Yankees Unveil Matte Helmets
A modification has come to the New York Yankees uniforms, virtually unchanged since the team moved to the Polo Grounds in 1913 (the team was established in 1901). Last night in Tampa, the Yankees new, matte-finish batting helmets made their debut.
Here's a close look at the Yankees' matte finish helmets: pic.twitter.com/dvO4CLtqwD
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 28, 2016
Players, after voting on a prototype earlier in the season, had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the new look. "I love them," Alex Rodriguez said. "They're very cool, very different, very different for the Yankees." "It's a good look" Aaron Hicks said. Even manager Joe Girardi offered his approval: "I like them. It's something different...Matte finish has kind of become popular on cars, and now I guess it's popular in helmets. It's been pretty popular in some football helmets in college. We've seen a lot of that, so I like it." Interestingly, it may not be so different after all: Freelance sports photographer Paul Plaine tweeted a side-by-side photo of Mickey Mantle and Brett Gardner both wearing matte navy blue helmets.
Like the #Yankees new road Matte Helmets! What's old is new in #baseball I always remember Mickey Mantle wearing one pic.twitter.com/VYZvdcspUV
— Paul Plaine (@ballparkprints) May 28, 2016
Social media immediately was a-buzz with reactions, both positive and negative, from the fans after the top of the first inning. For those traditionalists who do not like the matte look, the Yankees' equipment manager has some encouraging news: the matte look will be used for road games only, as they complement the team's gray uniforms.
Do you like the new Yankees matte helmets?
Yes - wish they'd adopt them for all games
Yes - I like how they use them for road-only
No - I prefer the traditional, shiny helmets