these guys' parents?  Who let them out of the house.  When they were 18.  Seriously, they need supervision.

Sports Guy's Response: Nothing says, I'm pole dance at night and am just here for the attention by not wearing ANYTHING with your teams colors.  Find a sparkling bra that says New Orleans Saints or something.

Picture 5: Straiten up that hat!

Well Dressed Sports Guy's Take: Straighten up that hat and this guy has a pretty sweet look.  This would work well watching the game at a friend's place or going to the game with your girlfriend.  A khaki shirt might work a bit better with the purple hat, but other than that - pretty good lookin'.  Read about how to rock a crushed hat here. 

Well Dressed Sports Girl's Take: This is a good laid back look for going to a game.  Disregard the sports guy's take, though.  A khaki shirt would be intolerable.  Instead go for a classic oxford, and one without the weird chest pockets.  Nice jeans, clean hat, nice watch, then you've got to finish the look with a nice crisp shirt.  As long as you avoid the white hat, you can't fail with this look.

Sports Guy's Response: I would try to avoid the "I just came from work," look that so many guys fall into at baseball games.  Instead, if you're going for this kind of look, wear a casual looking oxford, rather than one you'd wear with a tie to the office.  Finally, be sure to roll up the sleeves.  

See more with our NFL Preseason Preview here.

Breaking in a New 5950 Hat

*This is our most popular post.  We welcome the visitors interested in getting their New Era caps to fit perfectly!  For more tips on what to wear as a sports fan, click here.* 

We've recently added a second part to this post here. Once you're done with this post we will direct you to that page for more suggestions.  

In 2007, New Era Cap announced that it was modifying its official on the field 5950 baseball hat.  Spike Lee even directed a commercial where superstar players were waiting in line to get one.  The new caps marked several changes.  Most prominent perhaps, the new caps featured a black, glare reducing underbill, something the company had experimented with as far back as the late 1990s with their Spring Training hats.  Older hats featured a gray underbill.  

Aside from a few small visual changes (the MLB logo in the back is now much more prominent) the caps also had a few changes that would impact how sports fans would break in their new hat.  The new caps are shrink resistant, which, while sounding like a good thing at first, also means that the hats are harder to shrink down to the form of your head.  The goal is to look more like this.

Breaking in the New Era 5950 has been a topic of discussion for baseball fans for some time. Guys like me had worked it down to a science and the changes in the caps forced me to rethink my approach.  

If it sounds like I'm taking this seriously its because I am.   Breaking in a hat properly can be the difference between looking like a fan that knows what they are doing and looking like a total dork.  

Back in the day (that is, before 2007), official caps were made mostly of wool.  The key to breaking in a wool cap was warm water.  Some people swore by wearing them in the shower, others boiled water and poured it onto the dome of the cap before letting it cool and placing it on their head.  Others preferred to just sweat in the cap, letting it form naturally to their head. The key was to avoid getting water on the bill of the cap or anywhere near the logo, making the colors bleed.

If the bill of the hat is, in fact, grey underneath you can shrink the dome of the cap by bringing water to a boil - letting it cool down a bit - then slowly pouring the water around the area of the hat you'd like to have shrink, avoiding the logo on the front.  Then wait a minute or two for the hat to cool and put it on your head, holding your hands over the dome.  The hat will shrink to your head, but you'll smell like a wet sheep.  

Experts also went so far as to perform cap surgery on the old caps.  By cutting out the mesh at the front of the cap, the hat would lay closer to your dome, thus avoiding the Lou Pinella look.  But this approach came with a danger, if you pierced the material of the cap (which is an easy thing to do) it resulted in complete disaster.  Ok, maybe not complete disaster, but it was annoying to have holes in your new cap.  Once the mesh was taken out, you could yank out the plastic needles that held the shape of the cap thus encouraging it to rest closer to your head. The end result is that the cap had the cool 'official' look but it laid down on your head more like the Twins Enterprises Franchise hats.  

