Catcher's gear for every fielder within 150 feet of home plate.

Saturday, July 5, 2008
Everyone should wear catcher's gear.

Yes, including the face mask. If they do not start wearing this gear, pitchers will need the screen that is used in front of the pitcher during batting practice.
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That's the first of many times that I have advocated that policy.  June 15 in Tampa, Rays pitcher Alex Cobb became the most recent victim of an ugly incident: Cobb was hit in the head with a line drive.

Herb Score

This has been happening in my lifetime since May 7, 1957 when Cleveland pitcher Herb Score was hit in the face by a line drive.  He was never the same again.  Score had led the old American League (AL) in strike outs in his first two seasons, 1955 and 1956, winning 20 games in 1956.

In the five years since I have advocated protecting, not just pitchers, but all baseball players in danger of being injured by batted balls, what has happened?  Nothing.  Occasionally, someone will advocate that pitchers wear helmets, which would help a little.  But the pitchers themselves object and nothing happens.

There's no rule preventing a pitcher from wearing a helmet, is there?  John Olerud played from 1989 through 2005 and wore a helmet when he played first base as a precaution because he had suffered a brain aneurysm playing at Washington State University.  Ironically, Olerud was a pitcher in college.

If Bud Selig were alive he might do something, but the problem is not just with the Major Baseball League (MBL).  In what league, including those for kids, is proper protective gear required?  We're all to blame, not just the easily blamable Selig.