Baseball Gloves & Mitts- Detailed Reviews, FAQs, & More

Baseball gloves or mitts are large gloves that are used by players to catch a baseball during play. 

Usually, these gloves are made of leather. However, we found that gloves made with other materials are also available for purchase. These include PU, PVC, and synthetic leather. 

You should also know that the gloves are designated based on the dominant hand of the player. Hence, a left-handed glove will be worn on the right hand and vice versa.

History of Baseball Gloves 

In the early days, baseball players did not use gloves. However, slowly the transmission to gloves took place. Based on our research, players who didn’t wear were called barehanded catchers. 

You should know that this name is not for the designated catcher. We also found that the earliest glove designs did not include webbing and were also used to swat the ball. 

When was the glove first used?

It is believed that Doug Allison on the Cincinnati Red Stockings first used a glove in 1870. 

The team found that the first glove design was patented by Charlie Waitt, an outfielder from St. Loius in 1875. 

Adding on, our team also noted that many early gloves had the fingers cut off from the gloves. However, they had added padding to protect the glove. 

By the 1890s, it was common for players to wear gloves. Over time, we found the following innovations were integrated into the regulations:

  • Bill Doak gave the idea to include a pocket in gloves. This was done through the webbing placed between the thumb and the first finger. 
  • Regulations dictate that your gloves be of specific sizes. 

This was done to standardize the size of baseball gloves as they are now larger than when they were first introduced. 

Baseball Gloves & Mitts

Contemporary Gloves

Modern-day gloves are cheap and easily available to the general population. Furthermore, their production has also improved over the years. This factor has also increased their usability. 

You should also know that manufacturers also have designs that differ from traditional designs. Additionally, we found that customized gloves are also available at retailers. 

When it comes to manufacturing, the team noted that the best ones are made with heavy leather. However, they take some time for your hand to break into. Hence, they are also tight but provide a custom grip. 

Types of Gloves

There are many varieties of gloves that are available in the market. All these have different shapes and sizes. You must also know that they are measured from the top of the index finger towards the heel of the glove. 

Another thing to note is that gloves are also specially designed for different roles. Let’s take a look at them:

  • Catcher’s mitts lack individual fingers and have additional padding. Additionally, they also have a claw-like shape. 
  • The gloves of the First baseman also have no fingers. They are usually long and are wide to pick up balls. Their size ranges from 12.5 to 12.8 inches. 
  • Gloves for infielders are smaller and have shallow pockets. Their size ranges from 11 to 12 inches. 
  • Pitcher’s gloves are generally closed with an open webbing. Their sizes range from 11.8 inches to 12 inches. 
  • The gloves of outfielders are long with deeper pockets to catch flyballs. They are about 112 to 12.8 inches big.