What Are The Different Types Of Baseball Gloves By Position?

Choosing the right baseball glove for your position might sound simple enough, but the more you look at baseball gloves, the more you’ll realize they’re like snowflakes: each one is different. This is because each position has its own unique demands. Glove-makers understand this and design gloves with specific features and characteristics to give you a better chance to succeed at your position. So let’s go around the diamond and discuss why there’s a need for so many different gloves.

Baseball Gloves By Position

Pitcher’s Gloves:

Pitcher’s gloves can vary. It’s an infield position, so they’re going to be roughly the same size as other infield gloves, but since pitchers typically don’t do a ton of fielding, the size of glove and pocket depth don’t matter quite as much. It’s more about personal preference. However, for this position, you’ll see almost exclusively closed webs. Pitchers want this type of web because it conceals their grip on the ball so as not to tip pitches.

Catcher’s Mitts:

A catcher’s mitt’s considerably larger size presents a good target for pitchers, and its clam-like shape excels at funneling fastballs into the pocket. It also features extra padding to protect the catcher’s hand as he (or she) repeatedly receives the ball at blistering speeds sometimes exceeding 100mph. Catcher’s mitts also have closed webs to ensure one of those blazing fastballs can’t rip through it.

First Base Gloves:

First base gloves differ significantly from the rest of the infield’s baseball gloves. First, they’re much larger and don’t have individual fingers. Much like a pitcher throwing to a catcher’s mitt, the bigger size gives your fellow fielders a larger target to throw at, helping them make more accurate throws. As we all know though, first basemen frequently have to field wide or low throws which is why first base gloves feature a curved edge, helping them scoop balls from the dirt.

Second Base Gloves:

Second basemen use the smallest gloves with the shallowest pockets. Why? Because they have to field the ball and get rid of it quickly. A small glove is lightweight and easy to maneuver. The shallow pocket helps the fielder retrieve the ball quickly. All of this is important, especially on double play opportunities. If the ball gets stuck in a deep pocket, turning two becomes more difficult. Second base gloves will also feature a lot of webs with larger holes. Again, because it makes the glove lighter and because second baseman are constantly scooping balls up from the infield – the holes prevent clumps of dirt from collecting in the pocket.

Third Base Gloves:

Some of the hardest hit balls are toward third base (also called “the hot corner”). The ball gets on you fast and your primary concern isn’t as much about being fast as it is about figuring out how to catch the rockets headed your way. To help you do this, a third base glove is slightly bigger/longer to help you knock the ball down (if you can’t catch it) and has a deeper, well-defined pocket.

Shortstop Gloves:

Shortstops have to be just as quick as second basemen for the same reasons. That’s why many gloves are called “middle infield” gloves – they can be used for either position. The only difference is shortstops need to have a longer fielding range. For this reason, shortstops will often have longer gloves than the rest of the infielders.

Outfield Gloves:

Outfielders need larger, longer gloves with deep pockets to help them catch fly balls and prevent them from slipping out. We’re sure everyone is familiar with a “snow cone” catch, which illustrates the importance of a longer glove when making leaping catches. The webbing on your glove is also extremely important in the outfield. The most popular are Trapeze Webs for a more flexible pocket and H-Webs, which are stronger and allow a better line of vision.

As you can see, gloves are designed differently because each position in the field demands something different: speed, flexibility, length, etc. The right baseball glove gives you an advantage in the field and can help you become the kind of defensive player you always wanted to be!