Baseball Caps on Grown Men, Yay or Nay?

Updated on January 26, 2013
T.S. asks from Orinda, CA
36 answers

Happy Friday!
And speaking of men...
This is a pet peeve of mine. I hate, hate, hate baseball caps on grown men.
I am not talking about while they are working or playing, or picking up supplies at Home Depot (that's actually kind of hot) I'm talking about in bars, restaurants, movies, etc. Basically out and about socially.
Every time I see it I wanna snatch it off their head and say didn't your mother teach you to take off you hat and comb your hair in front of the ladies?
This is TOTALLY a JFF question and I am not looking to offend you (or your husband lol!) I am just curious what you all think, and wondering if I'm just being old fashioned in my thinking (it wouldn't be the first time.)

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So What Happened?

Wow LOTS of responses, thanks ladies! Interesting viewpoints and a few laughs as well, I love it :-)

Featured Answers

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

I think it's a time/place thing. Baseball caps, I find them much less obnoxious than trucker caps. ugh. Just makes me think of those old giant mudflaps with the naked woman outline on them. Dark ages, those...

I wear a cute wool cap pretty regularly... except when I'm volunteering at the school. They have a 'no hats' rule for the kids and I do not like the hat hair!

3 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Doesn't bother me at all, I like that look. Some guys look much better with a hat on, and many don't have hair to comb anymore. Now I teach my kids to not wear hats indoors, but I think that rule has by and large gone by the wayside.

3 moms found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

I'm with you. There's a time and place for everything. My hubs wears a cap, for working or playing, but never when we go out socially.

He looks totally adorable in it. But he also has GREAT hair....so I prefer that he not wear it.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

My ex looked stupid in them even at a baseball game. My husband could probably pull it off at a wedding.

Still he only wears them outside, usually doing yard work or things he would want to protect his head from the sun.

You ran into my ex didn't you? :p

5 moms found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

I hate it. Especially if I am out and a guy comes up and asks me to dance. So it's a slow dance and I'm constantly getting hit in the head by the bill on his hat.

I feel the same way about dressing decently. In my opinion show a little pride in yourself. Go home after work clean up and then go out. Who wants some smelly dirty guy hitting on them?

3 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I totally agree with you. Then again, I'm the person that thinks that the only place flip flops are appropriate are the pool and beach.

I generally follow the mantra "Dress for the part you want, not have", and find myself not able to extend as much respect towards individuals who don hats at the church, the mall, in restaurants, etc.

The one and only time I will speak up and ask them to remove their cover is in the theatre if I happen to be stuck behind them. "Sir, could you please remove your hat? The bill is blocking my view." Never had a person refuse me.

3 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I was always taught it was rude for a gentleman to wear a hat indoors at social places, like restaurants and bars.

3 moms found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Big Nay...

As an aside, my 3 year old daughter hates hats so much that if one of us wears one she will burst out into tears and tell us to take it off. So, needless to say, hats aren't worn at our house. :)

2 moms found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from New York on

Wow - I'm surprised so many people hate them. First, my husband never wears one - almost never. but I've seen men wearing them in cold weather because they don't want to wear a knit-cap (definietly messes up the hair) and they don't want to wear a hat that might remind them of something their father or grandfather wears in the cold. I do notice that many balding men wear baseball hats. If it's in a sports bar, or out running errands (Saturday morning Home depot & bagel run, grocery store, the mall) I have no problem with them. But I have to say I haven't seen them in restaurants, the office or church - so I'm not sure where you see them that you find offensive.

On some men it's actually kind of cute and help improve their look. (One of my son's baseball team's dad's always wore a baseball hate at the games - covered his balding head for sunburn, etc. When I saw him in a different environment I hardly recognized him - and have to say he looks much better in the baseball hat!)

2 moms found this helpful
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H.P.

answers from Houston on

My husband's a golfer, and he is bald, so he wears caps a lot. Golf caps, not baseball caps. He is the quintessential gentleman and never looks shabby. He wears suit and tie with cuff links just about every day. He tucks in his T-shirts. He keeps his shoes shined. Even wearing jeans, he doesn't look particularly casual. If he's not in a suit, he's likely wearing a cap. He removes his cap immediately upon entering any building (except our house) or sitting to any table (if outside).

My 2yo has come to associate putting on a cap with leaving the house. We all wear them. It never occurred to me that there might be somebody out there who thinks that that looks "not grown up". Interesting.

2 moms found this helpful

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

I have never dated a man that wore a baseball cap. Nor does my husband.
Unless a man is a professional ball player I don't really see the need. It almost makes it look like they are trying too hard to recapture their youth.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.F.

answers from Boston on

Love them anyplace but bed.

2 moms found this helpful

J.H.

answers from San Antonio on

I agree that there are times and places for hats. My husband doesn't wear them. Sure, every so often he does, but as a rule, he doesn't.

With that being said, when he wears his caps...DAMN! I think he's so hot when he does! (And I think that's just cause he does it so little!)

2 moms found this helpful

⊱.✿.

answers from Spokane on

My husband and our boys wear hats a lot ~ stocking caps, baseball hats and their cowboy hats. In fact, I wear a lot of hats too.
But there are rules ~ we remove them for Nat'l Anthem (we go to a lot of rodeos), hats aren't allowed at the table/nice restaurant, and no hats in church. I'm totally ok with hats in bars and I don't care if someone has a hat on at the movie as long as its not huge (like a cowboy hat) and blocking the view of someone behind them.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I'm with you; however, do men and boys know about the courtesy of removing their hats? Do they know that a man's removing his hat is a traditional sign of respect? Many may not and, when they're told, it sounds so weird that they won't believe it. (This is aside from a certain, um, stubborn factor.)

