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A baseball glove is needed to protect your palms from pain and injury while playing baseball. Baseball players use different baseball gloves or mitts for different positions. Depending on the position, each glove has a different purpose, size, shape, and design.

History
Baseball gloves first came in use in 1870's . Before that players have to catch the ball with bare hands. During the late 1800's players using gloves were teased. Gradually it became an integral part of the game. The basic idea behind the use of gloves was to create a glove that would pad and protect the players' hands and provide a cushion for catching the ball.

Different Parts of a Baseball Glove: A Diagrammatic Representation



Size of baseball gloves : Baseball gloves vary in sizes. You should choose one which best fits in your hand. Good fitting gloves help you to perform better on the field. On the basis of age different sizes of gloves are available :

• Youth baseball gloves- These gloves are 8 to 12 inches.
• Adult baseball gloves- These baseball gloves are 10.5 to 13 inches
• Professional baseball gloves- The size of professional baseball gloves are up to 12 inches

Baseball Glove Materials & Durability :
Baseball gloves are usually made of two materials : Leather and Synthetic.

• Leather
  The leather used in manufacturing the baseball gloves can of many varieties.
  • Full-grain leather: Full Grain leather is cow hide or steer hide leather on which the entire natural grain remains. Gloves made of full grain leather are heavier, and tend to be stiffer than other gloves. It has not been excessively buffed and the long-lasting leather requires a lengthy break-in.
    
    
  • Premium steer hide: Steer hide is derived from neutered bulls, and is stronger than cow hide. The baseball gloves made of this type of leather is high-grade, heavy, and stiff. However its quality is lesser than full-grain leather gloves. These gloves need a longer break-in. Some gloves come pre-oiled.
    
    
  • Top-grain leather: Top grain leather is usually a leather in which the "top" grain i.e. the fur side, is sanded off until the thickness reaches to a desired level. Then it is filled or treated with an artificial grain. This artificial grain is introduced in leather by pressing. It is thinner than full-grain leather. It is very durable and used in most baseball gloves. Some gloves come pre-oiled.
    
    

  Few manufacturers use other animals skin for making baseball gloves/mitts. These are: Wool is selected for the baseball's inner windings. Buffalo Skin: Buffalo skin is used by few manufacturers. Gloves made of it is costly. Usually they are tougher and lighter than full grain steer hide, but breaks in easily. Kangaroo Skin: Kangaroo skin is fairly new to the baseball glove market. It is stronger than steer hide of any grade. It is light weight so used for glove backs. Pigskin: Pigskin is much more flexible than cowhide and breaks in easily. However, it is less durable than cowhide and costs less. As the pigskin gloves are inexpensive, they are ideal for a youngster who wants a cheap but good-performing glove

  
  
• Synthetic
  Materials such as vinyl or plastic are commonly used for making baseball gloves. Synthetic baseball gloves are cheaper than leather baseball gloves. But can be stiff and awkward. These can be a good option for starting young players who quickly outgrow or miss their first glove.
  

Gloves vs Mitts Gloves and mitts are different thing and used by players of different positions. Main differences: Gloves have fingers and mitts don't. Mitts do a better job of controlling balls that don't hit in the pocket. They can aid scooping ground balls and short hops. Catcher and first base are the only positions permitted to use mitts.

Types of Gloves Or Mitts:
Different players acquire different positions in the field during the game of baseball.. Some players field near the base, some outside in field and some behind the base. Each player has its own specific duties to perform so they have different gloves or mitts.

Catchers Mitts: Catchers mitts are specialized gloves made for fielders fielding at different positions. Mitts are fingerless gloves. These gloves are heavy padded to protect the hands. They have a smaller pocket to get the baseball out easily. The webbing is closed.

Catcher's mitts are measured by circumference rather than length. They are not used by any other position on the baseball field. Catchers' mitts are almost always made of full grain leather or premium steer hide.

Size of catchers mitts :

• Young catcher's mitts are typically 31 inches or less.
• Adult catcher's mitts are usually 32 inches or more.

First Base Mitts: First base mitts have a thin but stiff pad that runs around the circumference of the mitt. They have little padding in the palm or finger portions. They are designed for first base position and their common sizes are 12 to 12 1/2 inches.

Infielder Gloves: Infielder Gloves gloves are made for second basemen, pitchers, shortstops, third basemen. They are shorter and their sizes vary from 10.5 to 11.5 inches. These five-finger infielder gloves have shallow pockets for rapid transfer of the baseball to an infielder's throwing arm.

Outfielder Gloves: Outfielder gloves are longer and their sizes ranges from 12 to 12.5 inches. These gloves have deeper pockets. They are designed to cushion the impact of fly balls and maximize the fielder's reach and range.

Caring Tips For New Baseball Gloves:
New baseball gloves are stiff and not so favorable to fit in hands. For having a good game with it, you have to break in the baseball glove. Some effective ways of softening :

• Wrap your new baseball gloves in a towel when not in use.
  
  
• You can also use oils especially made for baseball gloves to soften it.
  
  
• You should take precaution in oiling a baseball glove. The application of oil in the baseball gloves should not be more than three times a year. Too much of oil will tend to break the leather down.
  
  
• Wear it as often as you can and catch ball with it. Continuous wearing and catching will soften it up and gradually it will bets fit in your hand.