# Baseball Caps **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 15, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752 "2011-10-15T18:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Weiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Mark\_Weiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Weiner)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/1 "2011-10-15T18:50:45Z")
This question came to my mind while watching the baseball play-off games on TV: Why do baseball players always wear caps? Players of other team sports may wear helmets for safety, but none that I know of wear caps. Players of individual sports, such as golfers and racewalkers often wear caps, but it’s not uniform throughout the profession. Is there a utilitarian reason or is it just some custom left from the time when most men wore caps or hats? Another question about baseball even the great Cecil won’t know the answer to: When will the Chicago Cubs next play in the World Series? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/2 "2011-10-15T18:52:11Z")
To keep the sun out of their eyes? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/3 "2011-10-15T19:10:42Z")
> [@Mark\_Weiner](#): > > Why do baseball players always wear caps? Tow reasons: 1. For eyeshade 2. It’s part of the uniform ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/4 "2011-10-15T19:26:54Z")
> [@Mark\_Weiner](#): > > … > Players of other team sports may wear helmets for safety, but none that I know of wear caps. … Although not uniform (no pun) throughout the sport some cricket teams wear caps. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/gouldy/2409717793/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gouldy/2409717793/) ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/5 "2011-10-15T19:27:58Z")
Not just the direct Sun. The sky is bright as well. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/6 "2011-10-15T20:08:57Z")
> [@Mark\_Weiner](#): > > This question came to my mind while watching the baseball play-off games on TV: > Why do baseball players always wear caps? They don’t _always_ wear caps, do they? I thought that players in certain positions (batters and catchers) wear helmets. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/7 "2011-10-15T20:12:33Z")
Moved to the Game Room from GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/8 "2011-10-15T20:21:54Z")
> [@Mark\_Weiner](#): > > Is there a utilitarian reason or is it just some custom left from the time when most men wore caps or hats? There’s a utilitarian reason for it. Baseball was originally always played in daylight during the summer, so an eyeshade and sun protection was necessary. Even now a cap provides protection against the glare of the lights used during night games. In any case, it’s become ingrained as part of the uniform. Football requires a helmet, and in any case is played in the fall when the sun is not as high in the sky. Hockey and basketball are played indoors. Caps could conceivably be of use in soccer, but the sport is so active that players would constantly be losing their caps, and in any case they can use their heads to handle the ball. As has been mentioned, cricket players may wear caps. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/9 "2011-10-15T20:30:23Z")
If you were trying to catch a fly ball in the bright sun, you would understand. It blocks the direct sun if you turn your head to the right position and you can still follow the ball. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/10 "2011-10-15T20:54:37Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > They don’t _always_ wear caps, do they? I thought that players in certain positions (batters and catchers) wear helmets. Batters do wear helmets (it’s mandatory now), as do catchers. Some players (e.g., John Olerud\*) also wore batting helmets in the field and runners also wear them. However, batting helmets are designed to look like caps, and players often wear their cap underneath. Most fielders don’t wear them because they are always watching the play and can protect themselves with their glove. Runners may not know where the ball is coming from, while batters and catchers are standing in front of 90 mph baseballs. \*He had suffered a brain aneurysm in college and was at serious risk if hit by a ball. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/11 "2011-10-16T01:26:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Some players (e.g., John Olerud\*) also wore batting helmets in the field … > > \*He had suffered a brain aneurysm in college and was at serious risk if hit by a ball. And everyone knows the Rickey Henderson story that goes along with this, right? If not, allow me to share. Rickey and Olerud both went from the Mets to the Mariners sometime back in the 90s. Rickey notices Olerud wearing the helmet in the field in spring training and says, “I played with a guy in New York who did that, too.” Olerud replies, “That was me.” The two were also teammates in Toronto before New York. Don’t ask me if it’s true or not, but I distinctly remember seeing that little story on ESPN Sports Center at the time. As for the hats, yeah I’m sure they started out as sun blockers and eventually MLB figured they might as well define them as part of the official uniform just to keep things neat and organized. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/12 "2011-10-16T02:38:30Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > And everyone knows the Rickey Henderson story that goes along with this, right? If not, allow me to share. Rickey and Olerud both went from the Mets to the Mariners sometime back in the 90s. Rickey notices Olerud wearing the helmet in the field in spring training and says, “I played with a guy in New York who did that, too.” > Olerud replies, “That was me.” > The two were also teammates in Toronto before New York. Oh, yeah. I’ve never been to Cooperstown but I know Henderson’s in it, and I hope to God that along with his plaque is at least a wall mounted poster board detailing some of Henderson’s famous “Rickey being Rickey” quotes illustrating his self-absorption 🙂 In fact a few years ago I came across a list of the [Top 25 Rickey Moments](http://robardin.livejournal.com/4396.html). (I actually love Rickey Henderson as a player, baseball would not have been the same without him!) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/13 "2011-10-16T02:51:42Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > As for the hats, yeah I’m sure they started out as sun blockers and eventually MLB figured they might as well define them as part of the official uniform just to keep things neat and organized. There’s nothing in the official rules about caps. The uniforms of all players on a team must be the same, and batters, runners, catchers, and base coaches must wear helmets. But a team is not required to include a cap as part of the uniform. However, if one player wears one, all must. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/14 "2011-10-16T03:38:32Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There’s nothing in the official rules about caps. The uniforms of all players on a team must be the same, and batters, runners, catchers, and base coaches must wear helmets. But a team is not required to include a cap as part of the uniform. However, if one player wears one, all must. Wow, that’s news to me. You mean a team could take the field with nobody wearing caps, but - say - matching do-rags in team colors instead??? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/15 "2011-10-16T03:49:23Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Wow, that’s news to me. You mean a team could take the field with nobody wearing caps, but - say - matching do-rags in team colors instead??? Theoretically, yes. Though, I believe that all uniform “designs” (and variations, such as special uniforms worn for special occasions) have to be approved by the Commissioner’s Office. I rather doubt they’d approve that. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/16 "2011-10-16T12:16:37Z")
Many female softball teams do not wear hats. I guess they do not want to have hat hair after the game. They wear helmets to bat and on base. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/17 "2011-10-16T17:08:34Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Wow, that’s news to me. You mean a team could take the field with nobody wearing caps, but - say - matching do-rags in team colors instead??? The rules have very little to say about the details of uniforms. (They mention sleeve length, and advertising logos and patterns that look like baseballs are prohibited.) But _theoretically_ a team could play in tank tops, speedos, and cowboy hats, as long as they wore helmets while batting. (Of course, in practice outlandish uniforms would certainly not be approved by MLB, [although the Chicago White Sox played one game in shorts in 1976.](http://mopupduty.com/index.php/worst-uniforms-chicago-white-sox-shorts-1976/)) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/18 "2011-10-16T18:53:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > …[although the Chicago White Sox played one game in shorts in 1976.](http://mopupduty.com/index.php/worst-uniforms-chicago-white-sox-shorts-1976/)) Wow, that was only one game? I thought it was a whole season, as much as you hear about it in “worst uniforms of all time” discussions. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/19 "2011-10-16T19:00:17Z")
I don’t even think the shorts look that bad. Now those shirts… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752/20 "2011-10-16T20:03:58Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > I don’t even think the shorts look that bad. Now those shirts… I think my favorite bad uniform is the faux tuxedo of the [Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/665453-mlb-power-rankings-the-25-worst-uniforms-in-baseball-history/page/16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps/599752.md?page=2)