A defensive baseball player is only as good as his talent and equipment allows. These days, any infielder or outfielder worth their weight spends time searching out a quality baseball glove. This wasn’t always the case. In the history of baseball, the glove was a later addition, and was stigmatized as a sign of weakness. Original baseball players back in the late 1800s simply used their hands; unlike the baseball or bat, gloves didn’t come into play until years later.
The first confirmed use of a glove (provided by the firsthand experiences of the one and only A.G. Spalding) was Charles C. Waite in 1875. He had developed bruises on his hand and hoped to avoid further damage, electing to a wear a glove that feature a large, round opening on its backside. Because using a glove was considered “weakness” in the early days of the game, Waite used a flesh-colored glove hoping to avoid the ire and embarrassment sure to be handed to him from players and spectators alike. Unfortunately, the coloring wasn’t enough to throw onlookers, and he was ridiculed; Spalding, however, recognized the potential of his glove use and began selling a baseball glove the next year. In 1877, Spalding himself began to use a black, backless glove. His use caught on, and as the years continued, more players elected to don a glove during the game. (Check out more about Spalding’s fascinating career at BaseballHall.org.)
After the first few years of production, some additions to the design of baseball gloves were made. First, Spalding added extra padding to further protect the hand, and a shallow layer of webbing was added between the fingers, with the most webbing going to the space between the first finger and thumb.
1895 Restrictions
By the turn of the century, the use of baseball gloves had become the norm. By 1985, the National League and American Association of Baseball Clubs enforced the first glove size restrictions, requiring that all players (other than the catcher and first baseman) use a glove or mitt that weighed less than 10 inches and didn’t measure larger than 14 inches.
20th Century Additions
In 1919, Bill Doak approached Rawlings, asking the company to put a web between the thumb and index finger, and this signaled the metamorphosis of baseball glove from protection to catching tool.
During the 1950s, a few design additions became prominent. From broad pockets and large webbing to deep pockets and six-fingered glove options, baseball players had more to choose from.
Position-Specific Gloves
As the years went on, position-specific gloves grew in popularity. One sign no longer fit all, and as the game changed, each position needed its own specific glove features. For example, consider the needs of a first baseman. Take a look at any online baseball gear site and spot the difference immediately; you’ll find the first base gloves here are missing individual fingers. This style of mitt is designed specifically for the position, measuring 12 to 13 inches with deep pockets and a wide, curved outside edge, these mitts are designed to give the first baseman an edge to thrown balls quickly out of the dirt, and the larger size provides a bigger target for other infielders.
Contrast this with an outfield glove. These are the longest gloves out on the field, created to give an outfielder the most range. They tend to be 12 to 14 inches long, providing a bit of extra reach required for certain hits. They also have deep pockets to help prevent the ball from bouncing off the heel of the glove.
Many top glove companies today offer specialized designs for catchers, pitchers, first basemen, infielders and outfielders. Of course, players can also purchase customized gloves made specifically for their measurements, but must be sure to follow league regulations—and be prepared to spend quite a bit.
Beyond design, players must be prepared with glove steaming technology and other “wearing in” tactics. As the game continues to enjoy widespread popularity, no doubt we’ll see an onslaught of continuing design changes and additions. Check out “Glove Affairs” by Noah Liberman and Yogi Berra for a more in depth history of the baseball glove.
The baseball glove has come a long way in the last century. Today’s gloves are larger, more technically advanced, and designed to give every player the best chance of catching success on the field. Next time you take your glove out, consider all the work that’s gone into making it what it is today.
