Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves

Timeline: The baseball helmet's history

By Carroll Rogers Walton
Oct 5, 2009

• Aug. 17, 1920: Indians shortstop Ray Chapman dies after being hit in the head by a pitch from Yankee Carl Mays, prompting Major League Baseball to ban the spitball, require umpires to replace dirty balls.

• 1950s/60s: Players use plastic inserts for protection.

• 1971: MLB makes batting helmets mandatory.

• 1983: MLB makes helmets with at least one earflap mandatory

• July 11, 2006: Rawlings introduces the CoolFlo helmet with vents

• July 22, 2007: Rockies minor league first base coach Mike Coolbaugh is killed by a batted ball to the head

• Nov. 8, 2007: MLB mandates all base coaches wear batting helmets

• August, 2009: Rawlings introduces the S100 helmet, built to withstand pitches of up to 100 mph

• Aug. 31, 2009: MLB announces that it will mandate minor league players wear the S100 in 2010.

About the Author

Carroll Rogers Walton
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) is congratulated by teammates after being relieved late in the ninth inning during a MLB game against the New York Mets Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Truist Park. (Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chris Sale delivers masterpiece against Mets, adamant about returning to mound for ninth inning

Chris Sale felt the adrenaline rushing through his body as he walked off the Truist Park mound Wednesday night.

1h ago

Sale shuts down Mets as Braves take series

In his last six starts, Sale is 4-1 over 41 2/3 innings, having allowed four earned runs while striking out 50.

2h ago

Raisel Iglesias looks to be back on track

Iglesias surrendered 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk during the course of Atlanta blowing a 10-4, ninth-inning lead against Arizona to finish 11-10. Now, he has returned to form.

The Latest

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) is congratulated by teammates after being relieved late in the ninth inning during a MLB game against the New York Mets Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Truist Park. (Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chris Sale delivers masterpiece against Mets, adamant about returning to mound for ninth inning

1h ago

Sale shuts down Mets as Braves take series

2h ago

Raisel Iglesias looks to be back on track

Featured

Mario Guevara, a metro Atlanta-based Spanish-language reporter, covers a protest against immigration enforcement on Feb. 1, 2025, on Buford Highway. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: AP

Hispanic reporter arrested at metro Atlanta protest now in ICE custody, facing deportation

Spanish-language reporter Mario Guevara was granted a bond, but ICE issued a detainer for him to be held longer. Guevara was arrested hours before the detainer was to expire

2 Democrats face runoff in Georgia Public Service Commission primary

Following the June 17 primary elections for Georgia's Public Service Commission, District 3 Democratic candidates Waites and Hubbard head to a July runoff vote.

No lights, no emergency: Sheriff’s office sued over death in deputy crash

Meriwether County deputy sped through intersection, hitting and killing 61-year-old, lawsuit says.