by Bruce Johnson

Created on: August 17, 2009   Last Updated: August 20, 2009

To the current generation of baseball fans, the image of a batter facing a pitcher without a helmet is not one they can readily imagine. And yet helmets were not mandatory in Major League baseball until 1972 and there were still a couple of players exempt from the rule until 1979. As with many aspects of sports, it is a long journey from the invention of the helmet until its ubiquitous presence in today's games.

The helmet was invented in 1907 by Roger Bresnahan. Bresnahan created the helmet in response to his being hit in the head by a pitch a short time beforehand. As it turns out, the helmet was only one of a number of protective devices attributed to him. As a catcher, Bresnahan was also instrumental in introducing the shin guard and thigh protection as a regular pieces of equipment.

The adoption of the helmet by the players was not quick. Even the death of Ray Chapman in 1920 was no sufficient to convince major leaguers to but up with the jeers of the fans that were directed at players who wore the protective device. Even through the 1950's and 60's, batters would insert a piece of hard plastic into their caps rather than wear the full helmet.

Naturally all of this changed in 1971. Baseball passed a rule making the wearing of helmets mandatory for all new players. This meant that any existing major leaguers would be able to continue going without for as long as they continued to play (what is known as a 'grandfather' clause). By 1979, the last helmet-less batter, Bob Montgomery, retired.

And yet, the helmets in the 1970s were still not the same as those which are used by today's players. Specifically, the early helmets did not have an ear flap. Current helmets extend their protection down over one or both ears.The idea is that, along with the head, the ear is exposed to the pitcher and thus is susceptible to being hit with a pitch. Players in the 1970s were leery of the ear flap protection, believing that the flaps might be visible in their peripheral vision, thus affecting their batting average. However, in 1983, ear flaps became mandatory in the Majors, with the same 'grandfather' clause. As a result of this clause, Tim Raines became the last player to wear a flap-less helmet in 2002.

Batters are no longer the only ones to don the protective headgear. Catchers wear helmets while behind the plate. There have been instances where bats have flown out of the batters hands and hit the catcher in the head. As well, due in part to a foul ball hitting the head and causing the death of the Tulsa Drillers first base coach, coaches are beginning to take precautions.

All of this concern is quite understandable. Even with the helmet, there are numerous instances where batters have been seriously injured when struck by a pitched ball. And taking a line drive in the head is not that much different. Since technology has taken helmets to the point where there is no impact on performance, there is no reason for not being prudent. And that seems to be the way that all of baseball is going.

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