History of Catcher's Protection
Roger Bresnahan, a former player for the New York Giants (who today we know as the San Francisco Giants), was one of the first MLB catchers to wear full protective gear. He was met with much ridicule from the crowd, but other catchers quickly caught on to the benefits of being fully protected behind the plate. Catchers masks were introduced in the late 1800s, and after a nearly deadly accident in 1976 involving former Dodgers catcher Steve Yeager, throat protectors became a new addition to every standard catcher’s setup. Today, it’s mandatory for catchers at all levels of the game to wear proper protective gear -- and this goes for softball catchers as well.
Softball Catcher's Equipment Buying Guide
Catchers mask sizing is easy, as most catchers’ helmets and masks are sold in two sizes: youth or adult. Masks come with adjustable straps, so you can always adjust yours accordingly. Leg guards are sized based on the measurement from your ankle to the middle of your knee. Once you determine this measurement, reference a sizing chart from the manufacturer of the leg guards you want to buy. Similarly, chest protectors are sized based on the measurement from your waist to the base of your neck. The same rules apply here: once you’ve determined this measurement, find the corresponding size on a reference chart for the brand of chest protector you’re interested in.
Best Softball Catcher's Gear
To make things easy, it’s a good idea to buy a complete set of catcher's gear. It’s a one-stop-shopping solution for you to get each piece of protective gear that you need. For advanced players, we recommend checking out complete sets from All-Star Vela. The Easton Prowess complete set is perfect for younger or teen players who are still growing. Under Armour carefully researched catchers’ movements to create a sport-specific line of catcher’s gear, the Under Armour Victory set. We also recommend the Mizuno Samurai's G4 fastpitch series, a line of protective gear that is specifically shaped for female athletes.