From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The shape and size of a glove is described by its "pattern".
Modern gloves have become quite specialized, with position-specific patterns:
- Catchers mitts are
called "mitts" because they lack individual fingers, like
mittens. They have extra padding and a hinged, claw-like shape that helps
them to catch 90+-mile-per-hour fastballs, and provide a good target for
pitchers. If required to catch a knuckleball,
a catcher will typically use an even larger mitt. Sizes of catchers mitts,
unlike those of other gloves, are measured around the circumference, and
they typically have 32- to 34-inch patterns.
- First basemens mitts
also lack individual fingers. They are generally very long and wide to
help them "pick or scoop" badly thrown balls from infielders.
These mitts usually have 12.5- to 12.75-inch patterns, measured from wrist
to the tip. Note that, because first basemen are often left-handed, first
basemens mitts are readily available to fit on a right hand. Hank
Greenberg, a famously clumsy fielder, is often credited as the first
to wear this style of glove in the field.[4]
- Infielders gloves,
unlike the first basemans mitt, tend to be smaller. They have shallow
pockets to allow fielders to remove the ball easily in order to make a
quick throw to a base. Often the webbing will be open to allow dirt to
move through the glove so that the infielder does not pull out a handful
of dirt when trying to remove the ball from the glove. Infielders gloves
typically have 11- to 12-inch patterns, measured from the wrist to the
tip.
- Pitchers gloves
usually have a closed, opaque, webbing to allow pitchers to conceal their
grip on the ball (which, in part, determines the behavior of the pitch in
flight) from the batter.
- Outfielders gloves are
usually quite long with deep pockets, to help with catching fly balls on
the run or in a dive, and to keep outfielders from having to bend down as
far to field a ground ball. These gloves typically have 12- to 12.75-inch
patterns, measured from wrist to the tip. They are frequently worn-in
differently than those of infielders, with a flatter squeeze rather than
the infielders rounded style.
