Youth baseball can be a growth experience for any youngster, but it is not without some peril, especially for those who play catcher. The position puts players right in the line of fire of foul tips and wild pitches. Protective equipment is a must for anyone who plays catcher. Not only is it required by little league organizations, but it can help keep a player safe, as well.
History
Roger Bresnahan was a gifted catcher who played with the New York Giants. He opened the 1907 season by coming out of the Giants' dugout wearing shin guards. He was the first catcher to wear full protective equipment on his legs because he was tired of taking a beating behind home plate from wild pitches and foul tips. The catcher's mask and chest protector had been introduced a bit earlier. Since then, the equipment has been refined and refurbished and no catcher would be allowed to play without it.
Function
The function of the catcher's gear is to protect the catcher from significant injury. The catcher is clearly in the line of fire when asked to catch a pitcher who may be able to fire the ball at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour. When a player with a bat is standing in front of him, then it becomes even more dangerous because the batter can foul tip pitches directly into the catcher. Without protective equipment, those foul tips could cause significant damage. Additionally, the equipment protects the catcher in a collision with a runner at home plate.
Catcher's Mask
There are two types of catcher's masks. A traditional style catcher's mask with padding and metal struts that allows the catcher to peer between the bars in order to see the ball and the plays as they develop is still popular. However, a hockey-style goalie mask is being used with greater frequency by catchers at all levels of play including Little League. This mask provides protection from below the chin all the way to the top of the head and many catcher report that ir allows clearer vision than the traditional catcher's mask.
Shin Guards
Shin guards attach to the lower legs. They start at knee level, and they go down to the top of the shoe. They are hard plastic with foam padding underneath. They attach with straps and C-clips that provide a snug and protective fit. Shin guards protect the catcher's legs from errant pitches, foul tips and collisions with sliding runners.
Protective Cup
While many Major League catchers will not wear a cup because they believe it is uncomfortable, all little league catchers must wear cups to protect their private areas from injury. Catchers are particularly susceptible to a foul tip that bounces up off the ground and strikes them in a vulnerable area. The cup will cushion the impact and protect the catcher from serious injury.
Time Frame
When a catcher comes to the dugout after a third out is recorded, he normally takes off his chest protector and mask while leaving on the shin guards. However, when the catcher comes up to bat, he takes off the shin guards as well. When the catcher is done with his at bat or finishes running the bases, then he puts on his equipment again. It will normally take three to five minutes. At the high school level and below, teams will often use a courtesy runner for the catcher when there are two outs in an inning. This is done so the catcher can get a head start on getting his equipment back on and allowing the game to resume earlier.
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