19th Century Goggle Eye Birdcage Style Baseball Catcher’s Mask

Presented here is a truly extraordinary 19th Century “Goggle Eye” Birdcage Style Baseball Catcher’s Mask, an iconic and increasingly scarce relic from the very earliest days of organized baseball. This remarkable piece represents the formative period of catchers’ equipment, when innovation was driven by necessity and protection was both primitive and revolutionary.

Hand-forged from heavy-gauge wire, the birdcage framework features the distinctive rounded “goggle eye” apertures, a hallmark of the earliest mask designs intended to protect the eyes while maintaining visibility. The wire retains its original shape and integrity, with a beautifully even, untouched patina that speaks to well over a century of honest aging. The crudeness and simplicity of the construction only enhance its authenticity and historical appeal.

Seldom encountered and highly coveted, this goggle eye birdcage catcher’s mask stands as one of the purest representations of baseball’s evolution from rough, barehands play to the beginnings of protective equipment. A true museum-caliber artifact, it would serve as a cornerstone in any advanced collection of 19th century baseball memorabilia. Please call directly or email coreyleiby@comcast.net with any questions or concerns.