Buying the First Glove
Whether you are looking for a child's first baseball glove, or replacing
one that's worn out or outgrown, there are choices to make that can have
a big influence on the player's performance, success, and ultimately,
his fun.
The first glove is perhaps the most important piece of
equipment a player will ever own. Why? It's his first connection to the
game, and a glove that works well for him will help him play his best,
whereas the wrong glove will inhibit his success, reduce the amount of
fun, and possibly discourage him from continuing on in baseball after
the season is over.
The key to that beginner's glove is
control. He must be able to move the glove quickly to the ball, which
requires a glove that's not too big and heavy for him. He must be able
to close the glove with his hand, so that the ball does not pop out.
This requires a glove that is soft and pliable enough when purchased, or
after a very short break-in, that he can close the pocket and 'squeeze'
the ball. And it requires a glove that is comfortable and fits his hand
well, so he's not constantly fooling around with it in the field.
We recommend a glove that is in proportion to the player's size. We've seen
T-ballers, all of four feet tall, lugging around huge 13-inch
outfielder's gloves. The parent thought it would help them catch more
balls, but the truth is, it is a huge handicap as they have no glove
control. They'd do better barehanded than with that leather mattress on
their little paw!
As youth sizes begin around the nine-inch pattern
range (the measurement is from the bottom of the heel of the glove to
the top of the longest finger or webbing), there is a proper glove for
every kid. The new generation of pre-oiled gloves are usually excellent,
as they are very supple and require little or no break-in. For a very
small child, or one with less strength than his peers, you can look into
some of the vinyl, or combination vinyl-and-leather models. These are
very inexpensive and, while they will not last as long as higher quality
gloves, they bend easily and allow the player to catch the ball from day
one. There are also full leather gloves in the under-11 inch size, which
cost more, last longer, and might require some break-in.
Some new models even have a notch designed into the heel of the glove to allow easy and
immediate flexing of the pocket.
Beware of small (11 or 111/2 inch)
professional model infielder's gloves. Professional shortstops and
second basemen use small gloves, which can be mistaken for youth models,
except for their high price. These are usually a very good, durable, and
stiffer hide, which requires break-in even for the bigger guys and pros,
and will never break in sufficiently for a beginner. As much as you want
to buy the best for your kid, avoid the expensive, stiff gloves for
players under 10 or so. They'd have to play eight hours a day, seven
days a week, for six months before it was broken in. And in that time,
they'd make so many errors that they'd be shopping for soccer cleats by
then!
Replacement Glove As the player advances up the ladder, he may
outgrow his glove, or it may be worn out. A good quality leather glove,
if it still fits him and he plays well with it, is worth having
repaired. New lacing, webbing, patching, and any other repair can be
carried out by specialists (see "Old Glove Repair", December 1996
issue).
If it's time for a new one, however, there are again a lot of
choices. Is the player significantly larger than he was when he got his
first glove? Is he playing outfield or infield more?
There are four basic glove types: infield, outfield, first baseman,
and catcher. Most youth players are not yet specialized enough to invest
in a first baseman's mitt, and their regular glove will suffice for duty
at the first bag. Catcher's mitts are often supplied by the league, but
if she's/he's on a club team, and she/he catches, she'll/he'll have to
buy his own catcher's mitt. Without going into detail here, simply get
the size that fits him - youth or high school. The adult sizes will
probably be too large for good control.
For a youth playing different positions, a good range of fielder's
gloves would be the 11-1/2 to 12-inchers. These are not too unwieldy for
the quicker moves required in the infield, yet offer enough 'reach' in
the outfield. As the glove increases by half-inch increments, its
overall dimension increases geometrically, and weight increases as well.
Helena Babe Ruth Comment: For the youngest of our players (7-10 years of age), the
12-inch gloves are considered too large by many of our coaches. Smaller gloves enable young
players to use their hands to handle the ball, and thus reinforces the importance of a proper
approach to a ground or fly ball. It is inevitable that a player will grow out
of the glove if the player begins play at 7, 8 or 9 years old with a properly-sized glove.
At this stage, a higher quality glove is a good investment. Again,
fit is crucial, and if it doesn't feel good in the store, it's not going
to get much better after break-in. Sort of like buying a pair of shoes.
Gloves in the $50 to $100 range include just about every style, size,
and quality level you'll need. We'd avoid any gloves constructed with
vinyl, and it's up to you if you want to spend upwards of $200 or more
for the top, premium 'pro' gloves.
For a player who logs most of his time in the infield, stick to the
smaller 11 or 11-12 inch gloves. A pre-formed pocket is
preferred, deeper for third base and shortstop, shallower for second
base (although this sort of specialization at the youth level is not
recommended). The outfielders have a larger selection, it seems, with a
huge selection of 12 to 12-1/2 inch models. Anything larger than 12-1/2
inch is too much glove, generally, unless he plans to play softball!
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Tip:
Buy the smallest glove that will do the job properly for the player.
The increase in glove control far outweighs the advantage of additional reach.
Some online sources of baseball equipment, offered in no particular order, and with
no endorsement by the Helena Babe Ruth Baseball Association:
www.mvp.com
www.shopsports.com
www.weplay.com/baseball/
www.3and2.com
www.webball.com
apollosports.com
www.athleticwarehouse.com
www.athleticwarehouse.com
www.grandslamusasports.com
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