Shin guards

Shin guards are a part of a catcher's protective equipment, the so-called "tools of ignorance". They are made of a durable material - originally leather and now plastic -, and are strapped to the catcher's legs, covering the knees, shins and top of the foot. They are meant to protect the legs from impacts from the ball or the bat. They are also worn by umpires, who usually place them inside their pant legs, while catchers wear them on the outside, in order to speed up their removal and reattachment when the catcher's turn to bat comes up.

Modern catchers' shin guards include a triangular piece of foam on the back known as a "knee savior". This provides a cushion to absorb part of the weight of the upper body when the catcher is crouching behind the plate, reducing the strain on the catcher's knees.

Shin guards were imported from cricket, where they were already worn by wicket keepers in the 19th century. They were introduced to baseball by Hall of Fame catcher Roger Bresnahan, who first wore them for the New York Giants on opening day, 1907. They were soon adopted around the major and minor leagues.

Further Reading

• Chuck Rosciam: "The Evolution of Catcher's Equipment", in The Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Volume 39, Number 1 (Summer 2010), pp. 104-112.