The scoop on the latest baseball gloves from popular manufacturers

Baseball gloves are used by all defensive players to help catch the baseball. They are made from leather and there are many different styles of gloves that are specifically designed for the different positions on the field. Check out my very interesting article on the History of Baseball Gloves and Their Evolution.

Below is a breakdown that discusses different styles of gloves by position.

Infield (other than first base) - This would include the third baseman, shortstop, and 3rd baseman. The gloves for these positions are usually smaller, because an infielder needs to be able to transfer the ball from the glove to the throwing hand as quickly as possible. The last thing an infielder wants is a glove that will complicate the transfer. The quicker the infielder can get the ball out of the glove, the more runners they are going to throw out.

1st Baseman - 1st baseman gloves are designed with a large rounded outer piece that is very wide when opened. This is to aid the 1st baseman with scooping up balls that are thrown in the dirt, by other infielders. It is the 1st baseman's job to stop everything that is thrown to them.

Catchers - Out of all the positions, the catcher's glove takes the worst beating. It must be able to catch 90+ mph fastballs, and throughout the course of the game, it gets much more usage than the other position players. Because of this, these gloves are built thicker and stronger, with much more padding than all other gloves.

Pitchers - Pitcher's gloves usually fall right in between the size of an infielder's and an outfielder's glove. They also want to make sure that the ball is hidden well, so nobody can see what kind of grip they have on the ball and reveal the pitch to be thrown.

Outfielders - Outfielder's gloves are built a little bigger than all other gloves. The fingers are made longer than all other gloves. Their job is to catch fly balls. An extra inch or two of length on the glove is an extra 1-2 inches further they can reach to catch the ball. Just like infielders, they must be able to transfer the ball quickly to the throwing hand, but catching is the first priority.

Choosing baseball gloves is an important decision that you should make carefully. Let me help you with your decision. I would highly recommend reading my article Choosing and breaking in baseball gloves if you are unfamiliar with the process.

Below you can read reviews on different baseball gloves broken down by brand and category.

Mizuno gloves - Read how Mizuno's gloves are designed for specific positions, and all the other technology they use.

Wilson gloves - Wilson, like many other manufacturers, produce very nice gloves. Read about their design features here.

Rawlings gloves - Rawlings baseball gloves are some of the finest in the game, and should be considered by every ballplayer.

TPX gloves - Read about the latest Louisville Slugger gloves and the new "Flare" design now used by many professional and collegiate players..

Nokona gloves - Read about Nokona and their super high quality gloves. This company in Texas makes gloves with the finest leathers in the game.

Easton gloves - Easton's new Premier Select series is the latest of their models and will come out in September of 07.’

Nike gloves - One of Nike's latest endeavors is the world of glove making. Read more here.

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