How to pick the perfect glove?

I get this question a lot. I never really worried about finding the perfect glove because I was a pitcher but when I played the outfield it did become and issue. Below is my recommendations for the perfect glove per position.

The perfect glove must conform to your hand. You do not want something that moves around on your palm. It really needs to be an extension to your hand and not just a piece of leather stuck to your fingers. It also needs to be malleable but not too soft. You want to be able to feel the ball when it hits your mitt. If it is too hard then it is like trying to catch a baseball with a board. If it is too soft then you will have an issue with not being able to stop the ball. You do not want your fingers of the glove to bind back when the impact of the ball hits your fingers. We need to find a balance between the leather being too hard or too soft. Gloves that last longer are gloves that when they are new the leather is very hard. Even if it takes forever to break in, it will last so much longer than these cheap new gloves that come already broken in. They are already broken in because the leather is so cheap and thin it doesn’t need to be broken in. I recommend avoiding these gloves. They are cheap but you will be buying a new one ever season.

There is almost a glove for every position so I will breakdown the type of glove that I recommend using per position.

Pitcher

The most important issue with a glove for a pitcher is the fact that it has no holes in the glove. This is because you do not want to give away your pitches. You need a glove that has a closed web. This way you can hide the ball more from the batter. I also recommend using the biggest glove you can find that is legal. MLB rules say no glove can be over 12 inches but this is never enforced.

1.14 from the MLB rule book.
Each fielder, other than the first baseman or catcher, may use or wear a leather glove. The measurements covering size of glove shall be made by measuring front side or ball receiving side of glove. The tool or measuring tape shall be placed to contact the surface or feature of item being measured and follow all contours in the process. The glove shall not measure more than 12 inches from the tip of any one of the four fingers, through the ball pocket to the bottom edge or heel of glove. The glove shall not measure more than 73/4 inches wide, measured from the inside seam at base of first finger, along base of other fingers, to the outside edge of little finger edge of glove. The space or area between the thumb and first finger, called crotch, may be filled with leather webbing or back stop. The webbing may be constructed of two plies of standard leather to close the crotch area entirely, or it may be constructed of a series of tunnels made of leather, or a series of panels of leather, or of lacing leather thongs. The webbing may not be constructed of wound or wrapped lacing to make a net type of trap. When webbing is made to cover entire crotch area, the webbing can be constructed so as to be flexible. When constructed of a series of sections, they must be joined together. These sections may not be so constructed to allow depression to be developed by curvatures in the section sides. The webbing shall be made to control the size of the crotch opening. The crotch opening shall measure not more than 41/2 inches at the top, not more than 53/4 inches deep, and shall be 31/2 inches wide at its bottom. The opening of crotch shall not be more than 41/2 inches at any point below its top. The webbing shall be secured at each side, and at top and bottom of crotch. The attachment is to be made with leather lacing, these connections to be secured. If they stretch or become loose, they shall be adjusted to their proper condition. The glove can be of any weight.

If you can find a glove 13 inches use it because the toughest plays a pitcher must make is balls shot right back at the mound and you will need all of the leather you can find to catch it or knock it down. Just make sure that if it is big that it doesn’t affect your pitching mechanics. The other rule that is rarely enforced is the multi color rule. Your glove cannot be multi colored. You also can not have anything reflective on the glove. This can be seen as an intention to distract the hitter.

Catcher

This is one position that has it’s own glove. A catchers mitt is not only an important fit for the catcher but the pitcher as well. Pitchers like a nice size target that stands out from its background. If a catcher is wearing a black chest protector I would recommend wearing a glove that is a lighter color. As for how the glove fits I would find something that has some good padding but conforms well to the hand.

First Base

This is another position that has it own glove. Why first base has a special glove is why catcher has its own glove, this is because they have to catch a lot of balls and these balls usually are not the easiest catches to make. A first baseman’s mitt has an extension to the glove on the little fingers side. This makes it easier to stop a one hopper. I recommend that you use a glove that has some thick hard leather with a good pocket. The pocket should have some netting to help make the ball stick in the webbing. If you try to catch a stiff throw with a flimsy old glove on the fingers it make not be able to stop the ball. This is why you need something hard with a good pocket.

Second Base

Most second baseman like to use a small open glove. 11 – 11.5 inches is the norm for Major League Baseball. They like the leather to be hard so when the ball enters the glove it doesn’t close on top of the ball. The reason for this is second baseman need to get the ball out of the glove as quick as possible. They also want something that is wide and easy to keep open. I recommend you spend a little extra and make sure you get a high grade leather glove if you are going to play second base.

Shortstop

The perfect glove for this position is no different than my recommendations for a second baseman. One thing I will point out is that shortstops are more connected to their gloves than any other position. I have never met a shortstop that didn’t want to kill me for putting on his glove. They have a real connection to their mitts and I don’t blame them because they are required to make some big plays at shortstop. My point here is that whatever glove you pick for this position you better fall in love with it.

Third Base

This position can be similar to first base but this position doesn’t have its own glove style. It is similar because it is also a corner of the diamond. You are going to get a lot of short hops and will need something a little bigger than what the middle infielders use. I recommend a glove at least 12 inches or more that doesn’t have a deep pocket because you need to get rid of the ball quick, if you are going to have a chance on the runner. I also wouldn’t use an open or spidered web.

Outfield

I can clump the outfield together because they are all similar position because once the ball gets into the outfield it looks the same from all different outfield positions. A good outfield glove would be something long, 12.5 inches to the least. You also want a spidered web for a pocket that is deep so the ball will stick. It is more important that you stop the ball in the outfield than it is important to get rid of it quickly. Outfield mitts should be broken in different then infield mitts. You want the finger to fold together. You can also use a softer leather in the outfield because you want the glove to trap the ball completely on a catch. I would recommend something big that you can still control that has a deep pocket and is well broken in.

That is it for my recommendations. Glove come and go in your career but you will never forget the great ones. So I hope this helps you find that great one!