New Wilson Helmet?

[LittleBlue]

OK, so this isn't really an umpire helmet (yet?) but it looks like a new design for Wilson. Has anyone seen this helmet before? I figured Wilson might be using the HR Derby to show off their new gear. Interesting that the cage design looks reminiscent of an All Star.

[Thunderheads]

If I understand it properly, ...as of last year, Wilson had not yet complied w/ the NOCSAE on their helmets, ..... maybe this is their new design that's met those standards and is coming out soon.  It's very All-Star-esque!

[Tksjewelry]

Anyone else think that outfit looks like an American gladiators outfit with an ode to autobot bumblebee?

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[Thunderheads]

1 hour ago, Tksjewelry said:

Anyone else think that outfit looks like an American gladiators outfit with an ode to autobot bumblebee?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

All stuff for the All Star game is over the top ......... the yellow was to match the HR Derby, Practice Uniforms from the 70's Padres ....

 

[Stk004]

1 hour ago, Thunderheads said:

All stuff for the All Star game is over the top ......... the yellow was to match the HR Derby, Practice Uniforms from the 70's Padres ....

 

I can't imagine that color scheme helped jersey sales... 

[Thunderheads]

Just now, Stk004 said:

I can't imagine that color scheme helped jersey sales... 

only if you're old enough  

[MadMax]

It's All-Star-esque because All-Star is one of the few companies which proactively designs, develops and tests their products (the gear) comprehensively. They are so thorough, I believe that they actually drive NOCSAE's standards and guidelines, not vice versa. All-Star has to stay on top of this because their chief clientele are Minor and Major League catchers.

If they demonstrate robust, reliable, thorough testing, then NOCSAE offers little-to-no resistance to approving and certifying All-Star's gear. Devoid of that high-end clientele and revenue stream, the other manufacturers cannot take the risk of developing a unique competing product and NOCSAE not approving it. Pros and independent leagues (players) don't require NOCSAE approval; but schools do. And that becomes the only other opportunity for a revenue stream for these other companies, such as Worth, Louisville Slugger, Franklin, Diamond, and the once-mighty Rawlings. Only Easton has developed their own uniquely shaped HSM, seizing on the opportunity for appealing to College ball. More and more universities are forming exclusive, lucrative sponsorships with big name Sports Apparel companies like Nike, UnderArmour, Adidas and New Balance, and of those four, which can fully outfit a baseball catcher. Only Nike can, and UnderArmour can partially through its partnership with All-Star. Nike, though, doesn't have a good HSM, and if a university program has Nike as its sponsor, but catchers who prefer a top-notch HSM, I've been seeing those catchers completely outfitted with Easton gear.

Wilson is probably watching all this, missing out on opportunity after opportunity. The Shock FX is far too heavy and bulky to appeal to a 19-year old catcher. Only 1 catcher in MLB is partnered with Wilson, and that's AJ Ellis of the Dodgers, a TM wearer. Within the past 2 years, three catchers in MLB have left TM use or All-Star to use and partner with Mizuno and their Samurai HSM, which I feel is the most padded HSM on the market.

The System 7 is so desirable a shape and style, even Rawlings had to significantly update their HSM, despite having Yadier Molina as their brand ambassador. We'll likely not see Easton in the pros, but we will see them push their presence in college and high school ball, especially soce Fenway Partners is their parent firm, and they are a sibling to Riddell as well as Giro; I still think the solution for umpires' and catchers' protection should be coming from a perspective of impacts as rare but catastrophic (like a bike helmet) instead of repetitive but typically minor (like a football helmet).

[LittleBlue]

On July 13, 2016 at 10:30 AM, MadMax said:

It's All-Star-esque because All-Star is one of the few companies which proactively designs, develops and tests their products (the gear) comprehensively. They are so thorough, I believe that they actually drive NOCSAE's standards and guidelines, not vice versa. All-Star has to stay on top of this because their chief clientele are Minor and Major League catchers.

If they demonstrate robust, reliable, thorough testing, then NOCSAE offers little-to-no resistance to approving and certifying All-Star's gear. Devoid of that high-end clientele and revenue stream, the other manufacturers cannot take the risk of developing a unique competing product and NOCSAE not approving it. Pros and independent leagues (players) don't require NOCSAE approval; but schools do. And that becomes the only other opportunity for a revenue stream for these other companies, such as Worth, Louisville Slugger, Franklin, Diamond, and the once-mighty Rawlings. Only Easton has developed their own uniquely shaped HSM, seizing on the opportunity for appealing to College ball. More and more universities are forming exclusive, lucrative sponsorships with big name Sports Apparel companies like Nike, UnderArmour, Adidas and New Balance, and of those four, which can fully outfit a baseball catcher. Only Nike can, and UnderArmour can partially through its partnership with All-Star. Nike, though, doesn't have a good HSM, and if a university program has Nike as its sponsor, but catchers who prefer a top-notch HSM, I've been seeing those catchers completely outfitted with Easton gear.

Wilson is probably watching all this, missing out on opportunity after opportunity. The Shock FX is far too heavy and bulky to appeal to a 19-year old catcher. Only 1 catcher in MLB is partnered with Wilson, and that's AJ Ellis of the Dodgers, a TM wearer. Within the past 2 years, three catchers in MLB have left TM use or All-Star to use and partner with Mizuno and their Samurai HSM, which I feel is the most padded HSM on the market.

The System 7 is so desirable a shape and style, even Rawlings had to significantly update their HSM, despite having Yadier Molina as their brand ambassador. We'll likely not see Easton in the pros, but we will see them push their presence in college and high school ball, especially soce Fenway Partners is their parent firm, and they are a sibling to Riddell as well as Giro; I still think the solution for umpires' and catchers' protection should be coming from a perspective of impacts as rare but catastrophic (like a bike helmet) instead of repetitive but typically minor (like a football helmet).

Thanks for the great info! Won't it be hard for Wilson to get back into the market with a new helmet considering how much of a presence companies like All Star have when it comes to catchers?

[Blake Ahlers]

The topic of concussions and MTBIs is very complex.  Many studies have attempted to pinpoint what the threshold g force for a concussion, and many have found what they thought was a solid number, but many blows above said level are not concussions and many below have resulted in concussions.  And the repetitive sub-concussive hits can still cause brain damage, sometimes more so than a single concussion.  

[LittleBlue]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone heard anything new about this helmet?

[JSam21]

2 hours ago, LittleBlue said:

Just out of curiosity, has anyone heard anything new about this helmet?

Looks to be listed as the Pro Stock Catcher's helmet... Listed for $159.99... not available in an all black umpire style, only two tone.