Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-11
THE cATcHER.s MASK.
invention and First Use of hi Popular
Baseball Implement.

Invention and First Use of This Popular
Baseball Implement.
The catcher's mask is the greatest in
ventlon Of the National game. 1t
would he almost suicidal to attempt to
catch the rifle-shot pitching of the pres
ent day without wearing the wire pro-
tector. Nearly twelve thousand masks
are manufactured and sold every year,
which shows their universal use.
The mask was conceived in the in
genious train of a Harvard student in
the winter of 1867. Captain Fred.
Thayer vas training Harold Ernst, the
greatest pitcher the Harvard nine ever
had until Nichols made his debut, who
was to dc the twirling, and Jim Tyng
was expected to catch him. Alth oug6
stralght-srm pitching was still in vogue,
Ernst had a remarkably swift delivery,
and after q while Tying informed Captain
mayer that he would not face such
pitching without some continuance TO
protect his face.
Ihayer knew that without Tying the
nine could do nothing, because Ernst
would be useless. He Immediately
went to work on the matter, and for
awhile he dreamed of fencing masks
and bent wires. Various experiments
were tried, and finally he completed a
crude but satisfactory protection for
Iyng's face. 1t was a cumbersome
affair, and resembled q 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, nolie Of them saw
the invention until II 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 a
small piece of rubber between his teeth,
which only in a snail measure D rotect-
ed his face. He caught, also, the swift
est pitchers without gloves. Other
catchers were atno better advantage,
and they were frequently injured and
badly hurt.
Thayer took his invention to Boston
and hunted up the noted ball player,
George Wright He carried his mask
in a small bag, and many thought it a
bird-cage. He Explained to the profess
SIGNALS that the instrument was a mask
which he had Invented for Tying to wear
when catching, and begged some of the
players to thy il. George Wright and
Shaffer put on the mask and found that
it worked very well. 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 a good thing, and being
in the baseball business, made arrange
ments with Thayer to introduce it.
The first game in which the mask was
eve seen was at Lynn, when the Harv-
ards played the club at that place, and
Tying wore the ''cage," as the specta-
tors called it. Later on the Harvards
played the Bostons, and Tying wore the
mask. The spectators were greatly
amused and wanted him to stake of
the muzzle and try a ~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 it's use. Very soon
every back-stop in the country wore a
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 a 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 atpres-
ent. In front it was much like the bow
of a vessel, and so made that a 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 a slight cut is
received from q broken wirc.-Louis-
ViLle C0urier-Jouvvaal.