Baseball and Softball Gloves and Mitts
The baseball glove and softball glove, staples of every player's equipment stock, are provided by a number of leading manufacturers in the sporting goods industry, such as Rawlings, Mizuno, Easton, Franklin, and Wilson. Available both in youth and adult sizes and in left-handed and right-handed versions, consumers can find a wide variety of options in the marketplace.
Is there a size difference in baseball and softball gloves?Generally speaking, the softball glove is larger than the baseball glove due to the size of the ball. In some cases, adult softball players prefer something smaller, in sizes of about 11 inches to 12 inches, but most prefer a glove that ranges from 12 inches to 14 inches in palm width.
Are there gloves for youth baseball and softball players?Yes, there are gloves specifically designed and manufactured for youth players. These gloves offer a smaller interior but a catching surface that is still large enough to comfortably handle the ball.
Do baseball and softball gloves come in different colors?Yes. Though the traditional brown color is by far the most commonly seen, there are other gloves out on the market with different colors altogether, as well as their webbing and lacing. Some other colors available include gray, gold, blue, black, and even pink and purple. There are many gloves available to match team colors or support a college or professional team.
Are there different gloves for different baseball and softball positions?There are indeed different gloves preferred by players in their respective positions. Infielders, positions that require very quick reaction times and quick handwork, generally wear smaller gloves made of lighter materials. Of all the infielders, the second baseman, because of the quick turnaround time on the double play, most often wears the smallest, as it is easier to extract the ball with the smaller size. For greater range, the third baseman and shortstop usually wear longer gloves with slightly deeper pockets. Outfielder gloves are usually the longest on the field. This enables them the extra reach on line drives and fly balls at the fence. They have large, deep pockets to help prevent the ball from popping out. The first baseman and catcher have mitts, as there aren't individual fingers in a mitt, as opposed to gloves, with separate areas for each finger and thumb.
Why is a first baseman's mitt different?In baseball and softball, the catcher receives the most throws per game, followed by the first baseman. Other infield and outfield gloves are designed with individual finger sections, enabling them to extract and throw the ball quickly. The first baseman's mitt is designed to scoop up throws off of the dirt and to stretch just a bit longer to receive throws.