The Hockey Stop

Tonight I was watching the Dodgers-Giants game on ESPN and I noticed something strange -- San Francisco's catcher appeared to be wearing a hockey goalie mask.

Could Antti Niemi have given up on the Blackhawks paying him after arbitration and become a pro baseball player?

It appears that some catchers and umpires have abandoned the traditional mask for hockey-style goalie masks.

From Wikipedia:

"In recent years, catchers have begun wearing masks similar to those worn by ice-hockey goaltenders. The hockey-style mask typically includes a section which protects the top of the head; older-style masks are usually worn over a flap-less helmet (worn backwards and often with a trimmed bill) to provide similar protection to the skull. Some helmets also are somewhat like the hockey style helmets. They have a helmet without a bill and a facemask."

What's next? Hockey goalie gloves and blocker pads to stop wild pitches?

In all seriousness I think it is pretty cool that baseball catchers and umps are adopting a piece of equipment from hockey.