Tucson – A stinky, sweaty baseball tradition is fading away.
Major-league wool caps, largely unchanged since 1954, will soon be a thing of the past. Come opening day, they’ll be replaced by a polyester-blend cap designed to be lighter, cooler and more resistant to sweat. The unsightly sweat stains – that some players wear like a badge of honor – won’t be as noticeable.
“We’ll see, but I don’t think anything can stop my head from sweating,” Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes said jokingly.
The new caps, manufactured by New Era, are said to absorb sweat better, supposedly to allow moisture to evaporate more quickly. The new caps also feature black cloth under the visor – better to reduce glare from the sun – instead of traditional gray.
“I like the new ones,” said second baseman Jamey Carroll, who breaks in one cap and wears it the rest of the season. “These feel lighter, and they aren’t going to shrink up if it rains. And I don’t think they’ll get so smelly.”
