Inside Label: American Football League Officiating Crew Fitted Caps

Autumn is the season in which Sunday, a day holy amongst itself; replenishes the mind of a religion whose basis is shaped by the brutality of play. Autumn is the time in which American football takes center stage within the guts of our social sphere.
This autumn, when the first down is played, the establishment of the American Football League will enter its post Golden Anniversary era. At the time of its establishment, the American Football League served as a competitive force toward the goliath stature of the National Football League. The desire of the AFL to expand into different cities, as well as broadcast televised games, allowed them to reach a broader fan base. With the NFL feeling the pressure of the AFL’s success, a merger was brought to the table. The talk of a merger sparked an annual title game know as the Super Bowl. The merger was completed after the 1969 season, with both leagues playing under the NFL umbrella in 1970.
The American Football League left an indelible mark on the game of football. The unique, bright, stylized uniforms popped beyond the colorized television screen. Player identification was taken to another level as names began appearing on the backs of the uniform. The officiating crew did away with the traditional black shaded, zebra striped uniform. Instead, they exchanged that look for a vibrant orange tonal stripe. This was a very appealing characteristic of the AFL and it remains as one of its most distinct characteristics.
Posted below are two definitive examples of the AFL and its impact on the game of football. These two uniquely designed caps were worn by the officiating crew during the time in which the AFL operated independent of the NFL. Both hats were crafted from wool material, black and orange. They were both shaped through the structure of six individual panels. Braid is stitched down each panel edge. The braid scheme for the black cap is orange, black, and orange. The braid scheme for the orange cap is reverse, black, orange, black. On the front two panels rests the AFL official logo. The logo is directly embroidered onto a piece of white felt. The logo rests atop the braid and is stitched in a single needle style. The logo on the orange style cap is stitched down in black thread while the logo on the black cap is stitched down in white thread. The eyelits, which rest on each panel, are threaded in unison with the color of the cap. At the top of the hat is a button wrapped in black wool. Further research indicates that the under visor consisted of a green material while the sweatband was of a soft leather. The manufacturer of these caps is unknown.
These unique artifacts are protected within the vaults of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, serving as an educational tool of the AFL and its legacy within the game of football.

Text: Jared E. Wheeler

Reebok 50th Season Anniversary Fitted & Flex Caps

The NFL continues to pay homage to the American Football League established in 1960 by playing Legacy games this season, wherein the original AFL teams play in their throwback uniforms.  The 50th Season Anniversary also highlights the profound changes that the AFL bought to the game such as modern-action plays, the 2-point conversion, player numbers on uniforms, recognition of African-American players, and many others that today could be easily overlooked.  Reebok captures the AFL 50th Anniversary Season by releasing the Legacy Collection, which offers throwback jerseys, apparel, and caps from the original eight teams.  The caps below feature current team logos with 50th Anniversary patches commemorating this special season. Team fitted and flex-fit styles are now being sold through NFL.com, team shops, sporting good chains, and headwear only spots.