How to Buy a Baseball Glove...

Youth baseball and softball gloves are made smaller to cater to the smaller hand of youth players and give them more control. The following size chart will give you a general idea of what size glove fits each age group and position.The table below you an estimate regarding glove size based on age and position. The bottom line is the glove needs to be comfortable on the player's hand.

A2000 Showcase Series Gloves

I have mentioned them before, but we are big fans of the Wilson A2000 baseball gloves. A few years ago they came out with what they called the "Showcase Series" which is the same, high-quality A2000 glove designed specifically for players with smaller hands. My boys use Showcase Series A2000 gloves for their fielding gloves and for their catcher's mitt. We couldn't be happier with them! They are an investment, but rather than buying a $60 or $70 glove each season, these gloves will last you a number of years, as long as your young player respects them and isn't the type to misplace their equipment. Click here for more information on the A2000 Showcase Series Gloves

Wilson also has a custom glove making website.(We just did one for T's birthday that you can see in the photo gallery!)  Click here to design your own


Glove Features

Webbing: Every baseball and softball glove has either an open web or a closed web. The style you choose will depend on your fielding position as well as your personal preference. A closed web is standard on all catcher's mitts and often used by pitchers to hide the ball from the batter. A closed web is also used if the player prefers more support when catching. An open web helps players, especially middle infielders, get the ball out of the pocket quicker to make throws to bases.

• Pocket Depth: Shallow pockets are ideal for positions that require fielders to quickly grab the ball and throw it to base after making a catch. Deeper pockets are designed to help players hold onto fly balls. Softball players also need a deeper pocket to catch the bigger softball.
• Backs: The choice of an open or closed back is mostly a personal preference as well. An open back has a space above the wrist adjustment on the glove whereas a closed back does not. Many infielders use an open backed glove because it gives them more flexibility. On the contrary, outfielders typically use a closed back with a finger hole for extra support.
  

Field Positions

• Catchers Mitts - Baseball and softball gloves made for catchers are fingerless gloves (often called mitts) with heavy padding to provide more hand protection.  These baseball gloves are built to withstand heavy use throughout the game and reduce the sting that occurs from repetitively catching fast balls from pitchers. The webbing on catcher's mitts is closed and they feature a smaller pocket, making it easier to get the baseball out of the pocket.  Softball catcher's mitts have a larger pocket with less padding than a baseball catcher's mitt due to the larger ball size and slower pitching speeds. Catcher's mitts are not used by any other position on the baseball field and are measured by circumference rather than length. Youth catcher's gloves are typically 31 inches or less and adult catcher's gloves are usually 32 inches or larger.
  
  

• First Base Gloves - First base softball and baseball gloves resemble a catcher's mitt because they are also fingerless but have less padding than a catcher's mitt. Adult first base gloves typically run from 12-12.5 inches in length for the game of baseball and have a shallow pocket so the first baseman can quickly retrieve the ball from the glove. For the game of softball, most players use a 13-14 inch length glove. First base gloves also feature a open webbing style so players can trap the ball a little better than with a closed web glove.
  

• Pitcher's Gloves - Most pitchers want a glove with a closed webbing so they can hide the ball as they adjust their grip before throwing the next pitch. As for the size and rest of the glove features, it is up to personal preference.
  

• Infield Gloves - Infielder's gloves are generally smaller (10.5-12 inches in length) and shallower than outfielder's gloves so players can retrieve and throw the ball to base more quickly. Many also prefer an open webbing style for the same reason. Third basemen will sometimes choose a closed web if they want extra support since balls are often hit harder and faster to the third base line. Infield gloves for softball players have a deeper pocket for catching the larger ball.
  

• Outfield Gloves - Outfielder's gloves are larger and longer (12 inches or more for adults) to give players the greatest possible advantage when catching fly balls. These baseball gloves also features a deeper pocket and usually have a closed web to trap the ball in the glove.

Breaking In Your New Glove / Glove Care Tips

Taking care of your baseball glove is import to insure that it lasts longer and that it maintains its softness.  The softer your mitt, the better the feel.  And the better the feel means you can field the ball better whether you're snagging a line drive or getting the ball quickly out of your glove to turn a double play. There are a million different ways that people break-in their baseball gloves. Some of it might seem a little crazy right after you spend a bunch of money on your glove. (Roll-over with a car, dip in water, freeze it, bake it in the oven, etc.)

At least for us, and the Wilson A2000 baseball gloves that we use, we have found going to a reputable baseball specialty store that has a Mizuno Glove Steamer to be the absolute best and easiest way to get a new glove game-ready in a very short period of time. We recently took a brand new A2000 Showcase Series catcher's mitt to be steamed. That glove was game ready after just two-days of playing catch with it after having it steamed. We had other catcher's mitts that took over a year to get to that point. I know there are people out there that think the moisture might add weight to the glove, but it hasn't been noticeable, and the results have truly spoken for themselves when it comes to getting a glove ready to use out on the field.

If you want to see something cool, click here to out Aso, Wilson's Glove Guru, on YouTube to see how he breaks gloves in for the professionals.

The final step is the to get outside PLAY CATCH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!    Your glove will break in faster the more you play with it. If for some reason you can't get out to play catch, as you sit in front of the television use a weighted ball and just keep throwing it into your glove to get the pocket developed.  When you're not playing with it during the first month or so it's not a bad idea to keep the ball in it wrapped in string.

If you take good care of your glove and break it in properly, you will have for many years to come.

Other Baseball Glove Care Tips:

• Keep it out of the sun when you're not playing with it!
• Store it in a dry place
• Monitor the leather's health.  If you see it starting to dry out, add some more oil.  You should only need a little oil a few times a year.
• Check your laces from time to time to make sure they are tight

---