The 59FIFTY turns 70 this year, and to celebrate its imprint across sports and culture, New Era has a new delivery of MLB, NBA and NFL caps. The brainchild of Harold Koch, son of New Era founder Ehrhardt Koch, the 59FIFTY debuted in 1954 as a flagship style; its visor stitching and reinforced crown made it ideal for striking logo designs. First worn by Major League Baseball teams, the 59FIFTY became a lifestyle staple for sports fans, collectors and fashion aficionados. From the first pitch to the red carpet, the 59FIFTY has remained a beacon of street style and an emblem of sports history.

On May 9, 59FIFTY® Day will commemorate the cap’s 70th anniversary, unveiling an assortment of reworked cap designs featuring a mix of retro motifs, pins and badges. The 59FIFTY Fitted has long dominated the sports world as the official cap of the MLB, NFL, NBA and the WNBA; in the fashion sphere, it’s beloved for its cultural cache and staggering star presence — celebrities, athletes and some of the biggest names in music have sported the iconic silhouette. Synonymous with sneaker culture, the 59FIFTY has acted as a collaborative canvas for labels like Fear of God, UNDEFEATED, thisisneverthat, FELT and Aimé Leon Dore, shapeshifting its brand heritage throughout the rise and evolution of streetwear.

The 59FIFTY Fitted is known for its signature hallmarks: a structured front panel, a classic cap shape, a full crown and a curvable flat visor. For this anniversary collection, New Era incorporated premium fabrics like Japanese wool and textured motifs, namely a dazzle-textured graphic used for the interior taping, refreshing their vintage styles with a contemporary flair.

Take, for instance, the muted heather grey fitted cap, decorated with “New Era Cap Buffalo, NY EST 1920” in white embroidery on the front and “The 5950” lettering on the rear. It’s a clean, sharp style embodying the nonchalant coolness synonymous with New Era. Other standouts include two stealthy, all-black silhouettes — one adorned with a revamped navy circle “New Era” logo and the other showcasing a subdued “New Era” wordmark in stylized lettering. The previously mentioned styles are exclusive to the New Era site, but, luckily for collectors, licensed styles and original heritage designs arrive clad in custom patches, pins and logos. 

Limited MLB, NBA, and NFL styles in heather grey and white poly colorways debut a custom “59FIFTY 70th Anniversary” pin. Across these caps, an embroidered team logo — tailored to your team of choice — and a bespoke patch elevate the retro construction. Lifestyle essentials, such as the jet-black 59FIFTY Fitted A-Frame trucker hat, feature an eye-catching “New Era” script in gold and mesh paneling on the rear and two distinct caps fashioned with reimagined “7 1/2” and “NE” logos.

Each cap features a 59FIFTY Day interior content label and specialty black-and-gold taping, paying homage to New Era’s heritage designs.

Get a look at the commemorative collection in the galleries above. Styles begin to go live on May 7, with additional exclusive designs available on May 9 on New Era’s website.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast