Batting helmet

A Batting Helmet is the helmet worn by the batter in a game of baseball or softball. It is meant to protect the batter from stray pitches thrown by the pitcher. Otherwise, a pitcher might unfairly injure an opposing team's batter in order to help his/her own team win.

Traditionally, a batting helmet covers the the back top and sides of the head along with one ear: the left ear for right-handed hitters and vice versa. However, batting helmets that cover both ears are common as well.

Batting helmets were not required in Major League Baseball until 1956, following several years of hospitalizations due to people being hit in the head by pitches.

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