Inside Label: 1910 Connie Mack Porkpie Straw Hat

Cornelius McGillicuddy (1862-1956), otherwise known as Connie Mack, was founder, part owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.  Mack served as the Athletics manager from 1901, their first season, up until 1950. He won a total of 3,731 games and is the longest serving manager in the history of baseball.  In 1910, Mack skippered the Athletics to their first of five World Series titles. He was fondly revered throughout the game and was known as the Grand Old Man of Baseball.  In 1953 Shibe Park, the home of the Phillies and Athletics, was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in his honor.

Mack sat in the dugout wearing a suit and hat. He was not allowed on the field because he didn’t wear a uniform. Mack would wave his scorecard from the dugout to make changes and coach his team.

Mack wore this gentleman’s Porkpie Straw Hat during the 1910 World Series Championship season. Mack was known to wear this style of hat during the hot summer days. A black ribbon is wrapped around the body of the woven straw crown. The inside is lined with satin while the headband is made from leather. The sizing of the hat is listed at 7 1/8. Mack will forever remain an icon throughout the game of baseball.

Text: Jared E. Wheeler