Safety First—the Importance of Catcher's Equipment in Baseball

"Ninety percent of this game is half mental", baseball legend Yogi Berra once said. How much of the game is equipment he did not clarify, but for sure he would put it somewhere near "a lot, but not beyond that."

Baseball is not a very dangerous sport, but the potential of getting hurt is always there, especially for catchers. They get most of the beating from the game, from crazy stray pitches and foul tips to colliding  with runners rushing to home base. In addition to that, their role as master defensive play technician is so vital that keeping them in the game is of 90% utmost importance. Since, being at one end of the field, he sees everything that is happening, he conducts the positions of his teammates for defense, tells infielders where to throw the ball and helps the pitcher decide what kind of pitch and where to give it next.

To help catchers maximize their skills and perform their role in the team to the fullest, they need to be sufficiently protected. Just imagine what the defensive plays would look like if catchers had to stand further back to avoid getting hit by fast pitches, or how many trips to the infirmary or the dentist they would have to make because of having not enough gear.

The complete catcher's gear set includes the helmet, face mask, throat guard, full-length chest protector, athletic supporter with a cup, shin guards and a catcher's mitt.

 The Helmet. The helmet also houses the face mask. The helmet and face mask are so important to the catcher, that without them he would end up with bruises all over the head and face, chipped or lost teeth and even losing consciousness. Much of the ball contact with the helmet and mask occurs when the batter hits a foul tip. When that happens, the catcher does not have enough time to get out of the way, and without the protective covering, well, you get the picture.

 Baseball Gloves. When choosing a catcher's mitt, comfort is second only to protection. The mitt is heavily padded and fingerless for increased protection against fast approaching pitches. It is the least flexible of all baseball gloves. It should not be larger than 38 inches in circumference and 15.5 inches from the base to the highest point. The webbing should not be more than seven inches from the top, and six inches from top to bottom.

 The Throat Guard. The throat guard or throat protector is fastened on to the bottom rung of the catcher's mask. The helmet with the face mask and the throat guard makes the catcher's headgear look a lot like an ice hockey goal keeper's helmet. The throat guard protects the very vulnerable Adam's apple from getting a potentially fatal hit from the ball. To understand the extent of injury, try to imagine what happens in a fight scene from a martial arts movie where one guy karate-chops or elbows his opponent's throat...

 The Chest Protector. The chest protector is a padded piece of equipment that is strapped on to protect the catcher's torso. It ranges from 12 to 18.5 inches long. It is needed against possible hits from foul balls and foul tips and collision with base runners. Although it extends to cover the groin area, catchers are required to wear a protective cup.

 Shin Guards. If you have ever been kicked in the shin, you might understand how much a wild pitch or a foul ball can hurt the shin. Shin guards are hinged at the knee, usually made of plastic and range in length from 11 to 17.5 inches long.