Evolution Of Professional Sporting Equipment

Baseball without gloves and hockey without helmets...how sports used to be. See how professional sporting equipment has vastly changed over the years.

1. Baseball Gloves

Via eyewitnesstohistory.com

Early on, players never used gloves.

phillysportshistory.com / Via thepostgame.com

By 1920, 90% of players used gloves.

2. Baseball Helmets

In 1956, MLB required batting helmets for new players.

concordmonitor.com / Via baseballreflections.com

In 1961, the first batting helmet with ear flaps was created and worn by Earl Bettey. In 1983, it was mandatory for batters to wear a helmet with at least one ear flap.

rawlings.com / Via en.wikipedia.org

In 2013, MLB required batters to wear a new Rawlings batting helmet that improves concussion safety.

Via pitchershelmet.com

In 2014, MLB approved a pitching helmet to improve concussion safety for infield players. San Diego Padres pitcher, Alex Torres was the first MLB player to wear one.

3. Footbal Helmets

Via nfl.com

First NFL helmets were made of leather.

Via nfl.com

The first plastic helmet in the NFL was introduced in the 1950's.

Helmets with radios for players to communicate with their sidelines became common for every team in the 90's.

Via nfl.com

Today, helmets are designed to detect head injuries and soften hard hits to the head.

4. Ice Hockey Helmets

Via stars.nhl.com

Hockey helmets were first seen at the professional level in the 1930's. Goalies started wearing masks and few players started wearing leather helmets.

gcaggiano.wordpress.com / Via livestrong.com

Helmets became mandatory for new players in 1979...players already in the NHL could continue not wearing helmets if they chose.

Via en.wikipedia.org

In 2013, NHL made visors mandatory for all players who have played less than 26 games.