Pirate hat fashion

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 2:45 PM EST Comment 36 comments

I have recently noticed several people wearing Pirates hats around my local university campus here in Kansas, which seems like an odd fashion statement, considering Pittsburgh is so far away and the Pirates don't exactly have a nation-wide following of fans.

Over the past four years, I have seen the ratio of Red Sox to Royals hats increased dramatically to the point that it's probably at about 4:1 now. This invasion of Red Sox hats on our local cultural landscapes is a nation-wide geographic phenomenon. Although the observed Pirates hat phenomenon is nowhere close to the scale of the Red Sox hat phenomenon, what is the reasoning for this?

Although I know relatively nothing about rap or hip-hop music, I can't help but think there must be some popular artist who is from the `Burgh or wears a Pirates hat in a video or two. This reasoning comes from the fact that all of the individuals that I have seen wearing Bucco hats here have been dressed in the hip-hop style: baggy pants, cap bill flat as a board, etc.

This is another thing that bothers the poop out of me - the flat-billed hat. It's taking over. I had an experience last week at a local hat store where a clerk informed me that the "flat-bills" were on sale, referring to the authentic 59/50 hats. I decided to try one on and made a special effort to bend the bill considerably.

On to my next theory about the Pirates hat phenomenon. Stemming from my flat-bill tangent. There was a sale! Maybe the Pirates hats were dramatically marked down.

Maybe these guys were just trying to be different. I read about a guy in Kevin Kaduk's book, Wrigleyville, who would buy the hat of the previous year's worst team before the start of each new season. That season his hat of choice was the Detroit Tigers - look how that turned out. Maybe these guys are just trying to jump on the Bucco bandwagon before it starts.

(http://blue-collarbaseball.blogspot.com/2008/01/pirates-hat-are-fashionable-in-kansas.html)

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Its not just you

I've noticed this as well. I don't know his name, but there is a rapper who wore a Pirate hat in one of his videos, and had his kids, also in the video, wear Pirates hats too. My friend showed me the video on his phone, but I forget his name.

Also, while I was watching "Best Damn" from the Super Bowl last year, P. Diddy had a Pirate cap on. Why? I couldnt tell you.

Here in Pittsburgh, I'm also noticing that there are varying styles of Pirate caps. Theres one with a "P" inside the shape of Pennsylvania with a star where Pittsburgh should be. I've also seen several other adaptations of the "P" all in flat billed, hip-hop style.

My only explaination for this is that, from a hip hop perspective, perhaps the "P" looks pretty badass when compared to other team symbols in the city. Think about it. If your trying to build up your "street cred" by wearing stuff that shows yer from "Up in da P-G-H" do you want to wear that steeler symbol? No, thats a little to yinzr. Do you want to wear a silly looking skating Penguin? No, hockey isnt a hip hop sport, whether the Pens have Geroges Laraque or not. That leaves you with the Pirates solid black hat, with a "P" that looks pretty sweet on the hat.

Overall, if you think about it, the Pirate's hats are pretty badass when you remove the futility it represents. While I find it slightly disturbing, I can see where they're coming from.

Just in case, I'd leave my Bucco cap at home when I'm going into Wilkinsburg, or look as nerdy as possible while wearing it if I must wear it there.

by fugimaster24 on Jan 30, 2008 3:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha that is so true

about the Wilkinsburg comment. I am not gonna lie, I have a flat billed Pirates hat that I wear, but I am not into the whole hip hop thing. I guess I must be an exception.

by thegetupkids on Jan 30, 2008 4:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yes

If your "You're a Pirates fan?" is directed towards me... yes, I know it's odd because I am living in Kansas now, but I grew up in WV and still listen to the Buccos on XM (a.k.a. the greatest invention known to man).

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no

it's just my signature, buts it's good to see pirates fans all over the us.

You're a Pirates fan?

by thegetupkids on Jan 30, 2008 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for the confusion...

Lord knows there aren't many of us out this way. I usually try to catch the Buccos when they come into St. Louis (or play the Royals in interleague play). This past season I attended two games of a series in St. Louis and there were probably a total of 8 or 10 people in Busch Stadium wearing Pirates gear.

