San Diego Padres Caps History

1969-70

The S underlaps the top bar of the D on Wilson caps.

Wilson

KM Pro

New Era also makes caps, but with variations.

New Era

The S lies on top of the D and the button is brown, not yellow. Likely not worn.

Wilson

Wilson 1970 caps have the same S underlap D logo.

1971

In 1971 only, the road cap is yellow. The Padres definitely wear both KM Pro and New Era caps.

These New Era caps with an elongated logo and a serif on the "S" are in spring training pics. Not sure if they were used in the regular season.

New Era

KM Pro

New Era

New Era gets the logo right. The S and D interlock with the S overlapping the top bar of the D.

KM Pro

New Era

1972

In 1972 only, the first version of the "Taco Bell" is worn as a Sunday alternate.

The Padres used KM Pro brown caps in 1972, but again, I'm not certain if they used New Era brown caps in 1972.

KM Pro

But New Era did make the alternate.

New Era

1973

Taco Bell time! A great history of these caps is found at the Ballcap Blog.

The Padres now use New Era exclusively. Front panels of on-field caps are nylon. Buttons are brown, at least at the start of 1973.

New Era

1973-79

Buttons change to yellow some time in 1973.

New Era

This cap, apparently from manager Don Zimmer, has a cloth front panel which was commonly sold at retail.

Some caps had overlapping instead of interlocking logos - probably a manufacturing mistake as was comon at the time. Not sure if these made it onto the field.

1980-84

Orange is added to the colorway. MLB tags start to appear inside caps in 1981.

Around 1984 the logo gets thinner

And thinner

Note - Sports Specialties and Roman Pro taco bell versions exist - THEY WERE NOT USED ON FIELD.

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Sometime in the early to mid 80's the team contemplates a cap style change, but doesn't follow through. New Era made a number of these and sold them at retail. Nice style, I like it better than the mustard front.

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1985-90

With a move to somewhat more traditional jerseys the Padres drop the Taco Bell front panels.

New Era

Sports Specialties

New Era

1991-97

The team changes colorway to blue and orange and redesigns jerseys and caps. Undervisors go grey. Sports Specialties caps are worn in the early 1990's.

Sports Specialties

New Era

In 1992 MLB logos are initially glued on cap backs, and are embroidered later on in the season.

Raised embroidery appears in 1996.

1998-99

In 1998 an alternate blue cap with all white logo debuts for use with the new all-white alternate home jersey.

New Era

2000-03

Button changed from white to blue on the alternate cap.

New Era

During 2001 the alternate cap becomes the home cap. The "white S orange D" cap is now the road/alternate cap.

2004-06

The team redesigns its look.

New Era

2007-10

Green camo cap debuts along with polyester caps with black undervisors.

New Era

2011

A brown camo alternate replaces the green version. The road cap becomes an alternate only.

New Era

2012-14

The former road-turned-alternate cap is dropped.

New Era

2015

New cap for the retro home alternate added.

New Era

2016-present

New cap with orange "D" for the new home jersey, new taco bell cap for the new Friday alternate. Blue cap with all white "SD" now worn only with road jerseys and a a new camo jersey.