The green and gold hit different. Walk down any street in Oakland, Los Angeles, or even Tokyo, and you’ll see it—the "A’s" logo, stark white against a deep forest green crown. It’s a design that transcends the box score. Honestly, the Oakland A's hat New Era produces is probably more famous than the roster playing in it right now. While the franchise prepares for a messy, complicated move to Sacramento and eventually Las Vegas, the headwear remains a permanent fixture in global street culture.
It’s weird, right? Most teams see a dip in merchandise sales when they announce a relocation. Fans get bitter. They burn jerseys. But the A’s New Era 59FIFTY is an outlier because it stopped being just a "baseball cap" decades ago. It became a symbol of a specific West Coast grit.
The 59FIFTY Architecture: Why New Era Dominates the A's Look
New Era has been the official on-field cap of MLB since 1993, but their relationship with the Athletics goes back way further. The 59FIFTY is the "true" fitted. It’s the one with the gold circular sticker on the visor that kids in the 90s refused to peel off. Why? Because it signaled authenticity.
The structure of a New Era A’s hat is distinct. You have the six-panel construction. The structured crown that stays stiff. The grey undervisor—often called the "grey bottom"—which is a massive deal for vintage collectors. Modern fans sometimes prefer the "green bottom" or even the "pink bottom" (a huge trend in the "hat club" community lately), but the classic Kelly Green and Fort Knox Gold colorway is the DNA of the brand.
New Era uses a specific wool or polyester blend that handles sweat but also holds that high-profile shape. If you’ve ever bought a cheap knockoff, you know the difference. The knockoffs go limp. A real New Era 59FIFTY stays sharp, like a piece of architecture for your head.
Dr. Dre, N.W.A, and the Hip-Hop Co-Sign
You can't talk about the Oakland A’s hat New Era legacy without talking about the 1980s and 90s rap scene. Even though the Raiders were the primary "brand" of N.W.A., the Athletics hat was the alternative. It was cleaner. It was more "Oakland" than "LA."
When Dr. Dre or Eazy-E rocked an A’s hat, it wasn't necessarily because they were checking the AL West standings. It was about the color palette. Dark green is versatile. It’s "street" without being too aggressive. This crossover is what saved the A's brand from being a local niche. It turned the cap into a fashion staple. Today, you see Travis Scott or Kendrick Lamar wearing variations of the A’s logo.
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It’s a vibe. Basically, the hat carries a weight that the team's current win-loss record doesn't.
The Different Flavors: 59FIFTY vs. 9FORTY vs. 9FIFTY
People get confused here. If you want the "real" Oakland A’s hat New Era makes for the players, you want the 59FIFTY. It’s the fitted one. No snaps. No Velcro. You have to know your head size down to the eighth of an inch (7 3/8, 7 1/2, etc.).
But there are other versions:
- The 9FIFTY: This looks like the 59FIFTY but has a plastic snapback. It’s better if you’re buying a gift and don't know the person's hat size.
- The 9FORTY: This is the "dad hat" style. It’s contoured, has a curved brim, and usually an adjustable strap. It’s less "streetwear" and more "Sunday barbecue."
- The 39THIRTY: This is the stretch-fit. No snaps, but it’s not a true fitted either. It’s got an elastic band inside.
The serious collectors—the guys who have 400 hats on "Drop Front" shoe boxes—only care about the 59FIFTY. They look for the "Made in USA" tags on older models, though most are made in Haiti or China now.
The "Sell" Movement and the Reverse Boycott
Last year, something fascinating happened. As fans protested owner John Fisher’s plan to move the team, a "Sell" movement ignited. Fans started wearing "Sell" t-shirts in the exact Oakland A’s font and colorway.
Interestingly, New Era didn't make those "Sell" hats. Independent local shops like Oaklandish or custom creators stepped in. However, it drove a massive spike in people buying the official Oakland A’s hat New Era stocks just to customize them. Fans would take a seam ripper to the side patch or add custom "Oakland Forever" embroidery. It turned the hat into a protest sign.
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It’s a bit of a tragedy, honestly. The fan base is so loyal to the identity of the team, even while the team is literally leaving them behind.
