BUFFALO, NY -- It’s been a big summer for New Era. The Western New York-based company secured the naming rights to what was until recently Ralph Wilson Stadium on August 18th. Still, they’re best known for providing on-field caps for Major League Baseball dating all the way back to 1934. Over that time they’ve stitched a lot of logos, but starting with the American League Wild Card game on October 4th, they're adding a new one: their own.
“We just wanted to approach them and see if it was time when we can get this exposure on the field of play and really represent this partnership we’ve had with them," New Era's MLB Category Director Tony DeSimone explained. "They were agreeable to it and we’re really excited to start it with the playoffs.”
While the logo has appeared on Minor League caps and hats associated with other sports for years, this will be the first time a manufacturer’s logo will appear on a Major League cap permanently. When Spring Training rolls around in early next year, all 30 teams will join suit.
“Starting in 2017, all regular season, spring training, and post season games, everything worn on the field of play will actually have the New Era flag on it for the first time ever," DeSimone detailed.
The ‘flag’, as they refer to it, will be positioned in the space over the left ear, which has typically been the location for special patches. Those will now be repositioned to the hat's right side with the blessing of MLB. Of course baseball is, if anything, a sport cemented in history and tradition. New Era realizes placing a corporate logo on an item that previously only held team and league logos will take some getting used to, but they feel like if anyone belongs on the caps, it’s them.
“If ever there was a brand that shares the passion for Major League Baseball, and sports in general, it is New Era," DeSimone declared. "This is kind of an ode to our commitment and our passion that we have for the sport of baseball, and we’re fans ourselves.”
Fans who have never been shy about their Western New York roots, as DeSimone reiterated. “The entire Major League Baseball program is managed right here out of the Buffalo office, so when we got this deal with Major League Baseball, when we got the ability to put the flag on the side, when caps are designed, all of that is orchestrated out of Buffalo.”
