Baseball uniforms distinguish each team through colors and designs, and also provide functional protection for players in the field. The uniform pants are no exception. Baseball pants protect players and keep them comfortable in the field, at the plate and running the bases. Certain features set baseball pants apart from other types of athletic-wear.
Function
The pants baseball players wear as part of a standard baseball uniform are simply called baseball pants. The pants are made of either polyester or a polyester and cotton mix, designed to offer a comfortable, breathable, stretchy material optimized for normal baseball playing motion. Baseball pants come in multiple colors, though the most common are white, gray and black.
Features
The distinct features of standard baseball pants include additional fabric to act as padding on the front and the back of the thigh area. This padding is designed to resist tearing and wear from players sliding into base or diving for catches. Baseball pants typically have no front pockets, but they may have one or two rear pockets where players keep their batting gloves while on base. Finally, the belt loops on baseball pants are connected, creating a tunnel so the belt is not exposed. This feature may have been implemented to discourage defensive players from holding onto base runners' belts and slowing them down during play.
Style
Baseball pants come in two distinct styles, which affect their size. Over the course of baseball history, players have either worn their pants short, to just below the knee, or long, with the bottom extending from just above the ankle to wrapped around the bottom of the cleats. The discrepancy in style stems largely from a lack of rules concerning the length of pants, and most baseball pants are available in long and short varieties. Players should consult their coaches before buying pants, as many teams have players wear the the same style pants for a uniform look.
Sliding Pants
Another type of baseball pants are not really pants at all. Sliding pants, or sliding shorts, are a form of underwear usually made of elastic polyester. They are worn under baseball pants to provide padding and support to players when sliding. Sliding pants are tight, and long enough to cover the entire thigh. This helps prevent abrasions on the skin that occur from frequent sliding. Sliding pants are not required, though they do provide a major improvement in comfort and padding for baseball players.
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