Archive for the ‘Youth Gloves’ Category
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 6)
…Where to start-where to start? How about Akadema? They have come a long way in just a few short years, and are competing rather well with the likes of Rawlings and Wilson-especially in the area of girls softball gloves and mitts. Akadema has some fairly innovative designs that are getting more popular-and they look pretty cool, too! With their Fastpitch design, ProSoft, Praying Mantis and Reptilian models, they are getting quite a boost.
The Rookie Series for the kids is priced under $40.00, so it won’t break the bank, but it is still a very good softball glove. The ProSoft design and others come in infield gloves and outfield. Also first base mitts and catchers mitts are aplenty. You won’t go wrong if you choose an Akadema softball glove…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 4)
When buying a youth glove, there are some really cheap ones and some really good ones- and a whole lot in between. All of the major manufacturers obviously make good youth gloves and mitts and there is a wide range of prices. If your youngster is just starting out, you might want to spend a little less until you figure out how involved he/she will become.
Akadema youth baseball gloves has a lot to choose from. (A better glove does help a child catch better.) Their Rookie & Prodigy series gloves and mitts range from $39.00 to $65.00, a little more than the cheaper gloves, but they’re worth it. Remember; a better glove helps a child to catch better…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 3)
…So, let’s talk about some of the brands and types of baseball gloves, and softball gloves that are offered today. First of all, $50.00 is no longer a “high end” glove or mitt; not in today’s world. Although, you can still get a pretty decent youth glove for $50.00 or slightly under, anything less is strictly for the kid that you are “making” him/her play ball. (No sense buying an expensive glove for that-it’s going to wind up in the basement and you’ll find it two years from now in a spring flood!)
But yes, the major brands are still there as well as several new brands. Rawlings baseball gloves are still the most popular as well as the most widely bought and used. Wilson is big and Spalding is there, but not so popular. There’s also All-Star, MacGregor, Mizuno, and the ever more popular Akadema baseball gloves and equipment. There are other brands as well, but I am writing a blog-not a novel…(see part 4)
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 2)
Way back when I was seven or eight years old and just starting to play Little League baseball, I seem to remember that a teammate and I both had Rawlings youth baseball gloves. At that age and at that time, (late 1950’s) I don’t remember anyone really being “all into” what brand of glove they had…not like today. Times have changed a bit since then. I don’t even remember where I got my glove; probably my parents.
I do however, remember just a few years later buying my own Wilson baseball glove. My best friend’s older brother worked for Wilson Sporting Company in Chicago, and I was “talked” into buying a Wilson glove. It cost me $50.00, which was a lot of money in the early’60’s. I broke it in and really took good care of it. It’s funny how spending your own money will cause you to take care of something just a little more…
Your Glove of Choice-(Part 1)
So, you want to play baseball or softball, or you already do-what’s your glove of choice? With so many brands and types of gloves and mitts to choose from, your decision may not be so easy. There are the “old lines” such as Rawlings, Wilson and Spalding through Mizuno, MacGregor, All-Star, and many others to newer companies like Akadema. Do you buy a glove or mitt because of a friend, coach or favorite major league star?
Usually, you buy what you know or hear about or a recommendation from a trusted coach or friend. Obviously, the position you play has a lot to do with it. There are infield gloves and outfield gloves; catchers mitts and first base mitts, not to mention all the colors and grades of leather. There are youth baseball gloves, slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball gloves…so many choices! Let’s take a closer look at several types and brands. See part 2…
Breaking in a New Ball Glove
When I was still in little league, it was easy to tell the kids who just showed up for games as opposed to the ones who put in hours of practice at home. My dad took the time to play catch with me in the backyard; in fact, he’d simulate grounders, pop flies and tricky line-drives for me as I practiced for my shortstop role. Some kids would just show up to the game with a stiff mitt that wouldn’t even close around the ball.
The best way to soften the leather of youth baseball gloves is to use it – just go out there and get it dirty with grass stains and mud. Beyond that, you can oil it up and apply a rubber band to keep it closed. Heating the glove can also make it more malleable, so don’t be afraid to leave it inside a baking car during the summer. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should form a well-shaped pocket where a baseball will fit nice and snug.