By: John Berrian – September 13, 2007

In this article, John Berrian outlines a piece of equipment that is more than just a piece of leather. Many adults still have the gloves they grew up with as young children. The glove can serve as a reminder of a time when things in life were much more simple and carefree. Anything and everything you need to know about your glove is right here!

Choosing Your Glove:

-Make sure you select a glove that fits your hand firmly but not too tight.

–Middle infielders would ideally like to have a smaller glove. The reason for the smaller glove is that the player should field like he has a paddle on his glove hand. The player should think about being able to transfer the ball out of his glove after the ball is fielded. Having a smaller glove allows this transition to take place more quickly.

-Corner infielders can have larger gloves but this is purely up to the kid individually and what they prefer. Some kids may prefer a first baseman’s mitt while others may not. Again, go with what they feel comfortable with!

-Pitchers should have closed webbing on the glove so they do not tip their pitches to the hitter. The size of their glove should be what they prefer.

-An outfielder needs more glove space to catch fly balls and make plays on the run. An extra inch can be the difference in a catch or a double in the gap! However, the glove should not be so big as to hinder the player’s ability to catch the ball.

Breaking in your Glove:

-The best way to break in a glove is to play catch with it as much as possible.

-Pound your fist into the glove to continue to loosen the leather.

-Some people will soak the glove or stick it in the oven. I do not feel this is necessary.

-Wrap the glove up with a baseball or softball to form your pocket.

Caring for your Glove:

-Never leave your glove laying flat. This can cause the glove to lose its pocket and resemble a pancake!

-Condition the glove when needed. I prefer the “grease” type substance over an “oil” type substance.

-Stick a baseball or softball in your glove in the off-season and wrap it up. This helps the glove to keep its pocket longer.

-Treat your glove with care and respect. Some players love their gloves so much they will sleep with it! The condition of an individual’s glove says a lot about that player’s dedication and respect for the game.

Other Things to Consider:

-Obviously, the price of a glove is going to be a factor in which glove a player chooses. Trust me, it is worth a few extra dollars to get a quality glove. I recommend the Rawlings Pro Preferred, Wilson A2000 and any glove made my Mizuno.

Ammended… About the Author: John Berrian is a 2003 graduate of Lexington High School. Berrian started at second base on the Wildcats’ 2003 Upper State Championship and earned a baseball scholarship to Presbyterian College where he spent three years playing for coaches Doug Kovash and Elton Pollock… He is presently an assistant coach at his prep alma mater, the 2013 4A State Champions

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