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Baseball Gloves: Rawlings, Mizuno, Wilson, Nike And Trevino Gloves
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Published: November 14, 2006
You know how your grandpa always likes to talk about how things were more difficult when he was growing up? Such stories inevitably include something about walking to school, uphill, in the snow, multiple times a day. Don't worry, it's not just your grandpa; these stories seem to come standard with grandpa status everywhere.
Add another one to the just-ain't-like-it-used-to-be list, except even Grandpa cannot claim to be around for this bit of history.
In the earliest days of baseball, players did not use baseball gloves. That's right; rather than catching balls in soft, well-padded baseball gloves, these first players would catch wicked line drives with their bare hands.
It was not until the 1870s – about 30 years after the invention of baseball, depending on whom you ask – that players first started to explore the use of baseball gloves. Even then, baseball gloves were not anything modern baseball player would easily recognize compared to what are available in the stores today.
The first gloves were designed to protect the hand and provide a cushion for catching the ball. To accomplish this, simple baseball gloves consisted of leather sewn together over a player's hand, leaving spaces for the fingers. But on some of the earliest models in history, these baseball gloves did not even provide a landing area for the ball—just a piece of padding to knock the ball down.
Though the first players to use these rudimentary gloves were initially ridiculed as soft, these pioneers would progress into visionaries; soon, baseball gloves became as integral a part of the game as the baseball or a bat.
Today, not only are baseball gloves an accepted part of the game, but there are different gloves designed specifically for each position on the field. Companies like Mizuno, Rawlings, Wilson, Nike and Trevino all specialize in designing baseball gloves for today's athletes.
When picking out a baseball glove, modern baseball players have choices between sizes, comfort levels, accessories and price ranges. Some companies manufacture standard, no-frills gloves that can be purchased for less than $20. But if you are serious about the game of baseball, companies can make you a custom, high-end glove costing well over $400.
For the most popular sizes – measured in inches from the base of the palm to the outer edge of the fingers – deviations of 1/4 to 1/8 inches are not uncommon for a glove in the overall 12 to 13 inch range. While beginners have no real need for anything more than a basic, well-fitted glove, any professional baseball player should have a custom model tailored exactly to his needs; he should have a durable glove with a good fit and comfortable feel.
If you think a custom glove is appropriate for you, explore what is available before making any purchases. Though all baseball gloves are functionally similar, slight differences exist between Mizuno, Rawlings, Wilson and Nike making each of their gloves unique.
Sources:
About Baseball Gloves. Baseball Gloves.com. 2006. 12 November 2006.
<http://www.baseballgloves.com/aboutgloves/in dex.html.>
Baseball Gloves. E-Baseball Gloves. 2005. 12 November 2006. <http://www.e-baseballgloves.com/.>
Gluckman, Jason. "A Brief History of the Baseball Glove." EzineArticles 15 August 2005. 12 November 2006 <http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Brief-History-of-t he-Baseball-Glove&id=60265>.
Related Articles
Add another one to the just-ain't-like-it-used-to-be list, except even Grandpa cannot claim to be around for this bit of history.
In the earliest days of baseball, players did not use baseball gloves. That's right; rather than catching balls in soft, well-padded baseball gloves, these first players would catch wicked line drives with their bare hands.
It was not until the 1870s – about 30 years after the invention of baseball, depending on whom you ask – that players first started to explore the use of baseball gloves. Even then, baseball gloves were not anything modern baseball player would easily recognize compared to what are available in the stores today.
The first gloves were designed to protect the hand and provide a cushion for catching the ball. To accomplish this, simple baseball gloves consisted of leather sewn together over a player's hand, leaving spaces for the fingers. But on some of the earliest models in history, these baseball gloves did not even provide a landing area for the ball—just a piece of padding to knock the ball down.
Though the first players to use these rudimentary gloves were initially ridiculed as soft, these pioneers would progress into visionaries; soon, baseball gloves became as integral a part of the game as the baseball or a bat.
Today, not only are baseball gloves an accepted part of the game, but there are different gloves designed specifically for each position on the field. Companies like Mizuno, Rawlings, Wilson, Nike and Trevino all specialize in designing baseball gloves for today's athletes.
When picking out a baseball glove, modern baseball players have choices between sizes, comfort levels, accessories and price ranges. Some companies manufacture standard, no-frills gloves that can be purchased for less than $20. But if you are serious about the game of baseball, companies can make you a custom, high-end glove costing well over $400.
For the most popular sizes – measured in inches from the base of the palm to the outer edge of the fingers – deviations of 1/4 to 1/8 inches are not uncommon for a glove in the overall 12 to 13 inch range. While beginners have no real need for anything more than a basic, well-fitted glove, any professional baseball player should have a custom model tailored exactly to his needs; he should have a durable glove with a good fit and comfortable feel.
If you think a custom glove is appropriate for you, explore what is available before making any purchases. Though all baseball gloves are functionally similar, slight differences exist between Mizuno, Rawlings, Wilson and Nike making each of their gloves unique.
Sources:
About Baseball Gloves. Baseball Gloves.com. 2006. 12 November 2006.
<http://www.baseballgloves.com/aboutgloves/in dex.html.>
Baseball Gloves. E-Baseball Gloves. 2005. 12 November 2006. <http://www.e-baseballgloves.com/.>
Gluckman, Jason. "A Brief History of the Baseball Glove." EzineArticles 15 August 2005. 12 November 2006 <http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Brief-History-of-t he-Baseball-Glove&id=60265>.
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