Heraldic Workshop from the Art Studio "Traditions of Times"

The baseball cap with the "NY" emblem, for New York Yankees, has long had a life beyond the stadium. It can be seen around the world, on people who have never held a bat and are unlikely to distinguish a home run from a strike. This symbol is no longer confined to sports. It has become part of visual culture, simple and recognizable. And there's a story behind this transformation. The "NY" monogram of the New York Yankees baseball club actually predates the team itself by several decades. It wasn't invented for baseball. Louis Tiffany, son of the jewelry house's founder, designed an award with the intertwined initials of NY for the New York Police Medal. The letters found their way into baseball much later, thanks to an interesting set of circumstances. We're getting closer to the answer. The year is 1909, and the team, then called the New York Highlanders, the future New York Yankees, is playing in their uniform. And on the uniforms is the same monogram as on the Louis Tiffany medal. Among the club's owners was William Devery, the former New York City police commissioner and a man of considerable influence in the city and the team's history. It is believed that it was Devery who proposed that the intertwined letters N and Y become the official symbol of the New York Yankees. At first, this monogram existed strictly within the field, visible only on players' uniforms. However, very quickly, the dark blue cap with the white insignia ceased to be part of the club's uniform and became a symbol of support, which fans adopted as part of their own image.

The Yankees, baseball's most decorated team, hold the record for most World Series wins, with twenty-seven. When a team wins that many, its symbols need no explanation. A cap with the "NY" monogram has become a visual synonym for success, a self-evident phenomenon, even if its owner has never set foot in the stadium. The 1980s made "NY" a symbol not only of the team but of the city itself. The Yankees monogram cap was adopted by hip-hop culture. It was then noticed in Hollywood, by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Tom Cruise, and many others. Jay Z, without false modesty, once noted that he had some credit for the "NY" symbol's popularity. However, he is considered to be somewhat exaggerating his achievement in this area. The Yankees monogram has become the universal code for the great city of New York and its baseball team, the New York Yankees. 1996 didn't change anything in baseball's rules. But it did change the color. When Spike Lee (the famous film director) showed up at a New York Yankees game wearing a red cap, it looked like a misalignment. Because Yankees are navy blue. Always. Tradition dictated so. That's how the New Era Cap Company, the official uniform supplier, tailored the cap, which for decades hadn't allowed itself any liberties. But one man asked, and the color was relented. They couldn't refuse Spike Lee, and they were right. The red baseball cap didn't just stand out in the stands; it set a new tone.

A symbol can adapt, speaking to the city in its own language. After this, the baseball cap ceased to be a strict part of the uniform and became a platform for experimenting with shades, fabrics, and textures. The game continued on the field. And fashion began in the stands. From that moment on, the New York Yankees cap finally transcended sports. The intertwined N and Y no longer signified just the club; they became a calling card for New York itself, its rhythm and ambition. When, in the 2010s, the sports club began collaborating with street brands like Public School, Supreme, and Kith, it seemed like an acknowledgment of the obvious: the monogram had long been a fixture in the city's wardrobe. True legitimization occurred in 2018, when Alessandro Michele brought the symbol to the Gucci runway in Milan. The sports emblem found its way into the luxury context and was not lost. The interesting idea was well received by Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan New York, finally cementing the N Y monogram's status as a fashion symbol, rather than just a club badge.

Have you thought about making your own monogram?

Photos from Instagram resources neweracap, officialspikelee, polaralph lauren, kith, the company website highsnobiety com, displate.com