El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-25
Players should
BEPR0TEGTED,
SAY OWNERS
Wearing Of Mask to Pro
tect Head From ''Bean
Ball" Is Urged.
CHAPMAN DEATH
MUCH DEPLORED

NEW 40Elns aug A9----A1 uea-A o.
N Ray Chapman. Cleveland short
stop through a blow on the head
By a pitched BAH. seems bound to
bring about a reform in baseball that
has been badly needed FOR many years.
Experts employed by sporting goods
houses are now at work on models for
hard protectors. which VIII be offered
for general use OF batters very soon
Ferrster Also Hurt.
Had Chick Fewster been wearing a
protector to pad HIS head he would be
playing as regular with the
Yankees today. II Roy Corhan had
been using one when with the White
sox he probably would be in the big
league, and II is more than probable
that Frank Chance would have lasted
longer II he had not abandoned his
plan 70 wear helmet OF his own de-
sign
Chnnce, VIXEN n member Of the
Cubs and managing thar club, WIS
one OF the rumest hutters baseball
ever has known. He WAS knocked
cold several times when hit on the
head by pitched balls and on
few Of these occasions II WIS
probIemnticn1 whether he would
recover sufficiently to resume
connection with fast ball the
Cub leader determined to hive
made leather helmet to protect
HIS head and actually took II to
the park with him for use.
u was not satisfactory. however,
and he soon discarded f.
What form the helmet VIII take IS
4 matter for considerable speculation
Already II has been suggested that a
INC
by sviators might be used Football
hezdEear also has been suggested
Chances are. however. that the ulti-
mate design viii be a strip OF stiff
leather extending completely around
the head. reaching below the temples
and above the eyes Two straps cross
ing each other at the TOD probably
VIII hold Il TO the-top OF the head
These will form a cushion on top OF
The head Heavy felt with an air
cushion probably viii form the n1i-
ding A chin strap would complete /
this protective device. which would I
he light and without the close. lot
feeling that an sviators' helmet would
give a BAH player
No shine BAN.
The question Is a serious one. Now
that the emery ball. shine ball, and
azhsr deceptive tricks OF baseball
have been ruled out OF the game bat
tiers are becoming more bold They I
crowd the plate more closely because I
the- know there is small chance for a I
swift break II the bail IS not scuffed- !
Chapman probably lost his life be-
cause the ball Nays used was scuffed I
and took the fatal hop as It neared a
batter
Gloves to soften the impact Of
the bail was derfded when they
first made their appearance. So
WIS the eatcheria breastpad, and
the shfuuEarda invented by RoE-
ger Bresnahan and now used by
every catcher. Players have
ehueIzIed when n WAS EuEEeEted
n head protector be used By them,
but the two recent injuries TO
nfhIeteE probably VIII do away
with any ridicuIe that might
otherwise be offered.
Chick Fswster's injury was prsc-
.iczlly as bad as the one received BY
Chapman That he IS alive today is
Tue only to the extraordinary skill Of
he surgeons who attended him and
he fact that he was physically able
10 Withstand the very delicate opera
ion that was performed Immediately
Chapruan's death makes Il nsces-
'ary for preventive measures They
vii be taken