1900-1909 Catchers Mask Dating Guide

Just like the Catchers masks of the 1800's Looped & Clipped steel wire is used to build the frame. The bright steel & "Gun Metal" is being coated with black enamel. Elastic head bands and sunshades are introduced into the market. Forehead pads are starting to replace straps at the very end of the decade

Visual Glossary


1890-1910's Loop & Clip, Goggle Eye Catchers Mask with Neck Protector	1907-1910s Goggles "Spiderman" style catchers mask with elastic strap	1900's -1910's Catcher's Mask with Sun-Shade

The Dating of a catcher's mask could prove to be a difficult task. Construction styles and features could have been used for many years after they were introduced. For example the Catcher's Mask with the neck protector pictured above left was sold from about 1890 into the 1910's. There are only slight differences between some years. Imported Dogskin was used to house the padding when this masked first hit the market. Other material used for the padding might date the mask to a later date. This model was also sold with a sunshade, but was not available with this model before 1907. Masks with bright steel wires (below center left) were sold before the black enameled wire was offered in 1896, to cut down on glare, but the bright steel wire masks were still available afterwards.


Loop & Clip Construction "Goggle Eye" catchers mask	L: Bright Steel loop & Clip Goggle Eye R: Black Enamel Elec. Weld Wide Sight	"Wide Sight" eye space starts replacing Goggle eyes in 1912

These are the type of things to look for when dating a mask. Elastic head straps were not available until 1907. The construction methods are another tool for dating a mask. The loop & clip construction pictured above left, was used throughout the 1800's and 1900's. Starting in 1911 Electric weld was used to construct the masks (Above center, right) Electric weld masks cannot date before 1911 but the loop & clip method was still used into the early 1920's. If you have a Loop & clip mask with an elastic head strap it was made in 1907 or later. Full length face pads that wrap around across the forehead, like the padding on the mask center right, was patented in 1906 and starts to replace the simple side pads towards the end of the decade.

Basically the main features with masks dated to the 1900-1909 manufacturing period are; Goggles or "Spiderman" eye space, Loop & Clip construction, elastic straps are used with the head strap in 1907 and after. You will find little change in design from the 1890s, just a larger variety.

Because it is easier to date a mask to the era when a feature was available I have listed a timeline below. You might be able to use unique features on your mask that overlap other features to narrow down the date. I have also included catalog images so you can match styles and construction characteristics like a fingerprint.

Catchers Mask Timeline

1877 Spalding introduces the first retail Catcher's mask
1891 Spalding introduces a Patented Molded Leather "Sunshade"
1907 Reach introduces Elastic Head Straps
1911 D&M introduces Electric Welded steel wire construction
1912 Reach introduces "Wide Sight" frame construction Spalding
1914 Reach introduces "The Spitter" hole

1900-1909 Catchers Mask Catalog Samples & Patents


1901 Spalding's Athletic Library Guide	1904 Reach's Official Base Ball Guide	1905 Victor 1909 Samson Catcher's Masks	1908 Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide


1907 Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide	1907 Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide	1908 Reach's Official Baseball Guide	1908 Reach's Official Baseball Guide


1904 Catchers Mask Patent Hands Free mask adjustment	1904 Catchers Mask Patent full length face pads	1908 Catchers Mask Patent Adjustable Sun-Shade	1909 Catchers Mask Patent Construction Method