{"id":12401,"date":"2014-04-23T21:20:05","date_gmt":"2014-04-24T05:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.zennioptical.com\/?p=12401"},"modified":"2024-12-10T23:49:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T07:49:51","slug":"fielders-vision-baseball-players-wear-glasses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/fielders-vision-baseball-players-wear-glasses\/","title":{"rendered":"Fielders of Vision: Baseball Players Who Wear Glasses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We can understand why the commissioner of Major League Baseball would ban players associated with gambling.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pete-Rose1.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 Pete Rose1.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12402\" title=\"Pete-Rose1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Pete-Rose1.jpg\" alt=\"Pete-Rose1\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nWe can also understand why the commissioner of Major League Baseball would ban players who have used steroids.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/barry-bonds-jersey.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 barry bonds jersey.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12403\" title=\"barry bonds jersey\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/barry-bonds-jersey.jpg\" alt=\"barry bonds jersey\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nBut we were thrown a curveball, so to speak, when we saw a headline claiming that the current commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.framesdirect.com\/mlb-news-major-league-baseball-to-ban-use-of-glasses-contact-lenses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-label=\"Visit decided to ban eyeglasses and contact lenses Page (opens in new tab)\">decided to ban eyeglasses and contact lenses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/article-2260501-16DDA6B1000005DC-132_468x286.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 article 2260501 16DDA6B1000005DC 132_468x286.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12405\" title=\"Commissioner of baseball bans steroids\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/article-2260501-16DDA6B1000005DC-132_468x286.jpg\" alt=\"Commissioner of baseball bans steroids\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nTherefore, we were relieved, as it were, when we learned that this was a fake \u201cnews story\u201d from CAP News, a satirical website in the style of The Onion.<\/p>\n<p>How could it be otherwise? After all, without his eyeglasses, Oakland A\u2019s second baseman Eric Sogard would never get a hit or field a ball.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/eric-sogard-baseball-headshot-photo.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 eric sogard baseball headshot photo.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12406\" title=\"eric-sogard-baseball-headshot-photo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/eric-sogard-baseball-headshot-photo.jpg\" alt=\"eric-sogard-baseball-headshot-photo\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nSogard looks awesome in his full-rim, rectangular \u201combre\u201d (two-tone) frame, not unlike <a title=\"Zenni Optical Ombre Frames 286315\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/286315-plastic-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinges.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 286315 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 286315<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/286315-plastic-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinges.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 286315 plastic full rim frame with spring hinges.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12408\" title=\"Zenni Optical Ombre Frames 286315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/286315_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Ombre Frames 286315\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nAmong contemporary baseball players, Sogard is joined in wearing glasses on the field by Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/i.png\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 i.png page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12410\" title=\"baseball player with glasses\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/i.png\" alt=\"baseball player with glasses\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nClippard\u2019s half-rim frame is very similar to <a title=\"Zenni Optical Half Rim Glasses Frames 294316\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/294316-plastic-half-rim-frame.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 294316 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 294316<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/294316-plastic-half-rim-frame.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 294316 plastic half rim frame.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12411\" title=\"Zenni Optical Half Rim Glasses Frames 294316\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/294316_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Half Rim Glasses Frames 294316\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nSugard and Clippard are upholding a long tradition that started with pitcher Will \u201cWhoop-La\u201d White, the first baseball player to wear glasses, who played for several teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, from 1877-86.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/will-white2.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 will white2.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12413\" title=\"will-white2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/will-white2.jpg\" alt=\"will-white2\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nAmazingly, White\u2019s full-rim round translucent eyeglasses are still popular today. Check out <a title=\"Zenni Optical Round Frames 220012\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/220012-plastic-fashion-full-rim-frame.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni\u2019s similar frame 620315 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni\u2019s similar frame 620315<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/220012-plastic-fashion-full-rim-frame.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 220012 plastic fashion full rim frame.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12414\" title=\"Zenni Optical Round Frames 220012\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/220012_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Round Frames 220012\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nHowever, for players who were not pitchers, there was a stigma (and maybe an astigmatism) attached to wearing glasses. That ended in 1921, when utility infielder George \u201cSpecs\u201d Toporcer debuted in Major League Baseball, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/waaE9cR6.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 waaE9cR6.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12421\" title=\"Baseball player with glasses\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/waaE9cR6.jpg\" alt=\"Baseball player with glasses\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nSpecs is wearing a classic round frame that is not unlike <a title=\"Zenni Optical Frames 679715\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/unisex-stainless-steel-full-rim-eyeglass-frame-round-front-rim-679715.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 679715 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 679715<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/unisex-stainless-steel-full-rim-eyeglass-frame-round-front-rim-679715.html\" aria-label=\"Visit unisex stainless steel full rim eyeglass frame round front rim 679715.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12416\" title=\"Zenni Optical Frames 679715\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/679715_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Frames 679715\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nOnly two Hall of Fame players wore glasses on the field. One, a very famous late-20th-century player, should be easy to guess. If you need a hint, his nickname is \u201cMr. October.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/250px-ReggieJackson.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 250px ReggieJackson.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12415\" title=\"Reggie Jackson\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/250px-ReggieJackson.jpg\" alt=\"Reggie Jackson\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nYep. That would be Reggie Jackson, whose metal aviator-style frame never goes out of style. <a title=\"Zenni Optical Aviator Frames 453415\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/453415-metal-alloy-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinge.