Boys' Historical Uniform Headgear: Baseball Caps

Figure 1.--he American Scouts introduced baseball caps in the 1980s for both Scouts and Cubs. Many Scout groups had begun wearing baseball caps unofficially in the 1980s. Individual Scouts would also wear them instead of the official cap. The baseball cap was officially adopted by the BSA as the official cap as part of the new uniform adopted in 1900. Many boys are very particular about how they shapre the bills of their cap.

While Americans boys increasingly turned away from caps beginning in the 1950s, one style remamined popular--the baseball cap. For this reason, the American Scouts introduced baseball caps in the 1980s for both Scouts and Cubs. Many Scout groups had begun wearing baseball caps unofficially in the 1980s. Individual Scouts would also wear them instead of the official cap. A few other country's Scout groups have also adopted the baseball cap, but it is still not a widely worn cap style for youth groups around the world. The baseball cap is one of the few non-military styles to be adopted by youth groups.

Background

While Americans boys increasingly turned away from caps beginning in the 1950s, one style remamined popular--the baseball cap. The original baseball caps looked like British school caps, a clue to their origin--presumably caps worn by British schoolboys playing cricket. Thus the modern baseball cap in a continuing reminder of baseball's origins in cricket. Baseball caps were worn almost exclusively for playing baseball and in the United States. As recently as the 1950s it was not common to see Amerivan boys wearing baseball caps except for actual play. Since the 1960s baseball caps have become virtually the only headgear worn by American boys and in the 1990s worn backwards. Beginning in the mid-1980s baseball caps have spread virtually all over the world and are worn by boys who have never played baseball and who would object to wearing a school cap. American Scouts and Cubs adopted baseball caps in 1980 and Scouts in several countries who have never played baseball have followed suit. A HBC reader wonfers, "I grew up playing baseball and its city variations. I believe I may live long enough to see the only thing left of the game among kids to be the cap."

American Scouts

Because of the popularity of the basseball cap, the American Scouts introduced baseball caps in the 1980s for both Scouts and Cubs. Many Scout groups had begun wearing baseball caps unofficially in the 1970s. Individual Scouts would also wear them instead of the official cap. The baseball cap was officially adopted by the BSA as the official cap as part of the new uniform adopted in 1900. The Scouts wore red and olive green caps and the Cubs wore blue and gold caps.

Other Scouts

A few other country's Scout groups have also adopted the baseball cap, but it is still not a widely worn cap style for youth groups around the world. A few other Scouts groups have also adopted the baseball cap, despite the fact that baseball is not played in their country.

Destinctive Nature

The baseball cap is one of the few non-military styles to be adopted by youth groups.