Today, the catcher wears more protective equipment during a game than any other player. That is understandable since the catcher is more injury prone than any other position. However, in 1870, the catcher wore no protective equipment with results like "A Catcher At The End Of The Season" in set H 804-8. In fact, all nine field positions played the game barehanded. Note that almost all of these cards show barehanded fielders. Other than a uniform, the game during its infancy required only a bat, a ball and four bases.
The Face Mask
Early baseball advertising trade cards illustrate the evolution of baseball equipment. The catcher's face mask was invented in 1875 by Fred Thayer to protect catchers against vicious foul tips. It was first used in the same year by James Tyng of Harvard in a college game. By 1877, a leading sporting goods company was selling face masks. A rule change in 1879 ending a one bounce rule necessitated that all catchers move close behind the batter — and even more chance of serious injury. Most catchers quickly adopted the wearing of the mask during the early 1880s.
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from Set H 804-14
Early trade cards show catchers with and without a face mask. Set H 804-13 shows the "Old Style" catcher during the 1870s being hit in the face with a probable foul tip. However, the "New Style" catcher during the 1880s on the same trade card has a mask to protect his face against the crashing foul tip. Almost two dozen of these trade cards illustrate the catcher's mask in use. See sets H 804-1, -4, -7, -11, -15, -19 and -32 for some examples.
Gloves on Both Hands
The first common baseball glove was introduced in 1875 and used sparingly in a few major league games in 1877, but usage by fielders did not become popular until the 1890s. Usage by catchers, however, became common a decade earlier during the 1880s. Note the catcher in "Waiting For An Out-Curve" in the H 804-14 set. Most catchers were wearing gloves on both hands. The gloves, however, did not resemble today's large padded mitts. These early catchers wore fingerless, skin-tight, slightly padded gloves. The "King" Kelly card in the H 804-21 Tobin set is definitely an 1887 card and clearly shows a major league catcher in action.
Chest Protector and Shin Guards
Reflecting the actual evolution of catcher's equipment, there are many more trade cards showing a face mask in use than gloves in use. Catchers' chest protectors made their appearance during the 1880s, also after the mask had become popular. Only a few 19th century trade cards show chest protector usage. See Kelly in the H 804-21 set and the girl in the "Casey At Bat" single card. Roger Bresnahan introduced catcher's shin guards in 1907 so no 19th century trade card shows their usage.
Much can be learned from these baseball advertising trade cards. Even the shape of home plate was different. A pentagon (five sides) - shaped home plate was adopted in 1900 and is still in use today. Originally, a diamond shaped home plate was in use as can be seen in sets such as H 804-2, H 804-8 or H 804-19. Incidentally, the trade cards do not show umpires wearing the face mask at the same time that catchers had adopted the practice. These umpires also got hit with foul tips — and the crowd hooted.