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RJB44
03-06-2013, 05:31 PM
I understand that MLB made it mandatory in 1983 for players to wear a helmet with at least one ear flap. Is this only for games, or does this include batting practices as well? Does this only apply for the regular season games or spring training as well. Not that I have seen any players wearing flapless helmets while at bat, either in Spring training or during BP, but I saw the photo of Tex below and it made me wonder.

metsbats
03-27-2013, 07:21 PM
I don't believe helmets are required during BP and have seen many players take BP wearing caps. Perhaps Texiera just wanted wear the flapless helmet for BP instead of a cap to minimum protection.

But wearing a helmet with single or double flaps are required in regular and spring training games.

jake33
03-27-2013, 09:20 PM
Didn't Gary Gaetti wear a flapless helmet with theCubs and Cardinals in the earl-mid 1990's?

Also, Candy Moldanado with the Jays and Brewers too?

metsbats
03-27-2013, 09:49 PM
In 1983, it was made mandatory for new players to use a helmet with at least one earflap. Players who were grandfathered in (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_clause) could choose to wear a helmet without ear flaps. Players can choose to wear double earflap helmets in the major leagues; however, this is not mandatory. Tim Raines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Raines) was the last player to wear a helmet without earflaps, during the 2002 season (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Major_League_Baseball_season). His flap-less Florida Marlins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Florida_Marlins_season) helmet is currently at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gary Gaetti (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gaetti), who retired in the year 2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Major_League_Baseball_season), plus Ozzie Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzie_Smith) and Tim Wallach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Wallach), who both retired in 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Major_League_Baseball_season), also wore flapless helmets until they retired from the game[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting_helmet#cite_note-8). Julio Franco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Franco), who retired from baseball in May 2008, was the last active player eligible to wear a helmet without flaps, but he chose to wear a helmet with an earflap throughout his career. Some players, mostly switch hitters, also decide to wear double earflap helmets while batting. Two notable players to do this were Orlando Hudson and Chuck Knoblauch.[ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batting_helmet#cite_note-9)

Found this.

coreystack
03-28-2013, 10:23 AM
I've never seen a photo of Tim Wallach wearing a flapless helmet.

I've seen a lot of photos too. (http://timwallach.blogspot.com/)