Minor League Caps

While baseball struggled during the Great Depression in the 1930s, its fortunes turned after WWII, when the sport experienced its greatest popularity. In cities throughout America, the minor leagues thrived in the late 1940s and early 1950s. By the mid-1950s, though, attendance had dropped off, and the minors began a slow fade as the major leagues expanded their reach into the Southeast and West Coast. Just as they did with major league teams, cap makers like Goldsmith, Rawlings, Spalding, Wilson, McAuliffe, New Era and others competed for the business of minor league teams. Perhaps even more so than their major league counterparts, minor league caps from the mid 20th century are tough to find today. Good luck locating another example of many of the caps shown here.

Here's a display of minor league caps, including (from the upper left) the American Association All-Stars (1939), Asheville Tourists (New Era, late 1960s), Atlanta Crackers (Goldsmith, late 1930s, worn and signed by shortstop Buster Chatham), the Cedar Rapids Raiders (1938, Rawlings), the American Association All-Stars (1939), Newark Bears (Spalding, 1942), Rochester Red Wings (Spalding, late 1940s), Louisville Colonels (late 1940s), Sioux City Soos (Spalding, late 1940s), Chattanooga Lookouts (MacGregor-Goldmsmith, c. 1950), worn by pitcher Dean Stone, Kansas City Blues (c. 1950), the Marion (Ohio) Red Sox (c. 1950), Hollywood Stars (Wilson, early 1950s, worn by coach and scout Howie Haak, who famously scouted Roberto Clemente), Erie Giants (early 1950s), Fort Worth Cats (Rawlings, early 1950s, possibly worn by Rex Barney), Indianapolis Indians (McAuliffe, early 1950s) Augusta Tigers (New Era, early 1950s), Portland Beavers (Wilson, c. 1956), Columbia Gems (1956), Houston Buffaloes (Stevens, c. 1958), Rochester Red Wings (New Era, 1956-60), San Diego Padres (McAuliffe, 1958-68), Almendares of the the Cuban Winter League (Wilson, c. 1960), Durham Bulls (Wilson, 1963), Reno Silver Sox (Wilson, 1964), Seattle Angels (McAuliffe, 1965-67), Rochester Red Wings (Rosenstein & Sons, 1965-71), Charlotte Hornets (KM Pro, c. 1970), Williston Expos (New Era, 1970, worn and signed by manager Bobby Malkmus), Charleston Charlies (New Era, mid-1970s), Omaha Royals (New Era, early 1980s), and a pair of Denver Bears caps from the early 1980s (both New Era).