What do Spike Lee, Billie Eilish, and Bella Hadid have in common? They’ve all made a style statement wearing one of New Era Cap Co.’s iconic 59FIFTY baseball caps. Sported by athletes, artists, and cultural heavyweights alike, the classic accessory has traveled far beyond its ballpark origins—though, as the official on-field hat of Major League Baseball, it maintains a permanent presence among the dugout-and-diamond crowd. 

The ubiquitous cap feels like it’s always having a moment, but 2024 marks a special milestone in 59FIFTY history: the cap’s 70th anniversary. To celebrate, New Era created “The 59FIFTY Story,” a documentary that traces the evolution and lasting impact of the most famous accessory in sports.

Helmed by director Set Free Richardson and narrated by former MLB pitcher C.C. Sabathia, the film testifies to the universal appeal of the fitted cap. “The 59FIFTY Story” gives audiences a window into the hat’s unexpectedly meteoric rise, from its 1954 debut on pitcher’s mounds across the league to achieving cult-favorite status among today’s tastemakers.

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“The 59FIFTY changed the hat world on and off the field, and seeing this product endure for 70 years speaks volumes about the brand and its quality,” Richardson shared. “The 59FIFTY — it's more than just a cap. It's a symbol of style, identity, and tradition that has left a mark on both sports and culture.”

Interviews with sports legends Carmelo Anthony, Jayson Tatum, and Jim Leyritz, as well as ever-stylish director Spike Lee, help bring the hat’s vibrant history to life. Lee recounts the unexpectedly impactful moment when he wore a one-of-a-kind red New York Yankees cap to the 1996 World Series, triggering a surge in demand for the interlaced ‘NYY’ 59FIFTY in the bold hue. Representing a turning point in fashion and baseball history, the anecdote solidifies how the precisely crafted accessory became a casual-cool staple for those on the field and those in the know.

Additional interviews with New Era Cap associates, including fourth-gen owner and CEO Chris Koch, paint a picture of the man behind the design of the iconic lid: Harold Koch. The innovative CEO pushed to modernize the 59FIFTY’s wool predecessor into a standardized baseball cap that would make MLB uniforms feel more, well, uniform. The result was the clean, classic silhouette we know today — a home run for the global sports and lifestyle brand that’s earned a place in fashion’s hall of fame.

Seven decades haven’t dulled the shine of the go-to athletic accessory. If anything, the 59FIFTY is blazing brighter than ever. Take a stroll down any city sidewalk, and you’re guaranteed to spot the cap atop the effortless mane of at least one street-style aficionado. From runways and red carpets to album covers and music videos, New Era’s signature hat has become part of the culture at every level. With the release of “The 59FIFTY Story,” it finally gets its due. Cheers to 70 years of hitting it out of the park.

Discover “The 59FIFTY Story” below!