Choosing a baseball glove

Choosing the right glove is more important than it may seem. A good glove can allow you to catch the ball more often, it will allow you to make plays that you wouldn't otherwise be able to, and it is a matter of safety. Cheap or poor quality gloves can break easily. It is a scary situation when a baseball breaks through the webbing while travelling at 50 miles per hour.

Choosing the proper glove will depend on your size, preference, and preferred position. With gloves, you usually get what you pay for. A more expensive glove will last a long time, while some $40 gloves have been known to last only half a season before the laces start to break. Below are guidelines for choosing the right glove for you. The sizes are guidelines. Younger players will want smaller gloves, but I would not recommend going over the sizes mentioned below for any player in Little League.

Infield Gloves

Infielders need a glove that allows them to field ground balls and allows them to transfer the ball to their throwing hand quickly. When runners frequently get thrown out at first base by fractions of a second, quickness is key. Infielders also have to deal with strange hops, so they need to be able to move their glove quickly. A big glove will slow their hands down. For this reason, infielders need a smaller glove than outfielders. Don't fall for the idea that bigger is better. For Little League age players, an infield glove should be no more than 11.25 inches. Some gloves have the size printed on them, but others do not. If there is a glove that doesn't have a size on it, look for a glove that does have a size and compare (Rawlings gloves are good to compare with because the usually have the size printed).

Some of the best gloves for infielders are Wilson A2K and A2000 models, and the Rawlings Pro Preferred and Heart of the Hide models. These gloves are very expensive ($150 -$300) but will last for a long time, and are well worth the money if you can afford it. The Rawlings gloves are more difficult to break in, but hold their shape extremely well once broken in.

At a lower price range is the Rawlings Gold Glove series. They are good quality gloves for around $80, but require extensive break in. Wilson also makes a great glove for young players called the A750. It is made from a soft leather that doesn't require much breaking in.

There are many decent gloves that are not mentioned here. As long as you purchase a glove made of real leather and the proper size, it is hard to go wrong for Little Leaguers, though once you drop below the $50 price range, it gets difficult to find a good, long lasting glove. If you are committed to baseball, it makes sense to spend a little more and get a glove that will last for a long time.

Outfield Gloves

Choosing a glove for an outfielder is a little easier. The top priority for an outfielder is to catch the ball. For this you want a glove that is a little bigger than an infielders glove and you want it to offer good flexibility. Little League age outfielders will want a glove 11.5 inches to 12 inches. Find a glove that you are comfortable with. If it feels too heavy on your hand, it is probably too big. You will need to run with this glove on your hand, so choose one that you can handle comfortably. You also want a glove that will be flexible and allow a deep pocket to be formed. For this, a glove with a trapeze web is ideal, but other types of can web work fine as well.

Breaking in your glove

Some gloves are easier to break in than others, but here are some guidelines for breaking in a glove. The first thing you want to do with any glove made of leather is put some oil or glove conditioner on it. You should find glove oil or conditioner in the store near the gloves. Put a small amount of oil on the cloth and then rub it all over the glove but focus on the palm and the hinge (the crease where the glove closes). This will soften the leather, and help protect it from cracking. You will want to do this at least once every season. Don't oil too much or too often, or the leather will get too soft. Three times per season is probably the maximum you want to oil the glove. Don't forget to oil the inside of the glove if it has a leather lining. you can put a drop or two of oil on each finger and then stick your hand in the glove and rub the oil around.

People always make sure the glove closes easily when they break it in, but they often forget that it needs to open wide as well. Every now and then you want to grab the pinky finger and the thumb of your glove and pull the glove wide open. It is hard to catch a ball when your glove is half closed. You also want a pocket that fits the shape of the ball. You don't want the glove to open and close like a book. Does a baseball fit well inside a book? Don't smoosh your glove flat. Don't close your glove without a ball in the pocket, because this can lead to the pocket of your glove turing into a "V" shape instead of a ball shape.

Infielders

For infielders, the best way to break in your glove is to just play catch with it. You don't want your glove to be too floppy or for the pocket to get too deep because that will inhibit your ability to get the ball out of the glove quickly.

Outfielders

Outfielders want a more flexible glove and a deeper pocket. You can start to get this by putting a ball in the glove and tying the glove closed for one or two days. Some people also like to pound the pocket of their glove with a wooden or rubber mallet. As with infield gloves, you want to play plenty of catch with your new glove.

Caring for your glove

So, you have an awesome glove and it is broken in...now how do you take care of it?

• Always keep a ball in the pocket of your glove. This will keep your pocket nice and round instead of shaped like a "V".
• When your glove gets really dirty, wipe it down with a damp (not wet) cloth. Take a paper towel, then wet it, then squeeze the water out of it as hard as you can. Wipe the dirt or mud off gently...don't scrub it.
• If your glove gets really wet from rain, let it dry, then apply a small amount of oil or conditioner all over the glove.
• Don't leave your glove lying around the dugout, or on the floor or your bed or a chair. It is likely to get stepped on or sat on. Keep it somewhere you know it will be safe.
• Don't lose it! You spent good money on your glove and it is the most important piece of baseball equipment you own.

If you treat your glove well, it will treat you well!

Where to shop

I would recommend that you shop for a glove in a store and not online unless you know specifically which glove you want. You will want to try the glove on and see if it fits your hand and make sure it feels like the right glove for you. Mills & Greer on Dorset Street has a great selection of good quality gloves, though they don't seem to carry any Rawlings Pro Preferred gloves. If you want one of those beauties, you will have to get it online. Dicks Sporting Goods in Williston usually has a vast selection of mid to low quality gloves. You can get used gloves at Play It Again Sports (150 Dorset Street South Burlington). As long as the glove is a good quality glove and was not mistreated, there is nothing wrong with a used glove. It may even save you the trouble of breaking it in. Obviously the selection might be limited, but you could find a gem.

A good place to shop for the highest quality gloves is ballgloves.com, but again, I wouldn't buy a glove online unless you know the exact model and size of glove you want.