My 6-stitch is the cleanest cap in my bag. 5 years old and worn about 5 times. And the only reason it's not 10 or more years old is because I gave one away 5 years ago when partner's (BU) was not presentable.

Only time I wear it is when I'm asked to do a game I wasn't scheduled for and can't get home. I keep 1 uniform in the car year round (washing periodically, obviously) and the 6-stitcher is the hat that stays there.

As someone who has just two season into his second hitch with ASA (after a 10 year absence) and registered in an area that is not a big into ASA; I'm clearly in the dark about the proper wearing of a 6 stich ASA cap.
Could you, Skahtboi, or anyone else bring me up to speed?
Thnx

There really isn't anything to bring you up to speed about. The six stitch, also referred to by some as the combo, is a hat with a slightly longer bill than the standard plate cap (4 stitch), and a slightly shorter bill than the standard field cap (8 stitch).

My own personal preference when working the plate is to use the 6 rather than the 4 stitch, simply because I think it looks better. I own one 4 stitch, and it has probably been used a half dozen times at best. If you look in my hat bag, you will see nothing but 6 and 8 stitch hats, because those are my preference, nothing more.

However, there are some folks who simply buy the six stitch hats to use in both the field and the behind the plate, to save them money on hats, I presume. In most areas, there is nothing wrong with this, that I know of. (I have never heard of anyone getting a ding on their eval because of wearing a six stitcher at either position.)

ASA, as an organization, recognizes all of their hats as "official," though your local UIC may have his own beliefs about what constitutes an official uniform.

Wear 8-stitch hats ONLY. FP or SP, doesn't make any difference, it is not an issue, just learn how to remove the mask.;)

I've always used only the ASA 6 stich for both the plate and an 8 stich the bases...never was a big fan of the 4 stich.

I usually use a 6 stitch on the plate, 8 stitch on the bases. I have a 4 stitch around here somewhere that I only bought because they guy selling ASA gear at one tournament was out of 6 stitch hats. Only use it occassionally (on the plate) if it happens to be in my car and the 6 stitch got especially sweat soaked in earlier games.

One tourney earlier this year, after doing a game I went to my car to change. Took off my plate gear and was changing to do the bases. It wasn't until I went to grab my 8 stitch hat that I realized I had been wearing in the first game! Had absolutely no issues with the hat coming off with the mask or the bill hanging up in the bars. So it can be done!

On the "flex fit" hats...I bought one a few years ago (not the ASA brand) and hated it. Bought it on-line, so didn't have a chance to try it on first. Even though it was supposed to be the equivilant size (M/L) to fit my given hat size, the thing was so huge that if I simply leaned forward it would fall off my head! No way in the world would it stay on while taking off a mask and it had such huge gaps at the sides that it would look absolutely goofy as a base hat. Never wore the thing after I tried it on one time. I guess if you got one that fit right it might be okay.

I always took the ASA directive to wear "fitted" hats as meaning don't wear "adjustable" hats- the kind that have an adjustable band in the back and a big "hole" there. A properly fitted "flex fit" hat wouldn't be regarded the same as an "adjustable" hat. You want a fitted hat? I'd say a flex hat is a fitted hat- as long as you wear a small, medium or large!

If they made a 10 or 12 stitch some would tell us they can wear it under their masks without a problem. WHOOPEE. :) Probably could also wear a large straw hat under the mask (if that was part of the official uniform) under there too without a problem. Dave

Hopefully you remember to change hats between games, so that sweaty hat you used on the plate (at least in FP) doesn't look so bad when you start your field game! :cool:

Hey, what can I say. I learned how to remove a mask when they were made of cast iron. Between the light weight of today's masks and the slick hat material, getting the mask off isn't that big a deal.


I wear navy hats, not heather grey :rolleyes:. I also do not "polish" the pads, so the hat isn't in that bad a shape when done. If it is, yeah, I change it out just as I would any other piece of apparel that was not in acceptable shape to start a game.

It's not an "improper vs proper" thing. It's a preference thing. And sometimes a local thing with your UIC or scheduler. MY preference is 8 in the field, 4 at the plate. And in my area, that preference is common. But definitely not universal.

For those who don't like the looks of the 4 stitch, at least it looks better than the beanie. Dave

Nah, the beanies look great..........with a tie :eek:

Oh...I forget. You are from one of those states that has seasonal changes. Here, in Texas, you would need to change that hat anytime from April through October. (And many times well into November!)

And I wouldn't have it any other way

Geez, I am not from Delaware but Nebraska and we even have season changes. If someone had candy or pie to eat every day, wouldn't it get boring. Give me change any day. It makes me appreciate the other seasons when I get bored with the current one. 95 degrees the other afternoon, got down to 44 degrees last night. High of 70 today. Dave