Baseball cleats have been around since the start of the game. Cleats allow players to gain traction on natural grass and artificial turf fields. Baseball cleats also provide players with a competitive edge in the pitching mound and in the dirt infield.
The Beginning
Baseball cleats first made an appearance in the 1860s, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The league's best players began to place removable spikes on the bottoms of their shoes. These were similar to what golfers had worn on their shoes at the time. The earliest-known manufacturer of baseball cleats was the A.G. Spalding Company, a sporting goods store that was founded by Albert Spalding, an early baseball star. The National Baseball Hall of Fame indicates the original baseball cleats cost 30 cents per pair when first introduced.
Shoe Colors
A majority of baseball cleats were black leather, according to 19th Century Baseball. Black was baseball's standard shoe color until the 1960s. The 1960s began the practice of baseball cleats designed to match a team's uniform. This trend was started by the Kansas City Athletics and the Chicago White Sox.
Metal Cleats
A majority of players today can be seen sporting metal cleats. Metal cleats were first introduced in the 1870s, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball cleats were steel-plated and featured plates under the toes and behind the heels.
Plastic Cleats
Plastic cleats were introduced as a response to the development of artificial turf in the 1970s. Plastic cleats were mass produced and were widely available for purchase at the beginning of the 1980s, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Artificial turf also brought about the need for shorter cleats. Many of today's cleats are detachable. Detachable cleats serve a dual purpose. Short cleats can be placed on a shoe when a player is on artificial turf. For natural grass, longer cleats can be attached to the shoe.
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