I hear that an exception to the hat-doffing rule is Stetsons in Texas, which stay on indoors, even in elevators. (Correct me if I'm wrong, Texas mamas.)

Back when ladies dressed up and wore hats with their outfits in public, those hats apparently stayed on (except for large ones in theaters). Maybe the men think they should do the same with their baseball caps because they're so crucially important to the whole ensemble. :^)

1 mom found this helpful

G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't have a problem with it :) My husband wears one most of the time, except at work.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Charleston on

I LOVE it, but I like a guy in a baseball hat anyway. Now there are specific times and places that it would be a No-No - church, fancy restaurant, arts performance, etc... But a bar or Home Depot? No way - that's absolutely fine.

Here in SC, college boys and young 20 year olds wear baseball caps with their blazers and khaki pants all the time. Maybe it's just a southern thing, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

Funny question! Have a great weekend!

1 mom found this helpful

J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

my ex looked bad in them

my boyfriend pulls hats off
he wears hats non stop, baseball, fedoras, jeff hats, any kind of hat. i like the way he looks with a hat better because i'm so used to it

1 mom found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Honestly, it depends on the venue and what is going on. Buffalo Wild Wings for Fight Night - cap on boys. Macaroni Grill for nice dinner buh bye ball cap.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from Boston on

Hi! My hubby is a proud Punkin Chunker and wears his cap everywhere he goes. He does however know when it isn't appropriate to wear it and and always takes it off when he enters a home/restaurant/etc..
My 19 yr old OTOH wears his backward all the time. It makes me nuts- which I think is why he does it. He also exclusively wears a Mets cap here in the heart of Red Sox Nation so you can see he's all about contrariness.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

Don't mind them at all. I just figure it's there to cover their bald spot.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

My husband wears ball caps to restaurants and I can't stand it. However, we are not a wear what I like couple, so I have said something once and that is all.
When I did say something to him, he gave me the "Are you crazy look" and put it on his head.

1 mom found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

I wish my husband would wear a baseball hat! He looks so good in them but he is not 'that guy'.

I agree with you that there is a time and a place for them though.

~Baseball is also my favorite sport! I actively try to get my boys to wear baseball hats...I want them to be able to comfortably wear them when they get older!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.Q.

answers from Bellingham on

I live in a place where it's important for your health to wear hats outdoors. In fact, the schools have 'no hat, no play' policies where I am. I am a tradtionalist though in that I believe that all men's hats should be removed inside. My boys and husband follow that rule. I also prefer baseball caps to trucker caps. They are the ultimate in ugly.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

One of the perks of being a grown-up is that, unless you're wearing a uniform for work, no one can tell you what you can and can't wear.
AFIC, a guy can wear any kind of headgear he wants anywhere he wants as long as it's not blocking someone else's view.

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Right there with you.
My husband only wears a cap when he is running (he runs for exercise), or golfing. Sometimes if we go to the beach or something, an amusement park, somewhere he would need shade (his hair isn't as thick as it used to be). Otherwise, he doesn't wear any kind of hat.

Our son knows you don't wear them inside. He is 14, and often wears one to school (but he has to put it in his backpack when he gets there), but as soon as he comes in the house, he takes it off and lays it on the sofa or wherever (table, counter, his room, wherever he "stops"). He will wear it in the car when we go places, or walking around (Target/grocery store), but he removes it if we go eat. He has even commented about others out in public--- "Doesn't he know you aren't supposed to wear hats at the table?!" referring to some 30-something guy at another dinner table.

1 mom found this helpful

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

I'm usually pretty old-fashioned when it comes to that kind of thing, but the hat one, I'm not picky about. My husband wears his hat places on the weekends so he doesn't have to re-gel his hair when he wakes up. His hair is finicky like that. It's one rule I don't mind breaking.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

It doesn't bother me.
Me, I wear hats too.
On bad hair days.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Any place you can wear shorts and flip flops to... I'd say, men, go for it! (Especially when they look hot in it.)

Anywhere you need to dress up a bit, ofcouse not.

That being said, I know a guy who looks adorable in a cap. It makes him look younger and I swear he acts more relaxed with it on and a happy person is always a better person.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

I'm not offended by it at all in bars, movies, casual restaurants. Fancy restaurants and churches? No.

1 mom found this helpful
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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Mine wears hats for golf, sun, etc. doesn't bother me--just not inside or where it's unacceptable!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

Now you've got me trying to remember how often my husband wears his hats!! Lol. I KNOW he does it if we're going out on a hike or something... Darn this is hard! I'll have to pay more attention when he gets home! :) Although seeing ball caps on grown men at (say for example) Chili's or someplace really casual like that I don't think would bother me.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

When I used to try and control what my husband wore, it would have bothered me.. but now, I figure it's his life, his way of expressing himself.. why not let him enjoy himself and if it means wearing a hat, so be it...
I don't think how my husband dresses is a reflection on me (although I used to think as such) now.... I figure.. who cares..

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi Mamazita,

Men like to wear caps for many reasons. They don't have to have hair to wear them. It keeps their head warm, sun out of their eyes, they can hide behind them and some look really good in them. It is not any different then women wearing hats or carrying purses. We can do whatever we want. Some do some don't.

Happy New Year.

N. Marie

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J.H.

answers from Sacramento on

Thank goodness I don't have to worry about this with my husband. He is a tall guy and most hats don't fit his head :-) Regarding other guys, outside ok, inside no way. If there is a concern about hat head, then they shouln't wear the hat before they go out. I'm with another poster about many guys using the hat to cover their bald spot. My b-i-l wears one most of the time, and I'm pretty sure that's what he's doing. So unless the hat is supposed to be worn for work or some other requirement, leave the hats off.

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E.S.

answers from San Francisco on

sorry if this is a silly question, but how do i see the responses to this question? i'm curious myself.

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