Tools of Ignorance

Mark Krajnak

#214 of 365 Days of Photos 2007

The tools of ignorance is a nickname for a catcher's protective equipment: catchers mask, chest protector, and shin guards. Different sources have credited Muddy Ruel and Bill Dickey with coining the phrase. According to either version, the usage was meant to be ironic, contrasting the inteligence needed by a catcher to handle the duties of the position with the foolishness needed to play a position hazardous enough to require so much protective equipment.

This mask is a Jimmie Wilson model, given to me by my father. Wilson played in the majors in the '20s and '30s. In 1940, he was a full-time coach and little-used 40-year old back-up when the Cincinnati Reds's regular catcher, Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi, injured an ankle a few days before the start of the World Series. Wilson was forced to play regularly and shined, hitting .353 and playing excellent defense as the Reds beat the Detroit Tigers in seven games. Wilson was used to the money games, however, as he had served as the St. Louis Cardinals catcher during their three World Series appearances in 1928, 1930 and 1931.

The catcher's glove is a Gordon Hinkle model. Hinkle apparently played one season, 1934, for the Boston Red Sox, catching and batting .173 Not great, but good enough to get a catcher's glove model.

And I thank my dad for passing this stuff down to me....

(much of this information came from www.baseball-reference.com/)

---

View Project: