# that black stuff football and baseball players wear **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409 "2000-08-30T21:46:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/1 "2000-08-30T21:46:57Z")
OK, I know some players put this stuff under their eyes to reduce glare. But does it really work, or is it just for show? If it does work, how does it work? ---
**Author:** ![dietrologia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@dietrologia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dietrologia)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/2 "2000-08-30T21:52:26Z")
It’s supposed to reduce the reflection/glare of the sun off the upper cheek area where it’s applied. It never seemed to make a difference to me, so I never used it. Besides, if that’s the purpose of the stuff, you’d think you’d cover your nose with it. I think players believe it makes them look tough. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/3 "2000-08-30T21:53:20Z")
I presume it works by absorbing light, rather than letting it reflect up from the cheeks or the face guard into the player’s eyes. What is that stuff, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2000, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/4 "2000-08-30T23:19:50Z")
In the old days, football and baseball players definitely used burned cork. Perhaps they use something else now. In a funny column for “Sports Illustrated,” retiring Texas Rangers outfielder Billy Sample said that the one thing he would NOT miss about baseball was “the moments when a line drive is heading my way, I’ve lost it in the sun, and I realize that the burnt cork on my eyes is really just for show.” ---
**Author:** ![Grendel69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7bcc69/32.png) [@Grendel69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grendel69)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2000, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/5 "2000-08-31T00:02:53Z")
It’s an oil based substance. It sort of works. Not essential though. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2000, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/6 "2000-08-31T05:55:25Z")
They also sell these little black stickers that you just peel and stick under your eyes. It is a lot less messy. In 11 years of football and 9 years of baseball, I never had a need for the stuff though. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2000, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-black-stuff-football-and-baseball-players-wear/31409/7 "2000-08-31T13:06:07Z")
Yes it works. Or, at least, I assume it does…many animals (e.g., cheetah) in sunny climates have black markings under their eyes for the same reason…to reduce glare.