February 13th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka I’ll be the first to admit it. When a new video clip shows up online of a pitcher getting hit in the head by a line drive, I refuse to watch it. It’s not that I’m squeamish about such things – Heaven knows, having spent a career as a robbery/homicide detective I have seen more than my fair share of gory stuff. No, I refuse to watch them because I get incensed knowing that many of the serious injuries from a liner to the head could have been prevented had the pitcher been wearing some type of protective headgear.
Obviously, protective headgear will not prevent all head injuries; one need look no further than the line drive that former Dodger Ramon Troncoso took in the mouth while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic in 2013 to prove this. But there is zero doubt that many of the line drive-related head (and brain) injuries could have been avoided had the injured pitcher been wearing some type of protection – such as former Oakland A’s and current Dodgers right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who underwent emergency surgery for an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and skull fracture after being struck in the head by a line drive on September 5, 2012.
Brandon McCarthy had lingering issues after being struck in the head by a line drive in 2012.
(Photo credit – Kelley L. Cox)
To be clear, there is one major leaguer who has and continues to wear protective headgear while on the mound – Mets reliever Alex Torres. And while the hard-throwing left-hander may be subjected to giggles and ridicule by an ignorant few, it’s hard not to applaud his courage for putting safety ahead of vanity. In fact, we did and article on Torres here on ThinkBlueLA last July.
People who make fun of Mets reliever Alex Torres for wearing protective headgear while on the mound are just plain ignorant. (Photo credit – Brad Penner)
On Friday it was reported by ESPN’s William Weinbaum that Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) will make available a new and far less cumbersome type of protective headgear designed by BoomBang Inc. for pitchers to test during spring training this season. But while this is fantastic news and the new design is not nearly as unattractive (for lack of a better word) as the isoBLOX protective headgear worn by Torres, it’s going to take someone like Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke or Jake Arrieta – or some other big-name, highly respected pitcher – to put aside their egos and vanity and openly embrace and endorse the new protective headgear before it truly catches on.
The new BoomBang protective headgear is designed to be worn over a nylon skull cap like those made by New Era and Nike. (Photo courtesy of MLB/MLBPA)
MLB vice president Patrick Houlihan described the newly designed protective headgear as “A hybrid of a cap and a helmet.” But more importantly, Houlihan said that 20 major league pitchers are expected to receive the new protective headgear as part of a collaboration between MLB and the MLBPA.
“It felt great and looks good, similar to a helmet with the top cut off,” said Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb, who suffered a mild concussion followed by two months of vertigo after being struck in the head in 2013. Cobb sampled a prototype of the new BoomBang late last season.
“If I put it on and it’s close to wearing a baseball hat, [then] I’ve got nothing to complain about,” Cobb added. “I think I’d be open to it.”
Houlihan said that although MLB hired BoomBang to design and produce the new protective headgear, they did not do so to prevent or dissuade other companies from developing such products.
“Our new product is not in any way, shape or form to elbow out isoBLOX,” Houlihan said. “We hope this creates a market and we’ll have multiple companies making great products.
“This is a loss leader to address player safety, not a money-making venture,” added Houlihan. “It’s an unprecedented collaboration between us and the union to design safety equipment from scratch, and BoomBang had no restrictions on materials or design.”
BoomBang CEO Tylor Garland said that his Los Angeles-based company did a comprehensive international search to find the right technology and materials for their product. He added that they tested many different combinations before settling on the final product.
“Protecting against high-speed impacts with head safety gear is diametrically opposed to creating something thin and light,” said Garland. “What we’ve accomplished is a very lightweight solution that has solved that.”
Here’s your big chance Clayton and Zack and Jake and the rest of you big-name MLB pitchers that so many youngsters look up to and idolize. Here’s your opportunity to be a huge role model for kids everywhere by literally putting ‘Safety First.’
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Back in the day there was much resistance to wearing batting helmets. If I remember it accurately even when it was made mandatory it was grandfathered and it was years before everybody wore them.
I hope this one goes easier, but I’m somewhat short of confident that it will. Image is too important to these guys. You’re right that’ll take a few of the top pitchers to get the ball rolling. So, to whoever the 20 are: C’mon guys, just do it! Is your image really more important than your health, or your life? Remember, Ray Chapman wasn’t wearing a helmet.
One guy I’d like to see get on board early is Madison Bumgarner, but I really doubt it’ll happen. He’s way too proud of his tough guy image to do it, but if he did it would send a message all around baseball. I do hope he’s one of the 20.
Think of the broadcasters too. How many of them would have great fun talking about the pitcher’s “Boombang”?
Vin Scully has long been an advocate for getting base coaches to were ear flap helmets. Maybe that’s the key. It’d be far easier for teams to get their coaches to wear Boombangs.
How can image be important when so many come out with long beards and unkempt hair dangling out under their hats? And, as Evan mentions, uniforms that resemble pajamas. I guess that is the image they want to portray.
I’m not sure how the helmets are affixed and if that is an issue with the somewhat violent throwing motion pitchers got through. Maybe they need a chin strap. lol That would really go over well.
Rules are changing to protect catchers and perhaps to protect players at second base on potential double plays. Why is it MLB can’t mandate pitcher helmets because it is a safety issue? The ear flap on the Boombang is important.
The short answer: MLBPA
Interesting that you would mention the ear flap, Bluenose – something that I actually consider more of a temple flap.
My number one complaint against the isoBLOX protective headgear is that it did nothing to protect the temple area of the head which, of course, is the most vulnerable (and potentially fatal) part of the head.
I suspect that the BoomBang helmets remain in place because of the (apparent) foam lining. Hopefully one of the Dodger pitchers at spring training will have one that I can examine. If so, it will also be interesting to hear what he / they have to say about it.
I intentionally left him off of my short list of examples for one very obvious reason – MadBum is an arrogant jerk. He is the absolute last guy I would ever expect to see wearing head protection – although he really should, being that one of these days he’s going to piss off the wrong guy and get his ass kicked.
I thought of putting in that description, “arrogant jerk”, but decided not to.
I also had concern about the ear flap design. Maybe this is a starting point. If pitchers will wear it, get used to wearing a helmet, then future designs can correct that. It’s kinda like seat belts. It’s only useful if it’s worn.
Well said Ron. It’s time for the big boys to step up and embrace safety over fashion. The bulky hats fit right in with the baggy uniforms that now go as low as the shoe tips. Here’s hoping a trend develops this year and the headgear starts to become the norm. Once that happens, MLB will have an easier time making it mandatory.
I hope, God forbid, it doesn’t come to a tragedy that will make MLB force the pitchers to wear protective head gear.
I would like to see a design that protects more than about a fourth of a pitchers head. I would also like to see all batting helmets have the face protection that Heyward uses.
Remember the old football helmets that didn’t have face protection that were followed by a mere bar on the front? Those old leather helmets now look corny.
I want to see pitchers with hockey masks on.
Here’s another idea – finish in a fielding position with your glove up.
Back in the day pitchers were all taught to follow through into a fielding position.
The only pitcher I can think of at the moment who does that is Zack Grienke. Y’think there might be a connection ‘tween fielding position and Gold Gloves?
…or how about the 18 that Greg Maddux won? Best fielding MLB pitcher I ever saw.