Managers/Coaches Majors Area AAA Area AA Area Coach Pitch Area Tee Ball Area League/Division Home Managers/Coaches Home

B A S E B A L L    G L O V E S Choosing a Baseball Glove A number of factors are involved in choosing a baseball glove to meet your needs, including size, your position and your budget. Anyone looking to buy a baseball glove should make the following considerations: Position Baseball Gloves come in different shapes and sizes based on the position they will be used for. For example, pitchers gloves and infield gloves are generally smaller than an outfielder's glove, and first baseman's gloves and catchers mitts are unique unto themselves. If you will be playing multiple positions, a utility glove (which is larger than an infielder's glove) may be your best bet. Budget Baseball gloves range in price from under $15 for base models, to over $200 for high end gloves from manufacturers such as Nokona or Rawlings. Quality baseball gloves generally cost a bit more, but will likely last longer. If you expect to get heavy use out of your baseball glove, it may be less expensive in the long run to spend a few dollars more on a glove that will last. Additionally, younger players who may quickly outgrow their baseball glove may not want to invest in a high end model. The Feel Make sure to choose a baseball glove that feels right for you. If the glove is uncomfortable, it may affect your performance in the field. Your Age / Size of the Glove Baseball gloves come in many different sizes made to fit different ages, positions and games (softball gloves). Gloves are measured by their "pattern size", a measurement from the heel of the glove (by your wrist) to the top of the glove on the palm side (near your fingers). Youth gloves range from 8" (very small) to about 12". Adult gloves usually fall in the 12"-13" range. Professional gloves are actually required by the rules to be no more than 12", although the rule is rarely to never enforced: Rule 1.14 ...”not more than twelve inches long, nor more than eight inches wide, measured from the base of the thumb crotch to the outer edge of the glove.." General Sizing Guidelines Youth baseball gloves should be chosen carefully - a common mistake is to buy a big glove for a little kid. This often results in a younger child with a huge glove on their hand that they can't even close. Youth sizes range from 9"-11". 8 year olds can often use 11" gloves, while teenagers often may fit into 12" gloves. Types of Webs & Backs Open Web: Preferred by Outfielders and Third Basemen Closed Web: Preferred by Middle Infielders and Pitchers Open & Closed Back: Individual Preference, though middle infielders like open back. Gloves By Position Catchers Gloves: More of a mitten than a glove, they are heavily padded (needed when catching fastballs all game long) and are not used at any other position. First Base Gloves: First basemen's gloves resemble a catchers mitt in that they are heavily padded (as first basemen spend their days catching balls thrown very hard). They are also longer in order to help the first basemen more easily field balls. Infield Gloves: Infield gloves are smaller gloves (generally 10 1/2 " - 12") so that the fielder can easily pull the ball out of the glove and throw it. Too large of a glove would result in increased time needed to retrieve the ball and throw it to base - very important when a game can be decided by a tenth of a second. Outfielders Gloves: Outfielders gloves are larger and longer (12" +) , to provide fielders with the greatest possible advantage at catching fly balls. Breaking in A Baseball Glove There are many different methods for breaking in a baseball glove, and each method has its supporters and detractors. If you asked a dozen different baseball players how they break in their baseball glove, you will likely get a dozen different answers! We suggest checking with the manufacturer of your baseball glove to see what they suggest, as gloves made from different types or grades of leather may have different requirements. The two basic goals of breaking in a baseball glove are to first soften the leather and then to create a pocket in the glove. No matter what you do, most will agree that the most effective way to break in a baseball glove is by using it! Softening the Leather: There are a number of different oils and lotions that can be used to soften the leather on your baseball glove. Foam Shaving Cream Vaseline Saddle Soap Manufacturer's Solutions - Most of the major glove makers offer their own oils. Mink Oil or Neatsfoot Oil Tanners Glove Oil "Hot Glove" Treatment. This treatment consists of putting a special foam on your glove and then baking it in your oven for 4 minutes. This method is very controversial among baseball glove owners - some swear by it, others call it harmful to the glove. One of the few things people will generally agree upon when it comes to breaking in a baseball glove, is that in order to soften the leather - more oil, soap, cream is not better! Use cream and oil in small amounts and wipe it around your glove, don't slop it on and allow it to soak it - this will make the leather deteriorate faster. Forming the Pocket: Besides actually playing catch or spending your afternoons throwing a ball into your glove, there are a number of ways to form a pocket in your baseball glove. Another great method (especially if you don't have a partner to play catch with) is to visit a batting cage and instead of batting, use the machine to simply catch balls and help break in the glove. The most popular method for forming the pocket of your baseball glove (other than playing catch) is to place a baseball (or softball) in the pocket and tie the glove shut with shoelaces, string or even a belt. There are also several products that are designed to hold the baseball glove shut and in the proper position while it is not in use. Rawlings Breaking In Recommendations Rawlings, the baseball glove manuafacturer, recommends breaking in a glove in the following manner: Press a small amount of shaving cream with lanoline on a clean, dry cloth and carefully work the cream around the outer shell, palm, and back. A light coating is all the is necessary. This will lubricate the leather fibers. Allow the cream to dry thoroughly for 12 to 24 hours. Wipe off the glove and play catch for 10-15 minutes, or 50 to 70 throws. This stretches and conforms the glove to your hand and speeds the break-in process. Position a ball in the pocket and tie the glove closed for a few days with a string or rubber band around the outer perimeter. An option is to use the new Rawlings "Mit Kit", which is designed to quickly form the 'ideal' pocket. It includes a double-ended pocket form with a large sphere on one end and a smaller sphere on the other, to form the pocket and the web area simultaneously, and a wide elastic 'figure 8' to hold the glove firmly around the form. As the glove starts to break in, pour a small amount of 'Glovolium' on a clean, dry cloth, and carefully work the oil around the outer shell, palm, and back. A light coating is all that's needed. Allow the glove to dry thoroughly for 24 hours so the oil has time to penetrate and condition the leather. Store the glove in a cool, dry place with a ball in the pocket, or a Mit Kit when not in use. Lace will stretch with use. Keep laces taut but do not overtighten. Check for replacement if necessary after each season. Do not over oil your glove! Twice a season is sufficient! © 2006 Great Falls Little League, All Rights Reserved