The Collector’s Market: Side Patches and "Grails"
If you go to a site like Hat Club or MyFitteds, you’ll see the Oakland A's hat New Era sells out in seconds. These aren't the standard hats you find at Lids in the mall. These are "Special Editions."
Collectors look for:
- World Series Patches: The 1972, 1973, 1974, or 1989 "Battle of the Bay" patches sewn onto the side.
- Anniversary Patches: Like the 50th Anniversary in Oakland patch.
- Experimental Colorways: An A’s hat in "Mocha" or "Lavender." It sounds weird, but in the world of high-end headwear, these sell for $100+ on the secondary market.
There is a huge community of "Hatheads" who track these drops like sneakers. They care about the "loft" of the embroidery. They check if the "elephant" logo (the A’s secondary mascot) is perfectly centered. For them, New Era isn't just a supplier; it’s a luxury brand.
How to Spot a Fake
Don't get scammed. With the A's moving, vintage "Oakland" merchandise is becoming a target for bootleggers.
- Look at the New Era flag on the left temple. It should be crisp, not "thread-connected" between letters.
- Check the sweatband. Genuine New Era hats have branded taping covering the internal seams.
- The hologram sticker. It should be difficult to peel off and have a specific metallic sheen.
The Elephant in the Room (Literally)
The A’s have one of the coolest mascots in sports history: Stomper the Elephant. The story goes that Giants manager John McGraw called the A’s a "White Elephant" in 1902 (implying they were a worthless investment). The A's owner, Connie Mack, leaned into it and made the White Elephant the team symbol.
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New Era often puts the elephant on the front of the cap instead of the "A’s" logo. These "Stomper" hats are arguably more popular in the Bay Area than the standard ones. They represent the "scrappy" nature of the city.
Maintenance: Keeping Your A's Hat Fresh
If you’re spending $45 to $60 on a New Era fitted, you can’t just throw it in the wash. That’s a death sentence for the buckram (the stiff fabric behind the front panels).
Here is what you actually do:
- Use a lint roller daily. Dust shows up fast on dark green wool.
- If it gets a stain, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny bit of Jason Markk or mild detergent.
- Never, ever use the dishwasher trick. It ruins the shape.
- If it gets crushed, use a handheld steamer to pop the crown back out.
What Happens When They Move?
This is the big question. When the team officially becomes the "Las Vegas Athletics," New Era will start pumping out Vegas-branded gear. But here’s a prediction: the "Oakland" version will never die.
Just like the Brooklyn Dodgers hat is still a massive seller 60+ years after they moved to LA, the Oakland A’s hat will remain a classic. It represents a specific era of baseball—the "Moneyball" years, the Bash Brothers, and the 70s dynasty.
People will keep wearing it because the colorway is perfect. Green and yellow shouldn't work as well as they do, but on a New Era frame, they’re iconic.
Actionable Steps for Buyers and Collectors
If you're looking to grab an Oakland A's hat New Era style, don't just walk into any shop. Follow these steps to get the best version:
- Check the "Collection" page on New Era's website first. They often have "Authentic Collection" hats that are identical to what the players wear on the field.
- Look for the "Diamond Era" fabric if you plan on wearing it for sports or in the heat. It’s a breathable mesh-like material that doesn't show sweat stains as badly as the wool/polyester blend.
- Visit "Hat Club" for the exclusives. If you want the side patches or the unique "pink bottoms" that collectors rave about, they are the gold standard.
- Size up if you're between sizes. New Era fitteds can vary slightly by factory. A 7 3/8 from one factory might feel tighter than a 7 3/8 from another. It’s easier to add a small strip of foam behind the sweatband than it is to stretch a hat that’s too small.
- Verify the "Flat Brim" vs. "Curved." Most 59FIFTYs come flat. You are expected to curve it yourself using a "curver" tool or a baseball. If you want it pre-curved, look for the 59FIFTY Low Profile—it has a slightly sloped crown and a pre-bent visor that looks more natural on most head shapes.
The A's might be leaving the Coliseum, but the hat is staying in the culture. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just someone who likes the way the green pops against a white tee, the New Era A's cap is a piece of history you can wear. Stay away from the generic "mall brands" and stick to the 59FIFTY if you want that authentic look.