On this day in 1888 George Barnard was granted the patent for BASEBALL MASK. U.S. Patent No. 376,278.
The style of mask used by baseball catchers is defective in that no protection is provided against the catcher being hit in the neck by the ball; the object of this invention is to construct an effectual guard and protection by providing an extension of the mask proper to come below the chin of the wearer to protect the chin and neck.
