For decades, softball fielder’s masks have simply recycled the original baseball design—never engineered for fastpitch or female athletes. Until now.
Early Roots (1997-2003)
The Game Face fielder’s mask was introduced in 1997 after inventor Gerald “Jerry” Spessard developed it in response to a career-ending facial injury. In 2003, Markwort Sporting Goods added the mask to its catalog, stepping in just as the product shifted from baseball to gaining traction in the fastpitch softball market.
Expansion & Ownership (2004–2010)
Once Markwort began distributing the mask, sales grew rapidly—quickly becoming the company’s top-performing product line. In 2007, Markwort acquired Game Face outright, taking over manufacturing and distribution as demand continued to climb. Yet, the mask still wasn't right for softball athletes.
New Innovation (2010–2025)
From 2010 to 2019, fielder’s masks became widely adopted in fastpitch softball, but we knew innovation was still necessary. Determined to change the game, we started designing the NEO —a complete ground-up redesign built specifically to meet the performance needs of female fastpitch athletes.