![History of The Batting Glove]()
History of the Batting Glove
Players began to toy with the idea of using batting gloves in the 1930’s, but they were not actually used until years later. A player by the name of Bobby Thomson, a player for the New York Giants, was the first to wear them. He first began using a pair of golf gloves during the 1949 New York Giants spring training. Even though he never wore them during the regular season the idea was put into the other player’s heads.
Most batting gloves are made with embossed leather, by certain companies like Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Mizuno, Nike, Franklin and many others. They are specially made to fit the batters hands, and also absorb moisture. There are many benefits of the batting glove, for one they help protect against the formation of blisters. Other benefits are that they are a form of shock absorption for when the bat hits the ball. They protect the hands in cold weather, and when sliding. Batting gloves are not a mandatory piece of equipment, they are strictly optional and the use of them all depends on the individual players themselves. Batting gloves made by Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Mizuno, Nike, Under Armour and Franklin are not only popular at the Major League level, but at all levels of the game.
The first player to wear batting gloves in games on a regular basis is said to be Rusty Staub, who played over twenty – three seasons in the Major Leagues. Jorge Posada, the Yankees catcher is one of the many exceptions, when it comes to players who do not wear batting gloves.
Batting gloves have also become the object of superstitions or rituals as they are sometimes called. Many players loosen and then retighten their gloves before every at bat. This practice is noticed and mimicked by children who play the game and want to be like their favorite players.
Batting gloves range in price from Louisville Slugger, Under Armour, Rawlings, Mizuno, Nike and Franklin and they can cost anywhere from $10.00- $60.00. The various range in price is do the quality of the glove.
Though many players are seen using batting gloves made by Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Mizuno, Nike, Under Armour and Franklin on television, batting gloves are also made and used by smaller companies such as BamBooBat, Dinger, Nokona, and many more.
Players as young as 4 years old can use batting gloves as they come in sizes from XXS through XXL. Not all companies make all sizes, but Under Armour and Easton make gloves from XXS through XXL. Most of the other companies such as Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Mizuno, Nike and Franklin made their batting gloves from sizes youth small all the way through adult XXL.
With the wide variety of styles, colors and price points available to the general public it is no wonder so many players choose to use them. |
