Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-06-04
THE CATCHER'S MASK,
Invention and First Use OF This Popular
baseball Implement,

baseball Implement.
The catchor's mask is the greatest In
vontion of tho National game. II
would ho almost suicidal to attempt to
catch the rillo-shot pitching of tho pres
cnt day without wearing the wire pro-
tcctor Nearly twelve thousand masks
are manufactured and sold every year,
which shows their universal use.
The mask was conceived in the in
gcnious brain of Harvard student in
the winter of 1867. Captain Fred.
Thaycr was training Harold Ernst, tho
greatest pitcher the Harvard nino over
had until Nichols made his debut, who
was to do the twirling, and jim Tying
was expected TO catch him. Alth ough
straight-nrm pitching was still in vogue,
Ernst had remarkably swift delivery,
and after awhile Tying informed Captain
lhaycr that he would not face such
pitching without some contrivance to
protect his face.
Thayer knew that without Tying tho
nine could do nothing, because Ernst
would he useless. He Immediately
awhile he dreamed of fencing masks
and bent wires. Various experiments
were tried, and finally he completed
crude but satisfactory protection for
Tyng's face. 1t was cumbersome
affair, and rcsembled fencing mask,
except that it had chin and forehead
rests. The patent, in fact is on these
rests, which form the essential features
of the whole thing. This was the first
mask ever made, and though Thayer
had spoken to some of the professional
players of Boston, none of them saw
the invention until one day shortly be-
fore the season of 1877 opened. Hitherto
the catcher had no protection for the
face, and but few knew of the use of
gloves for the hands. Snyder used
small piece of rubber between his teeth,
which only in small measure rotect-
ed his face. He caught, also, the swift
est pitchers without gloves. Other
catchcrs were at no better advantage,
and they were frequently injured and
badly hurt.
Thaycr took his invention to Boston
and hunted up the noted bail player,
George Wright, He carried his mask
In small bag, and many thought It q
bird cage. He explained to the profess
sionals that the instrument was mask
which he had invented for Tying to wear
when catching, and begged some of the
players to try it. George Wright and
Shafl'er put on the mask and found that
it worked very we'll Wright put it on
and Shaffer amused himself in throwing
the ball at his face, which the mask pro-
tected perfectly. Wright saw that the
invention was q good thing, and being
in the baseball business, made arrange
ments with Thayer to introduce it
The first game in which the mask was
ever seen was at Lynn, when the Harry
ards played the club at that place, and
Tying wore the "cage," as the specta-
tors called it. Later on the Haryards
played the Bostons, and Tying wore the
mask. The spectators were greatly
amused and wanted him to "take off
the muzzle and try bird-cage." A
boston catcher then tried the mask, but
said that he could not see with it, and
so the professional ball-players did not
use the invention at all that season.
The next year, however, in 1878, the
Boston catchers again tried it, and be-
gan to approve of its use. Very soon
every back-stop in the country wore
mask, and those who at first laughed at
it praised the mask as the greatest in
vention in the baseball world.
The mask of to-day is very differ
ent one. When it first came into use it
was very large, and the front line was
further away from the face than ut pres
ent. In front it was much like the bow
of vessel, and so made that ball
striking on either side of the ridge
would glance off. All improvements in
the mask have been made to render it
more compact by bringing the front
nearer the face. The mask as made at
present is heavier than the original,
though smaller. 1t also has openings
through which the catcher can see.
There are no broken noses now among
catchers, but occasionally slight cut is
received from broken wire.-Louis-
Uiiie COaTicr-jOuTRal.