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fear of a Black Hat

This is kind of old school, but Chuck D from Public Enemy used to wear Pirate hats all the time. A couple of quick examples: One, Two, Three, Four.

He's claimed that it's because he liked Roberto Clemente, though I bet the "P" logo was also a consideration (for obvious reasons).

If you like rap, "Fear of a Black Planet" and "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" are worth a listen.

by Vlad on Jan 30, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

YES

I was just about to say, Chuck D!

"It Takes a Nation of Millions" is a great album.

by EmmaOMG on Jan 30, 2008 11:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

"Worth a listen"? Nation of Millions is a classic, man. :)

by Charlie on Jan 31, 2008 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

Those records rock.

Burn, Hollywood, Burn.

by bucdaddy on Jan 31, 2008 9:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's totally Chuck D's fault

and Public Enemy is arguably the best rap/hip hop band ever. I'm not a hip hop fan but I do love me some Public Enemy!

by HootieMcBoob on Feb 5, 2008 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Snoop loves the Burgh teams

http://blogs.indiewire.com/morganspurlock/archives/Snoop.jpg

I think i also remember Ice Cube wearing a Bucco hat a long while ago.

by EndlessMike on Jan 30, 2008 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Another thing

From what my friend told me, the whole flat bill thing has to do with fresh and clean and brand new. Basically letting people know you can afford a whole heap of brand new hats.

Also, the most important thing to do is match your hat with your sneakers. If you wear a Yankee flat bill your life is simple, but doesn't lend well to having any color on your kicks. Whenever you see a fella or lady with a flat bill on immediately look at their shoes to check if they match...

by bryanzane on Jan 30, 2008 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

stickers and tags

I can understand the fresh and clean thing as a symbol of having money. It's similar to the act of leaving the tags/stickers on stuff... like you just bought it.

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

silly

There was a really funny article many years ago on The Onion that reminds me of this "fresh and clean" idea:

As You Can See From My Name-Brand Clothing, I Am Not Poor

by bryanzane on Jan 30, 2008 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats something I dont get

I don't think theres anything better than a beaten up, curved billed hat thats been through the wars with you.

I've got two hats that I typically wear. My Penn State hat, that has been to most PSU games with me, and my Pirate hat thats seen its fair share of action as well, both at Bucco games, and community softball battles. I'm doing well enough to afford hats, I just prefer old ones.

by fugimaster24 on Jan 30, 2008 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I have a cotton cap that has faded from black, to brown, to this green-ish color now.

Unfortunately my black wool fitted hat has shrunk up so much that it kinda gives me a headache and I may have to break down and buy one of those new polyester jobs that the players wear now.

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 10:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One actual player wears a flat hat:

Chad Cordero. He's kind of an outlier, though.

by Vlad on Jan 30, 2008 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At least one more

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7518

A buddy of mine and I just refer to "Flatbill" and we know who we're talking about. Cordero might have to be FBII, to us anyway.

by azibuck on Jan 30, 2008 8:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We have the best logo ever

That is why it is embraced by the hip hop community. As a 17 year Pirates/Hip Hop fan I can tell you that I have seen Snoop Dogg wear Pirates and Steelers gear everywhere, Chris Brown wore a Pirates hat in his "Wall to Wall" music video, and Ice Cube has worn Pirates hats on a couple occasion including in his movie "Are We There Yet".

The Phillies have the most popular hats in Hip Hop, followed by the Yankees, then the Pirates are probably a somewhat distant third. I think these teams hats are popular, becuase they look somewhat badass and retro.

Your Welcome Everyone

BRING BACK TIKE REDMAN

by omar moreno on Jan 30, 2008 8:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pens too

He sported a Pens jersey in the Gin & Juice video

by EndlessMike on Feb 1, 2008 10:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah!

