Softball and baseball gloves may appear similar at first glance, but they are each tailored to the specifications of their respective sports. Essentially, all gloves are made of leather or synthetic materials and are designed to help fielders catch balls hit by opponents or thrown by teammates.
Softball Gloves
Softball gloves are similar in design to baseball gloves, but as a softball is much larger than a baseball, softball gloves must similarly be larger to accommodate the ball. Softball gloves normally range in length from 11 3/4 inches to 14 inches.
Baseball Gloves
Baseball gloves are slightly smaller than softball gloves, generally ranging in size from 11 inches to 12 3/4 inches.
Variance by Position
Within the parameters of glove size for each sport, the position the glove is used for also plays a role in its size and weight. Catchers' mitts in both sports are generally larger and more heavily padded than the gloves used by players in the field, and they usually do not have individual finger slots. A first baseman's mitt is necessarily long and with a large pocket to help extend the player's reach for the ball and to help ensure a catch is made. Like a catcher's mitt, a first baseman's rarely has independent finger holes. Infielders typically have smaller gloves to facilitate a quick grab and throw of the ball, but infielder softball gloves still need to be large enough to catch the larger softball.
Composition
The composition of a baseball glove can have a large effect on its price. Top-grain gloves are usually the most expensive-highest quality gloves made of heavy leather. The most inexpensive gloves are usually made of pigskin, which is much less durable but easier to break in. Between these two extremes, gloves are made from materials such as kangaroo skin, cowhide and kip leather, which is produced from the hides of younger cattle.
Price
Prices can vary wildly for gloves, depending on the models chosen and the stores that sell them. Like any product, glove manufacturers constantly strive to create new and innovative models, featuring more padding, flexibility, durability, or whatever the market currently seeks. Generally speaking, the latest models are the most expensive. As professional baseball players have more fame and visibility than softball players, player endorsements play a bigger role in the pricing of baseball gloves than in softball gloves, and prices are subsequently generally higher for baseball gloves. Typically, softball gloves range in price from $35 to $140, while baseball gloves range from $15 to $280 as of May 2010.
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