Protector Fly Neck

I am not advocating a return to this practice, but does anyone recall in MLB they used to wear black leather shoes with what amounted to little steel knives on the bottom. It was even rumoured that some guys would sharpen them with a file. In those days, breaking up a double play usually consisted of sliding into second, foot high in the air, knives first. At almost every game at least once, the 2nd baseman or shortstop would be half-carried off the field with the bottom of his pants literally dripping blood. A little while later, the TV announcer would inform us that he took 13 or so stitches to the leg down in the locker room and yet the guy would be in the starting lineup the very next day. Even the catcher was not immune to the "flying knives of death", but he was somewhat protected by the shinguards.
This was in the days when the home plate umpire wore a chest protector that looked like he had a big thick mattress hanging around his neck.
Does anyone remember this stuff?