First Appearance Of Pitcher's Protective Hat

I'm guessing he was paid to wear it. He looks a little like Barney Fife with an over sized hat.

I saw that on the SC highlights this morning.  That is one weird looking contraption.  Can't see many guys wearing that unless they are required to by doctor after a concussion or something along those lines.  Looks like Kazoo from the Flintstones.  

...think of how funny the guy that wore the first football helmet looked.

This concept has been in the works for a while, and the manufacturers are working to continually fine tune the product. I hope every pitcher in the league wears it one day.

I've mentioned on previous post that I've seen less bulky prototypes, although no idea where those manufacturers are with MLB approval.  But I do expect as JH says, better models are on the horizon.

On continued review of this, I don't think design tweaks are the answer.  The prototype fails on two counts really; 1) it looks bad and 2) it doesn't really provide a lot more protection where it's needed most... namely the face. I think maybe what's called for is more of a lightweight helmet with face mask.  Just a few years back, rodeo bull riders were still wearing cowboy hats.  This was pure tradition and looked good in context of the sport. Now, every bull rider wears a full helmet -- not a helmet designed to look something like a cowboy hat, just an actual functional helmet.  The reality of needing this protection simply outweighed the tradition and normalcy of the cowboy hat.  After seeing the baseball prototype in action, I'm thinking the same thing will probably have to occur in baseball.  What's really needed is a helmet/mask designed specifically for use by pitchers... with proper weight, balance, protection, functionality and appearance all factored in. Then guys can opt for it or not.  If there's initial stigma, at least there would also be fuller protection as a trade off. Who knows, maybe that's the intended end game with these oversized lid prototypes.

A straight up batting helmet or third base coach's helmet would look no more conspicuous than this prototype.

My kids saw a video of old Hockey Highlights and saw goalies without facemasks and were blown away.  I told them that there didn't used to be batting helmets in baseball either. They couldn't believe it.

When I told them I guy died from a beaning they said "I bet that changed things"  And I said yep 40 years later.  I said the modern Helmet wasn't mandatory until after 50 years when the guy died.