Wright Goes With Fashion Wrong In Order To Keep His Head Up

Photo by David Zalubowski/AP

Less than three weeks after David Wright took a 93mph beaning to the helmet, he returned to the Mets' lineup last night looking just a little bit clunkier and a lot more adorable (if that's even possible). No, the third baseman didn't get the Beetlejuice treatment during his first-ever trip to the DL, he simply went ahead with his promise that he would wear the slightly awkward-looking Rawlings S100, a new model designed to protect against pitches up to 100mph.

While many players recently laughed off the idea of wearing such an eyesore (one who tried it said it felt like "his own bobblehead day"), Wright said he was willing to try it out before the beaning that triggered an instant wince from any fan watching. He told reporters that just about everyone from both teams in last night's loss to Colorado had a good laugh at his expense ("I don't know, maybe I have an odd-shaped head,") but that it wouldn't deter him. Wright ended up going 1-for-3 with a walk in his return. He said, "I want to be out there no matter if we're winning the division, if we're losing the division, if we're 10 games out, 15 games out, whatever. I want to be in there fighting with my teammates and finishing out the season."

Rob Neyer of ESPN says that while MLB cannot force big leaguers to wear the new protective helmets, it can and will make them a requirement in the minors starting next year. Hold onto your tiny "headhugger" helmets before they become collector's items, kids.

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By Billy Parker in News on September 2, 2009 5:02 PM

Comments [rss]

Willie Nillie

He still looks dumb.

TheBigStapler

I think it's great. Any self-conscious high school kid who scoffs at the proposition of wearing one can now say, "David Wright wears one, what's the big deal?"

KiljoyWasHere

Is it wrong to say, "I'd hit it"?

Kevin Walsh

Ryan Dempster

www.forgotten-ny.com

longacre

I heard tonight that the Hall of Fame has asked Wright for the one he wore last night...pretty cool, I think. He's actually the second player to wear one. MLB only approved these a couple weeks ago, and a pitcher on the Cubs (I think) wore the first one this past weekend.

BklynGirl26

i think he's smart for not giving a crap what people are gonna say about how he looks and worrying more about protecting himself. A very important thing after a blow to the head is to not get hit again!!! When that pitch hit him i felt sick..it also happened to another player from a different team that night. could you imagine if they didnt have the protective ear flap which many players in the 80s refused to wear?? I say good for him!! and of course i have to agree that there is no way he wouldn't be adorable ;-)

NZ

Wright is actually a Spaceballs enthusiast, and reportedly picked up his version of the Dark Helmet at a convention last week.

Past Taliban

And it would -in a pinch- accomodate a curly-steamer quite adecuately if required.

You never know.

Past Taliban

RIDICULOUS headgear. But then again it's for a RIDICULOUS "sport".

longacre

Don't be jealous just because you guys don't have grass in Afghanistan.

maevemealone

He couldn't not look adorable...

Willie Nillie

He looks dumb.

Mr Mel

He looks smart.

drewo

Oversized overreaction.

JacqueMehoff

where's the chin strap?

Landor

If he wants to be fashionable, he should consider wearing a helmet shaped to match Anna Wintour's coiffure. (Although she probably owns the design patent.)

Spirit of 76

just about everyone from both teams in last night's loss to Colorado had a good laugh at his expense

Same kind of macho nonsense that professional bike racers used to shun helmets for decades. Fabio Casartelli died in the Tour de France because he wasn't wearing one. 30 years ago, only the geekiest bike commuters and tourists wore helmets. Today, it's rare to see a racer in the peloton not wearing one. Attitudes change, but it takes time. Maybe it will take a death for everyone to realize how dangerous it is to get hit in the head with a fastball.

nicemarmot

I think it looks okay. Not any sillier than the old helmets, anyway. All helmets look at least somewhat goofy.

SP

He looks like a Little Leaguer.

DFHdez

I could give a rat's ass about how it makes him look (hydrocephalus). If it saves David Wright (or anyone else) from getting a cracked skull it's a thing of beauty. Besides I'm sure that the style will be refined as the technology is improved. Now take me to your leader Great Gazoo.