Since 2007, the caps are polyester, instead of wool, and are thus harder to shrink or form to your head.  Polyester won't shrink with the warm water treatment like cotton or wool.  The upshot of this minor frustration is the fact that the new caps are much more breathable and they still can be worked into the shape of your head.  

So you now have several options.  You can either choose to look like Dontrelle Willis, cut out the mesh of the cap (again, I don't recommend this), or sweat in the cap naturally and slightly curve the bill of the cap.  This doesn't shrink the polyester, but forms the plastic inside the mesh of the cap on the opposite side of the logo.  Obviously, a lot of people recently have gone with the flat bill look, but I think doing this makes me look like one of the Mario Brothers.  It might work for LaBron James - but odds are you're not as cool as LaBron.  

The best way to break in the new caps are heat and human sweat.  Take the hat to the beach, wear it while jogging, or wear it to the game.  Choosing a good pair of sunglasses to match the hat can help you look like less of a geek while working on breaking in the cap naturally.  When you start to sweat and the cap gets warm, press down on the dome to shape it to your head. This approach takes time, but it gives you the most natural looking broken in feel.  

Sweating in a cap will naturally loosen it enough to let it sit on your dome properly.  Hence why pro baseball players look better in these caps than most bleacher bums.  The new caps are more stain resistant than the old caps, but you can wash off the salty sweat stains with warm water if they start to appear.

Final take: If you're a hardcore baseball fan, there is no better way to show your loyalty to a particular team than the New Era 5950.  Pick one up and sweat in it to break it in.  Think about picking up a Perfect Curve from Lids to shape the bill of the cap to your liking.   At first, I was unsure about the changes to the 5950, but now I've decided the extra work breaking in the cap is worth the cooler feel on top of my head on a hot summer day.  

Alternatively, you can look for a 5950 "low crown" edition.  Admittedly, I find that these are getting harder and harder to find as New Era only makes them for a few select teams.

If you're more of a casual fan, go with the already broken in "crushed" hats discussed in depth here.  

For more tips on how to break in a 5950, check out part two of this post here. 

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All-Star Game Edition

Baseball season is half way through and we've arrived at the Midsummer Classic.  All-Star Week means a few new options for the Well Dressed Sports Fan, but not much to go crazy about.  All-Star Week, which includes a Futures Game, Home Run Derby, and the matchup of the American League against the National League.

The logos and designs of All Star game are based on the host team's uniforms.  This year, the host team is the New York Yankees, so the uniforms, hats, and shirts are navy blue and white.  In 2007, the All Star game was played in San Francisco, utilizing the orange and black color scheme of the San Francisco Giants.  

This year's logo incorporates the famed white frieze of Yankee Stadium.  The words "American" and "National" adorn the front of the jerseys as they have for years.  

While the logo looks sleek this year, I find the Yankee colors to be pretty plain.  Grey jersey's, typically worn by baseball teams on the road, look a bit sharper with bright accents in the numbers and/letters.  With the plain blue and white adorning this year's jersey, it doesn't really grab your attention.  

Well Dressed Girlfriend's Take: In theory, I like plain colors for jerseys.  In practice, at least with this example, I have to agree that the jersey is simply dull.  It reminds me of a fake jersey purchased in the children's section of a department store.  If that's the look you're going for, though, great.  It would also be alright to own (and wear) this jersey if going to the All-Star game was somehow incredibly special to you.  As for the hat, it's nearly impossible to read and two-tone to boot.  Wear a traditional NYY cap instead for extra style, and show the fair weather fans you've been there since the 80s.

Final take: If you're a Yankee fan, grab a commemorative hat or shirt.  Despite the fact that this will be the last All Star Week in Yankee stadium, I can't see myself wearing one of these jerseys over and over again for years to come.  

If you're a Yankee fan and love Derek Jeter, it might be worth picking one of these jerseys up. These jerseys will help you stand out from the crowds and crowds of Yankee fans adorned in pinstripes.    

