-- 2008 Canadian Male Athlete Of The Year Becomes First Canadian-Born Baseball Player to Design Cap for Buffalo-Based Company --

TORONTO, CA (February 25, 2009) –  As baseball fans worldwide gear up for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, New Era Cap Co., Inc., the leading headwear designer and manufacturer, is proud to announce that it has teamed up with Canadian Baseball star Justin Morneau to release the JUSTIN MORNEAU collaboration cap.  Morneau is the first Canadian-born baseball player to design a collaboration 59FIFTY cap for New Era. 

“New Era is honoured to partner with Canada’s own Justin Morneau on a collaboration cap that will truly reveal the roots and traditions of his home province through his own unique designs,” said Rick Baetz, Managing Director, New Era Canada. “Justin worked hand-in-hand with our design team to create a cap that signifies the influences in his life including his family, role models and places that have contributed to his rise to fame.”

“Growing up in Canada, I've been wearing baseball caps for as long as I can remember so I was excited when New Era gave me the opportunity to collaborate with them and design my own cap,” said Morneau. “I’m also really happy that the proceeds from the sale of the hats are going to a great cause like Baseball Canada, which promotes the growing Canadian youth participation and involvement in the sport of baseball.”

Considered one of the premier first basemen in the major leagues, Justin is paving his way to a successful career. His cap helps to tell the story of his life. Featuring unique designs from his native home town of New Westminster, the JUSTIN MORNEAU collaboration cap portrays Morneau’s Canadian-roots and personifies his own childhood memories and idols. The front logo displays the “Crown” of “The Royal City” of New Westminster where he was raised, while the back logo features the Canadian Maple Leaf and the #33 which he wears to honour Montreal Canadians legendary goaltender Patrick Roy whom he idolized growing up.  Under the visor features a photo of the city of New Westminster along with a replica of Morneau’s signature. The inside logo’s under the cap feature New Westminster Little League, New Westminster Minor Hockey, New Westminster High School, his career MLB stats, and the initials of his Mother, Father, Brother, Wife and N-DUB which is slang for New Westminster. 

On Friday, March 6, 2009, the New Era Toronto Flagship Store will officially launch the cap at a private event. Proceeds from the sale of the cap will help raise funds for Baseball Canada, the national governing body for baseball in Canada. As an added bonus, Justin will be signing 33 caps that will go on sale Saturday, March 7th. The first 33 people to purchase the cap will get one of these autographed editions. 

The cap is available for $69.99 (CDN) and will be available exclusively at the New Era Toronto Flagship Store, Prime Time Sports, The Bay Shoe Repair (Vancity Sports) and Blue Line Sports Coqutilam in Morneau’s home province of British Columbia. It will also be available online at www.neweracap.com . With only 288 units available, these caps are extremely limited. 


About New Era Cap

Founded in 1920, New Era Cap Company, Inc., the leading headwear manufacturer and creator of New Era Apparel, brings to market products that transcend time, culture, sport and fashion. Producing more than 35 million caps per year, New Era is the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of the official on-field cap worn by every Major League Baseball team and their Minor League affiliates and maintaining agreements with other licensed entities. On the street, New Era is known as the Originator of the True Fitted for its signature cap style, the 59FIFTY. The Company, headquartered in Buffalo, New York and has offices in Alabama, Canada, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong. New Era is a ‘Category A’ affiliate of the Fair Labor Association.

New Era Cap Canada, launched in 2000, is a subsidiary of New Era Cap Co., Inc., with offices in Toronto and Mississauga.

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CONTACTS:

New Era Cap Co.
Dana Marciniak
(716) 604.9259
dana.marciniak@neweracap.com