>

MLBCollectors.com

Cleveland Indians / Naps Caps History


Cleveland's nickname was Blues in 1901, Broncos in 1902, and Naps 1903-14 before settling on Indians in 1915 in tribute to Louis Sockalexis, a popular player in the 1890's who was the first Native American to play Major League baseball.

Cleveland Naps

1910-14

Cleveland Indians

1915-16

Home is white with pinstripes, road navy with pinstripes

1917

Home cap loses the pinstripes

1918-21

Solid navy worn home and road.

Spalding

1922-32

Style of the "c" changes slightly, the middle of the letter is slimmed down.

1933-36

The home cap gets a red wishbone "C". The small white rounded "c" stays on road caps and is modified a bit - note the upper serifs on the "c".

1937-41

Road cap "C" changes to wishbone white.

1941

During 1941, a new logo appears, red on home caps, white on road caps.

1942-44

Red wishbone "C" on both home and road caps.

1945-47

Red visors are added to caps in 1945.

Wilson

1948-50

The logo gets thicker on Wilson caps. Some are sewn on a patch.

Wilson

McAuliffe caps are also used starting in 1948 (anyone have one?). The logo is not as wide.

1951-53

The visor turns navy.

Tim McAuliffe by Leslie

McAuliffe logos are not as wide as Wilson.

Wilson

Tim McAuliffe/KM Pro

Some McAuliffe logos are sewn on a patch. The 1953 cap here was also used in spring 1954.

1954-57

Chief Wahoo is added to the logo.

Tim McAuliffe/KM Pro

McAuliffe caps are used in 1954.

Wilson

Wilson caps wore 1955-57 have the logo on a patch, and a thicker "C".

1958-61

Chief Wahoo is dropped from the cap logo which gets white trim around the C. These look nearly the same as the 1955 but Indians C is a bit bigger with wider white trim.

Wilson

1962

Wilson

Chief Wahoo pops back in for one season on Wilson caps. Now, the Chief's feather overlies the "C", the opposite of the 1954-57 version.

1963-64

Chief Wahoo is gone again as caps return to the 1961 style.

Wilson

1965-69

The colorway is flipped.

Wilson

Wilson date code here is actually HXC, 1965. Wilson caps have very thick wool.

New Era

New Era caps start to appear.

1970-71

The navy cap returns, this time with a navy button instead of red.

Wilson

New Era

Note New Era's satin undervisor.

Wilson

1972

The cap goes back to red.

Wilson

1973

New design

New Era

1974

Caps change to nylon and a red visor cap debuts for use with a new red alternate jersey.

New Era


COLLECTOR ALERT!!!

KM Pro

I doubt this KM Pro wool cap was worn on-field. The logo is too small compared to photos I've seen. Anyone know for sure???


1975-77

Navy cap is retired, the red visor cap is worn with all jersey sets.

New Era

1978-85

Logo returns to a traditional C. On some caps it's thick, others thin, even from the same year.

1986-93

Chief Wahoo becomes the cap logo. Undervisors turn to grey.

New Era

Caps return to wool from nylon.

MLB Batterman logo initially appears as a glued on patch in 1992 then is embroidered on later in the year.

1994-2001

All-navy road cap debuts.

New Era

Raised embroidery appears in 1996.

2002

An alternate cap with an "I" logo and silver trim appears and is worn with a new alternate sleeveless jersey.

New Era

2003-06

A silver outline replaces white around Chief Wahoo who gets smaller.

New Era

2007

In 2007 polyester caps with black undervisors debut

New Era

2008-10

Silver outlines change back to white. An alternate navy cap with a "C" logo debuts. The "I" logo cap is rarely (ever?) worn. Caps turn to polyester with black undervisors.

New Era

2011-14

The navy "C" cap becomes the road cap. The navy Chief Wahoo cap is now a road alternate. A red "C" logo cap is introduced for use with the home alternate jersey. The "I" logo cap is dropped.

New Era

2015-present

The color of the two Chief Wahoo caps is darkened to match the road cap.

New Era

info@MLBCollectors.com

Site design Copyright ©2016 MLBCollectors.com. This site is a virtual museum dedicated to allow collectors to depict, as accurately as possible, actual pro sports uniforms used in a historic context. MLBCollectors.com owns or is authorized to use most images on this site, but not all, and will remove any unauthorized image on request. None of the images, image rights or items depicted are for sale. Actual logos, sports uniforms and names are properties of their respective leagues, teams, ownership groups and/or organizations. This site is intended for research and historical purposes only. No information obtained from this site may be sold to any party. All rights reserved.