Ebbets Field is Here to Stay!

By Jason

I grew up in Washington D.C. during the 80’s and 90’s. At that time D.C. had a soul and urban culture unique to the city that had a lot to do with the prevalent Black community.  Experiencing this culture was the primary focus of my youth -from Go-Go shows, the corners, and to, of course, street wear.

Homestead Grays 1937

In D.C. there were two main headwear fashions at the time, the Kangol 504 flat cap, and replica Negro League baseball caps. I had several of both, but I was personally partial to the ball caps.

The classic gray and blue Homestead Grays away cap was probably the most popular in D.C. because they were the Washington team.  The Newark Eagles, Birmingham Black Barons, Cuban Elite Giants, and Ethiopian Clowns were rocked the most. Up North to Philadelphia or New York you could see the Black Yankees caps, Kansas City Monarchs, Brooklyn Royal Giants, Pittsburgh Crawfords, and others. In the early nineties these were the real deal.

Working at Edie Hats, I have experienced all kinds of hats – fedoras, drivers, poor boys, cadets, and any other style you can think of – but we’ve never had very much in the way of ball caps. In fact, our goal has always been to educate and encourage people to become hat aficionados. Many men who visit our store come to find something other than the familiar ball cap.

However, as my fedora and driver collection grew, I noticed that I was missing something: good quality baseball caps. I had a couple highly stylized caps, but I’m more classic than flamboyant. I wanted something else. Something high-quality, simple but stylish, and personal to me.

New York Black Yankees

One day a customer came in wearing a New York Black Yankees hat. He asked me to stretch it for him, as the wool was shrinking and expanding in the weather, as it does.  I couldn’t help but notice the exceptional quality of this cap: grosgrain band, excellent wool flannel fabric, and bold but authentic felt lettering. I asked him where he acquired this piece of craftsmanship. He told me, “Here”.

Ebbets Field Flannels. I found out that we used to carry them several years back, before my time on the team. Ebbets produces the best quality caps from Negro League and Independent baseball teams. Every cap is made from authentic wool flannel replicating its original with perfection. These are far better than anything I used to rock back in the day: excellent fit, high quality construction, luxurious material, and great style.

All about it, I proceeded to beg Edie to carry them. It took little convincing, and so we had Ebbets Field, again.

Our first pick was the New York Black Yankees, considering it was this cap that inspired this whole venture into nostalgia. The Homestead Grays away cap was also essential. It turns out that Ebbets didn’t produce this particular cap, but I was able to work with them to design a custom order that replicated the original.

Next up was the New York Knights cap featured in the Robert Redford film The Natural, a classic baseball movie about Wonderboy the magic bat, and the never-was ballplayer who came out of nowhere to reinvent the Knights. Ebbets produces an exact replica and we had to have that.

Robert Redford in The Natural

So to start, three teams, three styles, and I’m happy to say everyone who has an Ebbets Vintage Authentic loves it.

Next to come is another custom order of Baltimore Black Sox caps with a dark brown flannel, black and off-white logo just like the original. Others styles will follow. I guess I love Ebbets because they’re easy, classic, and work with anything. They are not ball caps, they’re Authentic Reproductions. I think having style is about finding garments you can make your own and give your own personal twist by wearing them your own way. Coming off real – that’s style to me.

Tags: ball caps, baseball caps, Ebbets Field Flannels, Edie Hats, Granville Island, Homestead Grays, Negro Leagues, New York Black Yankees, New York Knights, replicas, The Natural, Vancouver