Slow pitch: Mask or no mask

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by bainsey

After ten years behind the plate in slow-pitch, it finally happened. I took a foul ball to the left cheek bone. The shiner still hasn't gone away.

I've had fun explaining my black eye to everyone at work. (One of my colleagues even declared a bounty on anyone who would take a picture of me.) Still, I got asked a lot, "don't you wear a mask?!"

Not in these parts, we don't. I tried it the game after I got nailed, and I didn't like it. Does anyone else wear masks for slow pitch?

Only time I've ever worn a mask in SP is when I was practicing taking it off for my upcoming FP games.

I don't wear a mask in SP, and I'm not sure why not. I've seen plenty of umpires get black eyes, busted lips and broken noses. You'd think we'd learn...

I believe one of the umpires on this forum wears a mask in SP after having had an incident. Can't say I blame him.