I forgot about that!

by Deaner on Feb 2, 2008 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Funny

I've noticed this too. I think a lot of people are more simple than you're giving them credit for, most people I ask why they're wearing a bo sox hat or a pirate hat simply say they like how it looks, the color scheme, etc. And also the yellow P on black is simple, but looks "fresh." What's also funny is that most Pirate fans are doubtfully the demographic that wears the flat billed pirates hat, most Pirates fans are usually suburban Pittsburgh kids who love baseball or jewish kids from Squirrel Hill, I'm not being steriotypical, it's just I notice that a lot of jewish people with Pittsburgh roots are buccos fans. Anyhow, it's a good thing for the Pirates, we have few things to be proud of, at least our hats are fashionable.

by OpiateOfTheMasses on Jan 30, 2008 8:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i know

I spelled stereotypical wrong, I'm not an idiot, I know this

by OpiateOfTheMasses on Jan 30, 2008 8:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we agree

That anyone wearing a flat bill looks alot like my 82 yr old Uncle Jimmy? Poor guy never mastered the art of the proper bill folding.
As far as leaving the sticker on under the bill....That reminds me a lot of Minnie Pearl. It just looks damn stupid. It's funny how looking like a fool has evolved into fashion. Here in the Southwestern U.S. of A. it seems that flat bills and tags on are quite popular among the Hispanic population. I'm having a hard time thinking Uncle Jimmy is suddenly hip.

by Doug Froebel on Jan 30, 2008 9:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Does Uncle Jimmy...

...wear really baggy jeans and a throwback Iverson jersey too?

by fugimaster24 on Jan 30, 2008 9:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nahhh

but I have a good feeling that the next big look is going to be mid calf white tube socks while wearing shorts and big leather sandals with Uniroyal treads on the bottoms. I think I saw that in a hip hop video. Please everyone, one thing Uncle Jimmy always said, "never wear white leather shoes after Labor Day" Come to think of it....his baggy jeans do hang a little low...especially after the hip replacement.

by Doug Froebel on Jan 30, 2008 9:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You Missed It

The OBVIOUS influence for the popularity of the flatbill Pirates 59/50 hat is this guys:

Perhaps the "BP" stands for "Big Pimpin'"

by bryanzane on Jan 30, 2008 9:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

red

I've seen a surge of Pirate hats in Oregon. Unfortuately, they're wearing the alternate cap with the red bill.

by bolton on Jan 30, 2008 10:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

that's a shame...

Maybe somebody will bring the Pillbox Caps back in style!

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 10:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Black & Gold = Gang colors

In New Jersey, and especially around Newark, a good number thuggish looking people wear Pirate hats. New Jersey is Yankee and Met country, so I knew something was off. It turns out that black and gold are the colors of a street gang called the Latin Kings. Since I go to law school in Newark, I am less amenable to wearing my Pirates hat now that I have this information.

by Willton on Jan 30, 2008 10:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

wow...

That's VERY interesting and good to know

by Deaner on Jan 30, 2008 10:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Celebrity Pirate Fan...

...Dr. Dre

http://bp1.blogger.com/_Pqpmm2T6j4g/Rkanza4kGWI/AAAAAAAAAco/vXi_ZQ1GVwA/s1600-h/dre.bmp

by Bukanier on Jan 31, 2008 1:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

pittsburgh rapper

wiz khalifa represents the pirates P on a chain and also wears the hat in videos

You're a Pirates fan?

by thegetupkids on Jan 31, 2008 9:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Two more!

I just saw two more today (in Kansas)! Another traditional black and an all gold with a black 'P'. Am I living in some kind of Latin Kings outpost?

by Deaner on Feb 4, 2008 12:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pirates Fans?

I don't know how big your school is but at my rather small school in Missouri I'm always shocked at how many people are from the Burgh or are just Pittsburgh sports fans. There are about 12 different people who I have seen wearing Pirates caps.

I never understand the flat bill thing and no offense but I think most people who wear them just look stupid.

For whatever reason, I'm glad to hear that more people are supporting the Pirates or at least wearing their gear.

I'm also one of those ten people at Busch Stadium wearing Pirates gear.

by Chester J Lampwick on Feb 6, 2008 12:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs