Umpire mask worn by Emmett Ashford
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1965
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Spalding, American, founded 1876
label: Subject of
content: Emmett Littleton Ashford, American, 1914 - 1980
label: Subject of
content: Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869
notes: label: Caption
content: Emmett Ashford was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ashford umped from 1966-1970 and was known for his animated calls and dress. After retiring as an umpire in 1970, Ashford continued his relationship with MLB and was hired by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as a public relations advisor in 1971.
label: Description
content: An umpire’s mask worn by Emmett Ashford. The mask is made of metal with a protective bar across the chin, jaw and forehead. The mask is padded with leather on the inside. The leather padding is held together with metal snaps. Attached by leather and buckles is an adjustable, elastic back strap that allows the mask to be pulled over the face. Written in green ink on prober right jawline padding is [Ashford]. On the back strap is the Spalding logo. The logo says [A.G.SPALDINGB.BROS / MADE IN U.S.A.] and [TRADE / SPALDING / MARK]. On the left side of the tag is vertical black text that says [REGISTERED]. On the right side of the tag is vertical black text that reads [U.S. PAT. OFF]. Stamped on the back strap in white is illegible text on the proper right side.
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Baseball
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Sports
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Sports Uniforms
label: Exhibition
content: Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 052
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frederick A. King and Family
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2014.16.1
objectType: label: Type
content: masks (costume)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: leather, metal, plastic, and elastic
label: Dimensions
content: 10 1/4 × 9 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (26 × 24.1 × 26.7 cm)