The New Era Cap Company (or just New Era) , located in Buffalo, New York, is a headwear manufacturer. It was founded in 1920 by German immigrant Ehrhardt Koch.[3] 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 maintains agreements with other licensed entities including NHL, NBA and over 200 colleges and universities in the United States.
In March 2007, New Era changed the on-field cap in American baseball. Instead of the 100% wool caps players were used to, the company introduced caps made of 100% Performance Polyester. These alterations marked the first major change to the classic baseball hat in over twenty years. The new hats also include a black under-brim (to help reduce glare) as opposed to the old gray colored under-brims, as well as a black sweatband instead of the old white sweatbands.