I need a baseball glove

[falafel]

I've never played baseball or softball outside of a church league. My son plays little league and I'd like to get a glove to play catch with him. I used to have a decent glove when I was in high school that one of my baseball-playing friends gave to me, but I can't seem to find it.

Anyway, I went to Big 5 today to check out their selection. They have a lot of gloves. I went in thinking I'd like a 12.5" glove, but they have very few. It seems to not be a popular size? I tried on 13" and 12" gloves. The 13" gloves are softball mitts I think. The 12" glove seemed a little small. It fit my hand fine, but it felt like the reach was a little bit small. I bought the 13", but it just seems like its too big for baseballs.

Am I being too particular? Should I be fine with the 12"? Should stores realistically carry more 12.5" gloves? Maybe I'm too late and maybe all of the 12.5s have been snatched up. I really think I'm making too big a deal out of this, but I get very particular about smallish purchases like this.

[Donuthole]

Did you look at Sports Authority or Sport Chalet? Big5's selection was pretty weak when I worked there during college.

As for size, get whatever feels good to you. There is no "one size" for baseball gloves. Outfielders use bigger gloves than infielders, etc.

[cougjunkie]

Yeah Sports Authority usually has a much better selection than Big 5. Also now sure the size matters all that much if you are just using it to play catch with your son. Get one that is comfortable.

You should also break it in with your son. Show him how to use the glove oil, shaving cream, rubber band and ball under the mattress. All boys should know how to break in a baseball glove.

[Surfah]

I've never played baseball or softball outside of a church league. My son plays little league and I'd like to get a glove to play catch with him. I used to have a decent glove when I was in high school that one of my baseball-playing friends gave to me, but I can't seem to find it.

Anyway, I went to Big 5 today to check out their selection. They have a lot of gloves. I went in thinking I'd like a 12.5" glove, but they have very few. It seems to not be a popular size? I tried on 13" and 12" gloves. The 13" gloves are softball mitts I think. The 12" glove seemed a little small. It fit my hand fine, but it felt like the reach was a little bit small. I bought the 13", but it just seems like its too big for baseballs.

Am I being too particular? Should I be fine with the 12"? Should stores realistically carry more 12.5" gloves? Maybe I'm too late and maybe all of the 12.5s have been snatched up. I really think I'm making too big a deal out of this, but I get very particular about smallish purchases like this.

The 13" should be fine. That's a good utility (all position) mitt for softball. It's on the large end for baseball. Most outfielders mitts are 12.5". But I'd go with the 13" over the 12" as you'll probably get more use out of it playing church ball with it and having a catch with your boy.

[falafel]

Did you look at Sports Authority or Sport Chalet? Big5's selection was pretty weak when I worked there during college.

As for size, get whatever feels good to you. There is no "one size" for baseball gloves. Outfielders use bigger gloves than infielders, etc.

I haven't been to either of those places yet b/c Big 5 was having a sale so I went there first.

Its not so much that the 12 felt small on my hand. It actually felt pretty good. But it seemed small. Almost like it was just a little bigger than my son's glove.

I'm probably looking for an outfielder's glove though, because that's what my last one was. I think I'm more comfortable with those dimensions.

[falafel]

Yeah Sports Authority usually has a much better selection than Big 5. Also now sure the size matters all that much if you are just using it to play catch with your son. Get one that is comfortable.

You should also break it in with your son. Show him how to use the glove oil, shaving cream, rubber band and ball under the mattress. All boys should know how to break in a baseball glove.

We did this tonight.

[falafel]

The 13" should be fine. That's a good utility (all position) mitt for softball. It's on the large end for baseball. Most outfielders mitts are 12.5". But I'd go with the 13" over the 12" as you'll probably get more use out of it playing church ball with it and having a catch with your boy.

That was sort of my thinking in getting the 13". They just announced men's and women's sports directors (ADs?) for our stake and there's been talk of starting softball leagues. I probably would have just bought the 12" if it weren't for the outside thought that I might be catching a softball with it too.

[MarkGrace]

Always ticked me off they didn't make 10.5-11" gloves for lefties.

[DU Ute]

I've never played baseball or softball outside of a church league. My son plays little league and I'd like to get a glove to play catch with him. I used to have a decent glove when I was in high school that one of my baseball-playing friends gave to me, but I can't seem to find it.

Anyway, I went to Big 5 today to check out their selection. They have a lot of gloves. I went in thinking I'd like a 12.5" glove, but they have very few. It seems to not be a popular size? I tried on 13" and 12" gloves. The 13" gloves are softball mitts I think. The 12" glove seemed a little small. It fit my hand fine, but it felt like the reach was a little bit small. I bought the 13", but it just seems like its too big for baseballs.

Am I being too particular? Should I be fine with the 12"? Should stores realistically carry more 12.5" gloves? Maybe I'm too late and maybe all of the 12.5s have been snatched up. I really think I'm making too big a deal out of this, but I get very particular about smallish purchases like this.

If there is any chance you'll play softball again I'd go with the bigger model. Otherwise the 12" should be fine.

[Shaka]

12.5 is a good size for both baseball and softball. When you break it in do what Junkie said but stick a softball in the picket and wrap it when you store it.

[falafel]

12.5 is a good size for both baseball and softball. When you break it in do what Junkie said but stick a softball in the picket and wrap it when you store it.

Dammit! I knew I needed a 12.5".

Do you mean break it in with a softball?

[pellegrino]

I always liked a smaller glove. I'd get the 12". Do you need a new glove just to play catch? I'd try play it again sports or something like that.

[falafel]

I always liked a smaller glove. I'd get the 12". Do you need a new glove just to play catch? I'd try play it again sports or something like that.

That was my first thought, but its surprisingly hard to find used sporting good stores anymore. Probably due to craigslist and ebay. Play it again sports has closed all its stores in Vegas.

I thought about getting an old glove on ebay, but I'd prefer to try it on before buying. Plus Its always $10-$13 for shipping, which really cuts into the savings from buying used.

[TripletDaddy]

We did this tonight.

I thought you were not supposed to do this? I will defer to EPU on this since he is the only real baseball player on the board.

[Shaka]

Dammit! I knew I needed a 12.5".

Do you mean break it in with a softball?

Use a baseball or a softball when playing catch but when you store the glove rub some oil in, put a softball in the pocket, and then wrap something around it to keep in closed over the ball. Make sure you make it fold where you want when you wrap it. There's nothing worse than a glove that is creased in the wrong place.

I used to do all kinds of strange things to my catchers mitts. I'd oil the crap out of it, turn it inside out, throw it in a tub for a few days, play catch with it wet, oil it some more, wrap it around a baseball and tape it closed, and sit on it a lot. It took a bit of time to get it exactly how I wanted it.

Growing up I used the cheaper signature gloves and then got an A2000. My favorite regular gloves were the Wilson Ron Guidry (loved the double hinge) and the Rawlings Dale Murphy. Eventually I worked my way up to an A2000 infielders glove to go along with my catchers mitt.