Universal Article Archives
Universal Article Archives
Reintroducing the original Universal Article blog from 2006-2011.
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
Inside Label: Detroit Pistons Back To Back Champions Snapback Cap
The Detroit Pistons of the late 1980’s, early 1990’s were known as the Bad Boys. The Pistons defined physical and aggressive play within a line-up that featured the likes of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman. The Pistons drafted Isiah with the hopes of winning an NBA Championship. Thomas, who is the Pistons all-time leader in points and assists, turned that dream into a reality, twice.
In 1989, the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons fought their way to the top of the Eastern Conference and into the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pistons proved their dominance over the aging Lakers, sweeping the series for their first NBA title. In 1990, the Pistons came out of the Eastern Conference by defeating the up and coming Chicago Bulls in seven games. It would be the third consecutive finals appearance for the Bad Boys as they faced the high flying Portland Trail Blazers. The Pistons would need just five games to become the third team in the history of the NBA to win back to back titles, joining both the Lakers and Celtics.
This black, wool, snap back cap was made by Sports Specialties to commemorate the third team in the history of the NBA to win back to back titles. The front two panels hold an embroidered, twill patch, which marks the Pistons accomplishment. Under the brim is a sticker with the 1990 Finals logo. The hats were presented to the Piston players after they defeated the Blazers in game 5 in Portland.
Inside Label: 1979 Willie Stargell Pill Box Fitted Cap
The Sister Sledge song, “We Are Family” was adopted by the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, who rode the beat all the way to a World Series title. The family oriented group fondly nicknamed their captain, Willie Stargell, Pops.
Stargell, who was named World Series MVP as well as co-NL MVP, was the glue that kept the team together. He would hand out embroidered gold stars to his teammates for contributing to the team in clutch situations. The players wore the stars on the crown of their pill box caps. Stargell was the leader and his teammates held the utmost respect for him. The Pirates defeated the Orioles in the seventh and decisive game with a Stargell sixth inning homerun proving to be the difference.
This pill box style Pirates cap was worn by Willie Stargell during the 1979 season. Stargell personalized his hat by writing his number in roman numerals under the brim. The under brim is the color gray, a practice first adopted by the Cincinnati Reds after the Navy released a report that the color gray triggers an attentive and alert sense. The inside is laced in mesh with a cotton band. The crown of the cap in wrapped with three layers of gold soutache with the Pirates P embroidered directly on the front. The gold embroidered stars are applied to the hat with the use of thick glue.
Willie Stargell spent his entire career in Pittsburgh and was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. 
Inside Label: N.C. State Wolfpack "1983 National Champs" Painter's Cap
The image of the late Jim Valvano aimlessly pacing the hardwood floor, looking for a hug, will forever capture the depth and meaning behind college basketball during the month of March. The 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack entered the tournament as a sixth seed, they left as National Champions.
Their leader, Jim Valvano, watched his team scrape by each round of the 48 team tournament, barely making it to the title game. The Wolfpack walked into The Pit to face the number one seed Houston Cougars and their high flying, Phi Slama Jama offence. Houston was led by Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, who was named the tournaments most outstanding player. The game would end epically as North Carolina State approached the basket with seconds winding down on the ticking clock and the game tied. A 30-foot high arched shot was released, falling short of the baskets rim. Lorenzo Charles leaped into the New Mexico air, grabbed the short shot and slammed home the game-winning bucket for the Pack. The game has gone down as one of the most classic games to be played and it resonates all that college basketball evokes.
This cotton cloth, painter’s style cap celebrates North Carolina State’s 1983 National Championship. The top and front of the cap is screen printed in scarlet, while the back is finished with an elastic scrunched fitted band. The brim of the hat is secured in scarlet taping, which is stitched in a white thread. The brim of the cap is stitched into crown through the use of a single needle white stitch. The cap style is indicative to the early 1980’s and each player and coach signed the brim in dark ink. Ten short years after leading the Wolfpack to the title Jim Valvano died of cancer, leaving behind a legacy through his V Foundation. 
Inside Label: AJD Chris Mullin, Golden State Warriors Snapback Cap
The crew cut, Brooklyn born Chris Mullin arrived in the NBA in 1986. His successful amateur play as a member of the St. John Redmen and 1984 gold medal winning Olympic team helped him earn a ticket to the Golden State. Mullin was taken in the first round of the draft by the Warriors and took his sharp shooting game from the Queens hardwood to the West Coast bay. Mullin came into his own in 1989 when the Warriors offensive play was nicknamed Run TMC, a play on the influential hip-hop artists Run DMC. Mullin was joined by Mitch Richmond and Tim Hardaway to form this potent offensive attack. In 1992 Mullin was selected to represent his country in the Olympics as a member as the original Dream Team. Mullin would finish his career as a 5 time all star, putting up close to 18,000 points.
This royal wool hat is an iconic representation of one of the games greatest outside shooters. It is a six panel cap with a royal plastic snap back. The American run AJD Company issued these style caps in the early 1990’s. Mullin’s autograph is electronically flocked to the front panel. The Golden State Warriors logo is embroidered on the front in white, royal and gold thread. The back two panels hold an embroidered self-fabric patch with Mullin’s name and number in white thread. The vertically arched patch, affixed to the back, simulates the look of a jersey nameplate. A white cotton band wraps around the inside of the hat and a printed nylon tag featuring the NBA logo is stitched within.
Mullin finished his career with the Warriors after helping the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals. 
Inside Label: Penn Rooter Hat
The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740, and was the first University within America. Its prestige and academic distinction are noted in Penn’s alliance with the Ivy League. Penn’s athletic history is very rich. The first sport displayed at Penn was cricket. However, it is the game of football that holds the deepest roots. Penn first fielded a football team on November 11, 1876 at the nearby Germantown Cricket Club. The style in which they played served as an innovative structure for the development and progress of the game. Football was highly popular within the university setting and only played at the amateur level; there weren’t any professional leagues. By the turn of the century Penn was considered one of the nations top football teams. Penn students followed the team vigorously and bore team colors and apparel as they rooted for their Quakers.
This early 20th century hat is constructed by Spalding and made of cardinal, melton wool. Its eight panels and short curved brim make it a very distinguished piece. The navy felt P, located on the front of the cap, was cut and sewn on by hand. The interior has a black stamped Spalding mark on the worn leathered band. This rooter style hat, which received its name from the fans who wore it, was recently put up by Mastro Inc. for auction at the Sports Museum of America in New York.
