The batting helmet was adopted quite late in the history of the major leagues, although I’m finding various claims about when and how they were invented and made mandatory. In the Muncie Morning Star, September 3, 1920, there’s a photo of a batter wearing a helmet, entitled “Batsman’s Protective Headgear,” with this caption:
A batter at the plate wearing one of the new baseball helmets designed to protect the head of the batsman while he is facing the pitcher and intended to prevent injuries such as caused the death of the Cleveland shortstop, Ray Chapman. The helmet is like a football helmet, except that it has a visor, such as is on the regular baseball caps.
Unfortunately, the photo did not weather the transition to microfilm very well; it’s too dark to make out the helmet at all.
Anybody know where a more authoritative history of the batting helmet can be found?
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