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Posted By: Julie

Of COURSE--the early catchers wore no masks--but they must have started fairly soon; Kleinow is wearing one in his T206 card. Isn't Ewing wearing one in the cover of Harper's woodcut in 1889--or did I imagine it?

Hockey goalies have all been allowed to "fall on their knees, or stand on their heads, if they think they can stop the puck better that way.." since February, 1918. But masks were not generally worn till the '70s, and not madatory till '78. The same reasons were given for not wearing masks that the early baseball players used to discourage other players from improving their equpment--you're a coward if you need gloves, etc. Jacques Plante, one of the greastest goalies, who invented and insisted on wearing the first really practical mask in the early sixtes said: "Would you think I was brave if I jumped out of a plane without a parachute?" when people (still!) questioned his courage.