# Nick Franklin's batting helmet **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 22, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nick-franklins-batting-helmet/661639 "2013-06-22T16:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nick-franklins-batting-helmet/661639/1 "2013-06-22T16:15:49Z")
I just watched this video clip of Mariners’ rookie infielder, Nick Franklin, hitting a 3-run HR: [http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content\_id=28237167](http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=28237167) What’s up with his batting helmet? I don’t think I’ve seen one like that before. At first I thought he was just wearing a minor-league-style helmet with the two ear guards, but when I got a closer look I realized it was different. Different enough that the announcers are commenting on it (comparing his look to the Great Gazoo from The Flintstones). He _is_ a switch-hitter, so I guess a helmet like that means he doesn’t need to keep two helmets handy, but I don’t think I’ve noticed other switch-hitters using special helmets. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nick-franklins-batting-helmet/661639/2 "2013-06-22T17:18:57Z")
[In 2011](http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120227&content_id=26874390&vkey=news_sea&c_id=sea) he suffered a concussion after being hit in the head with a bat during batting practice. I assume the over sized helmet is a result of that. A few other players have used these over sized helmets after getting hit in the head with a pitch, most notably David Wright. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nick-franklins-batting-helmet/661639/3 "2013-06-22T17:44:03Z")
Thanks! I somehow hadn’t heard about that. I prefer to listen to the games on the radio rather than watch them on TV, which is why I hadn’t noticed his helmet until now, and if they mentioned his concussion on the radio, I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nick-franklins-batting-helmet/661639/4 "2013-06-22T18:31:14Z")
I really wish the announcers wouldn’t make fun of those helmets (and it’s always a Great Gazoo reference) - those provide a lot more protection against concussions, and there’s no reason for them to not be more popular, except vanity.