The latest release of MLB hats from New Era has turned into a public relations nightmare for Major League Baseball. The collection, known as the “MLB Overlap” series, was intended to be a bold new branding exercise for the league’s 30 teams. However, the design choices, particularly the overlapping single letter that blocked out much of the hat, have led to widespread criticism and even embarrassment.
In particular, several hats featured awkward and even vulgar text due to the overlapping letters. This led to the removal of several caps from the official online store.
The Texas Rangers’ hat, which spelled out a crude Spanish phrase, and the Houston Astros’ hat, which awkwardly read “ASHOS,” were among the most notable examples. Despite the controversy, some of these hats have become hot items on the secondary market, fetching prices far above their original retail value.
The Controversial New Era MLB Overlap Hats
The “MLB Overlap” series was intended to offer a fresh and unique take on team branding. Instead, it has become a case study in how not to design sports merchandise. The collection featured 30 caps, one for each MLB team, but the overlapping single letters often resulted in garish and confusing text.
The Texas Rangers’ cap was particularly problematic, as the overlapping letters spelled out *TETAS*, a Spanish slang term for a woman’s breasts. This led to the cap being pulled from the official MLB online store on Tuesday.
Other Embarrassing Mistakes
The Texas Rangers’ hat was not the only cap to face removal. The Houston Astros’ hat, which read “ASHOS,” and the Los Angeles Angels’ hat, which read “ANAELS,” were also pulled from the store on Wednesday. These hats have since become collector’s items, with some selling for exorbitant prices on platforms like eBay. This has created a financial windfall for opportunistic buyers who managed to snag these caps before they were removed from the store.
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Public Reaction and Secondary Market Frenzy
The public reaction to the “MLB Overlap” hats has been overwhelmingly negative. Fans and critics alike have panned the design choices, calling them nonsensical and even vulgar.
Despite this, the controversy has created a buzz around the caps, particularly the Texas Rangers’ “TETAS” hat. According to The Athletic, six of these hats were sold on eBay in recent days, with one fetching as much as $1,000. This is a significant markup from the original retail price of $44.99.
Embarrassment for MLB and New Era
MLB and New Era are likely embarrassed by both the general rollout of the “MLB Overlap” series and the specific issues with the Rangers’ cap. The hats were intended to be a bold new branding exercise, but they have instead become a laughingstock.
The controversy has also highlighted the importance of thorough vetting and quality control in product design, particularly for a major sports league like MLB.
Lessons Learned and Future Implications
The “MLB Overlap” series serves as a cautionary tale for both MLB and New Era. The hats were intended to be a fresh and unique take on team branding, but they have instead become a case study in how not to design sports merchandise.
The controversy has highlighted the importance of thorough vetting and quality control in product design, particularly for a major sports league like MLB.
Collector’s Items and Inside Jokes
Despite the controversy, some of the “MLB Overlap” hats have become collector’s items. The “ASHOS” hat, for example, is now seen as a relic of a brief but memorable error in MLB’s history.
It has become an inside joke for true baseball fans, who may spot one of these caps in the wild and recognize it as a sartorial mistake of the spring. For some, owning one of these hats is a badge of honor, a testament to their dedication to the sport and their ability to find humor in even the most embarrassing situations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the “MLB Overlap” series has been a public relations disaster for MLB and New Era. The hats, with their overlapping single letters and garish designs, have been widely panned by fans and critics alike.
Despite this, the controversy has created a buzz around the caps, particularly the Texas Rangers’ “TETAS” hat. Some of these hats have become hot items on the secondary market, fetching prices far above their original retail value.
The controversy has highlighted the importance of thorough vetting and quality control in product design, particularly for a major sports league like MLB. It also serves as a reminder that even the most well-intentioned branding exercises can go horribly wrong if not executed properly.
For more details on this story, you can read the full article on the [Chron website](https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/astros-hat-removed-store-20218302.php).
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