Catcher's Gear Questions

[baseballpadre]

Hi, quick question about the rules regarding my son’s catcher's equipment. I was wondering about the difference between the full, hockey-style mask and the old-school style that goes over the skull cap. I recently purchased the facemask style that goes over the skull cap for my son who has recently picked up catching a big way. I got him this mask but a few of the parents at our workouts have made comments about some regulations or rules I was unaware of. In my nervousness, I just ordered this mask as well that looks a lot safer but I know it doesn't have that cool pro look my son wants. Should I bring both with me just in case? Or does anyone know how this aspect of the game is governed? Anything helps!

[PawDawg]

Hi, quick question about the rules regarding my son’s catcher's equipment. I was wondering about the difference between the full, hockey-style mask and the old-school style that goes over the skull cap. I recently purchased the facemask style that goes over the skull cap for my son who has recently picked up catching a big way. I got him this mask but a few of the parents at our workouts have made comments about some regulations or rules I was unaware of. In my nervousness, I just ordered this mask as well that looks a lot safer but I know it doesn't have that cool pro look my son wants. Should I bring both with me just in case? Or does anyone know how this aspect of the game is governed? Anything helps!

If he is playing Dixie, yes he must have a full mask with ear protection.

http://baseball.dixie.org/Assets/dix...elmet+Rule.pdf

USSSA is the same, but I could not find the exact rule.

[jellidawg]

I preferred the "hockey-style" mask when I was catching. My field of view was much wider with that style mask over the traditional cage. Each person has their own preference though.

[DocMarvin362]

Check with your league. I'm a Little League Umpire, and the skullcap style is prohibited by Rule 1.17. All masks require a throat guard as well. Academy had both the Hockey Style mask and throat guards on clearance last month. I thought about going to the hockey style myself, but my fellow Umpires said "Remember that you live in Louisiana... it will get very hot in there." So I passed, but the mask was down to $30 or so.

Kinda funny that they outlaw it for the kid's, but 99% of Umpires still wear that kind.

[PawDawg]

Do y'all remember why they added the throat guards? hint: They were not protecting against foul or passed balls.

[PawDawg]

I had to check to make sure I remembered correctly...

In 1976 Yeager was kneeling in the on-deck circle when a bat shattered and a sharp piece slammed into his throat. To protect him from further injury, the Dodgers came up with the billygoat device hanging from his mask. However, throat protectors go back as early as 1888, as demonstrated by a Spalding advertisement for the Spalding’s Trade Marked Catcher’s Mask No. 30 with a patented neck protection. In 1903 the Victor Sporting Goods Company offered throat protection in its model 314N with a neck extension piece. The latest-version mask has the throat protector integrated with the wire face cage.

Yeager's incident is the one that made throat protectors famous, but I did not realize they had been around long before that.