Rule Number 1: "Crushed" Hats and the Well Dressed Sports Fan

A few days ago, the Well Dressed Girlfriend and I were sitting at an evening baseball game.  We sat watching the local squad under the lights, sipping on a couple of brews and chatting.  We noticed that a large number of the fans in our section looked like total geeks.  Oversized t-shirts, jerseys for teams that weren't even playing or for players long since traded to other squads, and various shades of hideous pink logos.

On the other hand, we also saw a fair number of sports fans who looked pretty good.  A nice looking jersey, cool hat, and matching jeans made single guys look attractive.  If a cute girl wears the right hat, she can look extremely sexy.  Certain ballparks have become the "hot" place in town to meet people.  Some parks even feature "Singles Nights".

Don't get me wrong, we aren't fashion or design professionals.  I'm just a huge sports fan that often  says, "Hey, how does this look?" before walking out the door for the day.   The Well Dressed Girlfriend seems to appreciate this and since it encourages her to keep dating me, which is always a plus.

Plan on meeting a girl or guy at the stadium?  Only go to ballgames once a year and always wonder what the heck you should wear?  Are you a hardcore spots fan that wants to show off your loyalty to your team?  This is a good blog to bookmark. 

Let's get started by talking about hats, aka "caps".

One of the first things I notice about sports fans are their hats.  I collect hats like crazy, so I can be a little particular about how they look on people.  A poorly fitting hat can make you look like a 70 year old skipper.  This works when you have Hall of Fame credentials, but not when you're trying to pick up chicks at the stadium.   A poorly fitting hat on a hot girl just looks like a missed opportunity. 

Let's say you are a casual sports fan.  You go to a couple of games a year and want to avoid looking like a total geek when you're at the ballpark.  Invest in a Twins Enterprises "The Franchise" hat.  A few years ago, people would have called these hats, "crushed" or "broken in". These hats are good for new sports fans for a couple of reasons.  First, they come in only a few sizes.  Small, medium, large, xl, etc.  The caps that baseball players wear on the field come on sizes based on the exact size of your head and are harder to break in (which is the subject for another post).  A "fitted" Twins enterprise hat ("fitted" meaning they don't have an adjustable strap on the back) already looks broken in and fits closer to the dome of your head than the official caps.  In this shot, the guy on the left gets the fit right and the guy on the right rocks the hat with a nice casual sweater.

Rock this cap with a solid color polo shirt and some jeans or khakis and you will look like a well dressed, but casual fan.  If you're going for the more hardcore look, match the hat with a jersey (we will get into matching hats to jerseys later on).  

If you're buying this as a gift for someone, go ahead and grab an adjustable version of the cap.  You can't tell the difference from the front and both look just fine.  Girls tend to like to versatility of adjustable hats, since they can wear ponytails through the opening in the back.

Well Dressed Girlfriend's take: All crushed hats remind me of that Boston Red Sox fan who is comfortable with spending a little time on Saturday night picking out the right Oxford, but likes to watch ESPN and drink a beer on Sundays.  Wearing the crushed hat, of course.  Note: this hat is versatile and not overbearing, but you lose all style points if it's not impeccably clean.  You're not 12 anymore, even if you still love that hat as much as you did then.

Keep in mind these hats fade in the sun.  This can look really great if you keep it clean and clear of sweat stains.  Hand washing the hat with warm water now and again should keep it smelling clean and free of stains.  Avoid throwing hats in either the dish or clothes washer.   

Think about picking up a crushed hat before heading to the ballpark, but be sure to try on their sizes in a store to make sure it fits properly on your dome.  Match it with a solid t-shirt, polo, or oxford, to achieve the preppy look, but don't over do it.  A long sleeve tee, crew sweatshirt or oxford will look more like Nich Lachey than a 70 year old manager.  While we encourage you keep it simple (and to keep your hat clean!) the crushed hat can help you ease in the world of the sports fan.

Click here for a few more tips regarding crushed hats.