Baseball gloves have come a long way since the late 1800s, when they amounted to little more than a flimsy piece of leather that fielders wore to knock down balls and to protect their hands. Today, specialized gloves suit the specific needs of players at every position. Modern gloves vary widely in prices. A generic glove can cost between $20 and $30, while some top-end models sell for several hundred bucks.
Positional Gloves
The type of glove you need depends largely on the position you play. Pitchers and infielders usually wear small gloves, in part so they can field ground balls and quickly transfer the ball to their throwing hand. Outfielders' gloves have enlarged webbing to help outfielders catch fly balls and snare sinking line drives. Gloves for catchers and first basemen have extra padding in order to protect the players' hand, because the ball is thrown to them at high velocities repeatedly during the course of a game.
Materials
Baseball gloves are traditionally made from leather, either both treated and untreated. A variety of models are now made from synthethic materials. These gloves are generally cost less, but they're considered a step down in terms of quality and longevity. The leather or synthetic material is fashioned into four finger slots, with a web woven in that also contains a thumb slot.
Regulations
According to the rules of Major League Baseball, which many youth and amateur leagues follow, fielders' gloves may not measure more than 12 inches in length from bottom to fingertips. For first basemen, the space between the thumb and index finger sections can not be more than 4 inches at top and 31/2 inches along the bottom. The 12-inch length limit applies to infielders and outfielders as well, and their gloves may not be more than 7 3/4 inches in width. Pitchers cannot wear gloves colored white or gray, which might obscure the ball for opposing batters.
Pricing
Pricing of baseball gloves cover a wide range. For example, popular manufacturer Rawlings markets an 11-inch youth glove with a modest $14.95 price tag. On the other end of the spectrum, the Rawlings Primo sells for $399.99. Though higher-priced gloves often provide superior quality, it's best to consult a coach or baseball store operator about which glove provides the best bang for your buck.
Maintenance
Many players believe that the more wear a glove receives, the better. Gloves are stiff upon arrival from the manufacturer, and breaking in the leather to a point of adequate flexibility can take time. Players use tanner's glove oil, shaving cream, petroleum jelly and many other such gels and oils to soften the leather of baseball gloves. One popular technique involved spreading a generous amount of oil throughout the surface of a glove, placing a baseball in the palm or web, and trying the glove shut for days or even weeks.
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