Seattle Pilots Mike Hegan game used cap on eBay

[Insomniac186]

This cap on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/330796788406...84.m1423.l2649) has a number of issues.

Long story short, it's a Roman Pro reproduction that someone removed the tag on and sewed a KM Pro label on it.

Here are the details:

1) The obvious flaw would be the crudely sewn-on KM Pro tag. It looks like it was harshly ripped off an old KM cap and sewn on this one with red thread.

2) The buckram (stiff white material behind the front of the cap) is solid white (seen at the bottom of the 2nd photo). KM Pro caps had a trademark black and white "zig-zag" design on their buckram, and sometimes black and white horizontal lines.

3) The taping is not satin. The taping is the black fabric inside the cap that helps hold the panels together. In the picture, it is made of modern material like what New Era uses today. Back then, they were satin or cloth.

4) The shape. The profile and visor (bill/brim) shape of this cap is like a late 80s/early 90s Roman Pro cap that featured a high crown. KM Pro caps had a recognizable low crown.

5) The embroidery. Roman Pro (formerly Roman Art Embroidery Inc.) provided the embroidery for KM Pro until KM (parent company Leslie Corp.) shut down after the 1976 season. Roman started making their own caps from then on, and used all of the original embroidery patterns on their reproduction caps. The "S" logo on both caps are 100% identical. However, the gold band along the bottom of the front is flat on the KM cap and rounded on the Roman Pro. The cap on eBay has the rounded band. Also, the wheat stalks have a large gap in the middle on the KM, while the Roman has a short gap, like the one on eBay.

5) Notice no photos of the written player number or trademark KM Pro logo and size stamp on the sweatband, that remains there even if the cap is heavily used.

Photo comparisons: I own both an original 1969 KM Pro Pilots cap as well an early 90s Roman Pro. Here is a KM Pro and Roman Pro side-by-side. Compare the difference in shape. KM is on the left and Roman on the right.


Next we have a shot of the KM Pro cap at a similar angle to the eBay cap.


Now the Roman Pro cap.


What do you guys think?

[sox83cubs84]

I'm in full agreement regarding the schlocky appearance of the KM Pro tag...the red thread stands out...

Dave Miedema

[cohibasmoker]

I'm in full agreement regarding the schlocky appearance of the KM Pro tag...the red thread stands out ...

Dave Miedema

...

[trsent]

...

Did anyone notify the seller of the error? I looked at their other items and I think this is a pattern, but what do I know?

[icollectDCsports]

This seller has had a number of seemingly nice game worn caps for sale in recent months. Are there questions about the authenticity of the other items?

[Insomniac186]

I don't see any right now, do you have any links to their pages? I can take a look I suppose.

[Insomniac186]

I was contacted buy the buyer of this cap. He told me that he didn't see this post in time. I was sent some detail photos and was able to confirm that this cap is indeed a phony and most likely a modified late-80s Roman Pro. The seller refunded his money.

[trsent]

I was contacted buy the buyer of this cap. He told me that he didn't see this post in time. I was sent some detail photos and was able to confirm that this cap is indeed a phony and most likely a modified late-80s Roman Pro. The seller refunded his money.

Great work!