Giancarlo Stanton's mask not a first

Stanton is, to Uni Watch's knowledge, the first MLB player to have a personalized element on his mask. But he's far from the first to wear a face-guard attachment on his helmet, and he's not even the first to wear a football-style mask. With that in mind, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit a few of the ballplayers who've commingled the gridiron and the diamond by putting football-style face masks on their batting helmets:

Dave Parker, Pirates, 1978: Any discussion of specialized baseball headgear has to begin with the Cobra. After fracturing his jaw and cheekbone in a home plate collision with Mets catcher John Stearns on May 30, 1978, he returned to the lineup a few weeks later and quickly cycled through a series of bizarre-looking attempts to protect his injured face:

Gary Roenicke, Orioles, 1980: After being hit in the face by a pitch, Roenicke wore a partial two-bar football mask similar to Valentine's, only Roenicke's wrapped around a bit more of his face and was painted black, to match the Orioles' color scheme.

Otis Nixon, Twins, 1998: Nixon played for 10 teams over 17 years, including a one-season stopover in Minnesota, where he wore an unusual mask that was sort of football-based, but there was more to it than that. He is, to Uni Watch's knowledge, the last MLB player to wear anything approaching a football-style mask on the field.

Most other players who've added extra facial protection to their helmets have worn the basic (and rather boring-looking) plastic attachments we're now used to seeing. A partial list of such players includes Marlon Byrd, Mike Devereaux, Chase Headley, Jason Heyward, David Justice, Terrence Long, Kevin Seitzer and Terry Steinbach, among many others.

People wearing face masks wait in line to shop for groceries Saturday in metro Phoenix. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered residents of the state to stay at home through April 30 to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Matt York)
ARIZONA — Gov. Doug Ducey has issued a series of executive orders aimed at protecting Arizonans from the new coronavirus, which public health officials say is widespread across the state and sickened 151 more people from Tuesday to Wednesday, bringing the total to 2,726.

At least 80 people have died from COVID-19, as the illness caused by the virus is known. At least 15 of those deaths are linked to coronavirus infections in nursing homes in Maricopa County, and one of Ducey's new orders outlines steps all nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the state should take to separate residents who are infected from those who are not.

The governor's orders also require travelers from three states in the Northeast hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving at an Arizona airport.

Travelers From 3 States Must Quarantine
To slow the coronavirus spread, Gov. Doug Ducey issued a series of executive orders, including placing restrictions on some travelers.

Maricopa County, the state's most populous county and home to Phoenix, the 10th largest metropolitan area in the country, is the epicenter of the Arizona outbreak with 37 deaths. On Wednesday, there were 1,556 confirmed coronavirus cases, up 62 from the day before. The county health department said 87 people living in nursing homes have contracted the illness, and 15 of them have died.Oakland Athletics Face Masks

MLB tightens coronavirus rules, requiring masks in dugouts and compliance officers

After coronavirus outbreaks forced Major League Baseball to postpone 21 games over the first two weeks of its season, it will strengthen its protocols, including requiring players and staff to wear face coverings at all times, except for players on the field of play.

Teams were informed of the changes in a memo obtained by the Associated Press, which said they were told that repeated or flagrant violations could cause a team to be banned for the rest of the 2020 season and/or postseason.

Players are required to wear face masks while in the dugout or bullpen, something its operations manual had not stipulated before. Since games have begun, most players have not worn masks in the dugout and have been shown exchanging high fives, failing to observe social distancing and spitting. The memo also indicates that umpires must wear face masks at all times, unless they cannot do their jobs.

Each team’s compliance officer will enforce protocols, which require players and staff to wear face coverings at all times in hotels and in public places, including on team buses and airplanes. While on the road, teams were told to provide a large private room or ballroom where staff and players can get food and maintain social distancing. Players who want to leave the team hotel must get approval from their compliance officer.

Teams were told to provide covered outdoor spaces and to have areas where players for both teams can maintain social distance during weather delays. Players will be told to use those areas rather than hanging out in clubhouses.New York Yankees Face Masks

MLB, Fanatics to manufacture masks and gowns using jersey material

Major League Baseball (MLB) and Fanatics are partnering to manufacture hospital gowns and protective masks with the same fabric used to produce jerseys to bolster the supply needed to fight the coronavirus, the two businesses announced Thursday.

Fanatics, the company that makes MLB jerseys, is converting its manufacturing center in Easton, Pa., to a production center for the personal protective gear hospital workers have been clamoring for as the virus spreads. MLB and Fanatics will cover all costs associated with the endeavor, they said.

“We hope this effort can play a part in coming together as a community to help us through this challenging situation,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

Fanatics will produce up to 1 million masks and gowns and distribute them throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, the latter of which has been the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S.

The company is making its first batch of masks and gowns using materials typically used to make jerseys for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. Other team jersey materials will be featured as production expands.

The NFL initial changed the rules after Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey took a COVID-19 test, played against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday and then on Monday got a positive test result back. There were six Ravens players that were considered high-risk due to their close contact with Humphrey and now they're forced to quarantine for five days. Couple that news with the latest from the 49ers, and its evident why the NFL is enforcing these new face mask rules.MLB Face Masks