In 1941, baseball players started wearing helmets. All it took was an obsessive executive, a world-renowned neurologist, and a historic swarm of bean balls.
Seatbelts in automobiles were patented by Volvo and then opened the patent in 1959 for free use in the interest of safety for everyone.
At first they were an option in many vehicles. Customers didn't want to pay for them. So the US govt made them mandatory in 1968 to protect it's dumb dumb citizens.
Despite all the scientific evidence on the safety of seatbelts, including doubling your odds of dying in an accident by not wearing one, many people still refused to use them. Myself included. Yes, I admit to this. In my defense, I was a teenager and therefore immortal.
The government again had to step in for the safety of it's dummies. State laws starting mandating seatbelt use in the mid-to-late 1980s (in my state of Michigan it was 1985).
So as crazy as it seems to me to not want to wear a helmet to the plate, I can look back at my own history and realize how machismo can direct one's decision making. Almost always for the poorer.
On a personal note: my doctor told me I have low testosterone and offered to treat it. I declined, noting that every single bad decision I made in life was on high testosterone. :)
Great stuff here, Gordon. The question of ownership is going to come up in this story, with different parties having different views on what should happen with a patent that is so obviously in the interest of preventing serious injury.
Your reflection on car seatbelts (I can't believe you didn't wear your seatbelt) made me think of my own youth riding my bike alone through hilly, mixed-use areas and never once wearing a helmet. Would have been unthinkable, practically a coolness extinguisher in the early 1990s. Now I wouldn't imagine letting my daughters ride without one. Altogether it's apparent that, however dumb we are as individuals, as a society we have historically trended (slowly and begrudgingly) towards safety.
One’s safety apparently wasn’t an issue then as much as being macho. I get it… no one wanted to be the first so until that day it’s better no one wears it.
Although I do remember using seatbelts soon as I had a car that had them. I wanted to be safe & like the professional drivers that had them for years.
I wonder if there are stats on how many batters got clunked in the noggin over the years. I’m sure pitchers may have an idea.
It was interesting to see a lot of criticism of baseball players as "he-men"--I didn't know how far back that term went but in 1940 it meant foolish machismo.
The stats point is a really good one. Anecdotally, beanings were way up in the 1940s, but I haven't found anything I'd call data. If I was more of a researcher I might pursue this but even for me that stuff gets dry.
Seatbelts in automobiles were patented by Volvo and then opened the patent in 1959 for free use in the interest of safety for everyone.
At first they were an option in many vehicles. Customers didn't want to pay for them. So the US govt made them mandatory in 1968 to protect it's dumb dumb citizens.
Despite all the scientific evidence on the safety of seatbelts, including doubling your odds of dying in an accident by not wearing one, many people still refused to use them. Myself included. Yes, I admit to this. In my defense, I was a teenager and therefore immortal.
The government again had to step in for the safety of it's dummies. State laws starting mandating seatbelt use in the mid-to-late 1980s (in my state of Michigan it was 1985).
So as crazy as it seems to me to not want to wear a helmet to the plate, I can look back at my own history and realize how machismo can direct one's decision making. Almost always for the poorer.
On a personal note: my doctor told me I have low testosterone and offered to treat it. I declined, noting that every single bad decision I made in life was on high testosterone. :)
Really well done, Paul.
Great stuff here, Gordon. The question of ownership is going to come up in this story, with different parties having different views on what should happen with a patent that is so obviously in the interest of preventing serious injury.
Your reflection on car seatbelts (I can't believe you didn't wear your seatbelt) made me think of my own youth riding my bike alone through hilly, mixed-use areas and never once wearing a helmet. Would have been unthinkable, practically a coolness extinguisher in the early 1990s. Now I wouldn't imagine letting my daughters ride without one. Altogether it's apparent that, however dumb we are as individuals, as a society we have historically trended (slowly and begrudgingly) towards safety.
Great analogy, Gordon. Thanks, Paul. I am anxiously awaiting Thursday’s part 2!
Fashion be damned! Safety first, Paul.
My father has a catchy expression: "Safety first! Avoid the hearse!"
Your father is a wise man, Paul.
One’s safety apparently wasn’t an issue then as much as being macho. I get it… no one wanted to be the first so until that day it’s better no one wears it.
Although I do remember using seatbelts soon as I had a car that had them. I wanted to be safe & like the professional drivers that had them for years.
I wonder if there are stats on how many batters got clunked in the noggin over the years. I’m sure pitchers may have an idea.
It was interesting to see a lot of criticism of baseball players as "he-men"--I didn't know how far back that term went but in 1940 it meant foolish machismo.
The stats point is a really good one. Anecdotally, beanings were way up in the 1940s, but I haven't found anything I'd call data. If I was more of a researcher I might pursue this but even for me that stuff gets dry.