1920’s Reeded Baseball Shin guards by Wilson

These are vintage 1920’s Reeded Baseball Shin guards by Wilson. These phenomenal early baseball shin guards are representative of the very first style designed by Roger Bresnahan. They are of pro quality with thick sole leather on the knees and buckskin over the reeds with all straps and fasteners intact. The "Reeded" Shin Guards were popular durring the 1910's.

The Wilson Sporting goods co. then called Thomas E. Wilson Sporting Goods began producing these Shin Guards in the mid to late 1910s. Then in the 1920's the name changed to Wilson-Western. The Shin Guards pictured above were the last of the reeded shins made by Wilson-Western prior to going to the "smooth-face" composition shin guards. In 1931 Wilson-Western then became the name we know today Wilson sporting Goods.

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Hall of Fame Catcher Roger Bresnahan (above left) Played between 1897 - 1915 Bresnahan most notable contributions to the game were in protective equipment. In 1905 after getting "beaned" in the head with a baseball began experimenting with head gear similar to the leather football helmet of the period that were made by A.J. Reach. Sliced vertically: one half for covering the left side of a right handed batter's head, the other for the lefty hitter.

Two years later in 1907 he devised catcher's shin guards. The first, evidently modeled after a cricketer's leg pads but were large, and bulky. NL president Pulliam dismisses the Opening Day protests of Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke over Roger Bresnahan's shin guards. As yet, Bresnahan was the only catcher using them. Ignoring the ridicule, it was not thought to be gentlemanly to use them. By 1909 the design was refined, and became accepted, and more wildly used.