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 453415 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 453415<\/a> is very similar.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/453415-metal-alloy-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinge.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 453415 metal alloy full rim frame with spring hinge.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12426\" title=\"Zenni Optical Aviator Frames 453415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/453415_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Aviator Frames 453415\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nThe other Hall of Famer might be a little harder to guess.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/3617_123801451265.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 3617_123801451265.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12428\" title=\"Hall of Fame baseball player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/3617_123801451265.jpg\" alt=\"Hall of Fame baseball player\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nNo, that\u2019s not Specs Toporcer, although Specs and his glasses bear a strong resemblance to Charles \u201cChick\u201d Hafey, who is depicted here.<\/p>\n<p>Hafey was an outfielder who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds in the 1920s and \u201930s. He represented eyeglasses wearers well, as the National League Batting Champion in 1931, with a .349 average. He sports the classic round style of eyeglasses similar to Toporcer\u2019s, and similar to <a title=\"Zenni Optical Round Frames 450014\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/450014-metal-alloy-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinge.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 450014 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 450014<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/450014-metal-alloy-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinge.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 450014 metal alloy full rim frame with spring hinge.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12429\" title=\"Zenni Optical Round Frames 450014\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/450014_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Round Frames 450014\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nRelief pitcher Jim Konstanty was the first eyeglasses wearing player to win the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, winning 16 games and saving 22 in 1950, when he played for the Philadelphia Phillies.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/200px-Jim_Konstanty.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 200px Jim_Konstanty.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12431\" title=\"200px-Jim_Konstanty\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/200px-Jim_Konstanty.jpg\" alt=\"200px-Jim_Konstanty\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nHis rimless-glasses look could be duplicated by <a title=\"Zenni Optical Frames 314911\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/314911-rimless-flexible-memory-titanium-same-appearance-as-frame-8049.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 314911 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 314911<\/a>, with lens shape 230.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/314911-rimless-flexible-memory-titanium-same-appearance-as-frame-8049.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 314911 rimless flexible memory titanium same appearance as frame 8049.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12432\" title=\"Zenni Optical Frames 314911\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/314911_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Frames 314911\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nInfielder and outfielder Dick Allen, who played in both the National and American Leagues, was the first eyeglasses wearer to win the American League MVP award, in 1972.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/AllenDick_f.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 AllenDick_f.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12434\" title=\"AllenDick_f\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/AllenDick_f.jpg\" alt=\"AllenDick_f\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nNot too many ballplayers can make this claim, but Allen was also an R&amp;B singer. His group, Rich Allen and the Ebonistics, had a 1968 hit, \u201cEcho\u2019s (sic) of November.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/98261.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 98261.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12435\" title=\"Allen's record\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/98261.jpg\" alt=\"Allen's record\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nAllen\u2019s classic, <a title=\"Zenni Optical Classic Ombre Frames 627034\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/627034-acetate-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinges.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit full-rim ombre frame Page (opens in new tab)\">full-rim ombre frame<\/a> is similar to Zenni frame 627034.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/627034-acetate-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinges.html\" aria-label=\"Visit 627034 acetate full rim frame with spring hinges.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12436\" title=\"Zenni Optical Classic Ombre Frames 627034\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/627034_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Classic Ombre Frames 627034\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nFinally, Boston Red Sox centerfielder Dom DiMaggio was nicknamed \u201cThe Little Professor,\u201d in part because he was one of the few players of his time (the 1940s-early \u201950s) to wear eyeglasses.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/dom-dimaggio-dead.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 dom dimaggio dead.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12438\" title=\"Dom Dimaggio\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/dom-dimaggio-dead.jpg\" alt=\"Dom Dimaggio\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nDiMaggio\u2019s classic metal round glasses are similar to <a title=\"Zenni Optical Frames 151314\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/unisex-full-rim-metal-round-eyeglass-frames-151314.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Visit Zenni frame 151314 Page (opens in new tab)\">Zenni frame 151314<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/unisex-full-rim-metal-round-eyeglass-frames-151314.html\" aria-label=\"Visit unisex full rim metal round eyeglass frames 151314.html page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12439\" title=\"Zenni Optical Frames 151314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/151314_lg.jpg\" alt=\"Zenni Optical Frames 151314\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nDiMaggio still holds the Red Sox hitting-streak record, 34 games in 1949. His brother Joe, who played centerfield for the New York Yankees and whose 56-game streak in 1941 remains a Major League Baseball record, ended Dom\u2019s streak when he caught a line drive his brother hit to centerfield.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 9.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12441\" title=\"DiMaggio brothers\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9.jpg\" alt=\"DiMaggio brothers\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nThey had another centerfielder brother, Vince, who played for National League teams, but like Joe he didn\u2019t wear glasses.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/vince-dimaggio-3.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 vince dimaggio 3.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12442\" title=\"vince dimaggio 3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/vince-dimaggio-3.jpg\" alt=\"vince dimaggio 3\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nPresumably Dom made sure to wear his glasses at DiMaggio family gatherings, so he\u2019d have a good look at his sister-in-law.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MarilynMonroe-2.jpg\" aria-label=\"Visit blog wp content uploads 2014 04 MarilynMonroe 2.jpg page\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12443\" title=\"MarilynMonroe-2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/MarilynMonroe-2.jpg\" alt=\"MarilynMonroe-2\" width=\"720\"><\/a><br>\nThat\u2019s how to keep your eye on the ball!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fashion"],"acf":[],"contentshake_article_id":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96107,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12401\/revisions\/96107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}