Baseball glove

A padded leather or synthetic glove worn by a baseball fielder to catch, control, and transfer the ball. Its webbing and pocket help secure balls traveling at high speed.

Glove pocket: The recessed area of a baseball glove where the ball is caught and held. Pocket depth and shape affect how securely a ball settles after impact.
Catcher's mitt: A heavily padded, fingerless mitt used by a baseball catcher. Its rounded shape and extra padding handle repeated pitches behind home plate.
Impact attenuation: The reduction of force transmitted during a collision or sudden stop. Padding and flexible materials reduce the impact felt when a ball enters the glove.
Doug Allison: A baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Red Stockings during the 1870s. He is often credited with being among the first catchers to use a glove in organized baseball.
Barehanded fielding: Fielding a baseball without wearing a glove. Early players often caught barehanded, unlike modern fielders protected by padded gloves.
Baseball glove webbing: The leather or synthetic structure connecting a glove’s thumb and fingers. Webbing supports the pocket and can partly conceal the ball from batters.
First baseman's mitt: A long, curved mitt used by a baseball first baseman to catch throws. Its wide target and flexible edge help scoop low or off-line throws.
Friction: The force that resists sliding between surfaces in contact. Friction between the ball, glove lining, and hand helps prevent unwanted slipping.
Charles C. Waite: A baseball player and sporting-goods entrepreneur associated with early glove patents. His 1875 patent helped establish the baseball glove as a designed piece of equipment.
Baseball batting glove: A thin glove worn by a baseball batter to improve grip and reduce hand irritation. It protects the hitter’s hands while gripping a bat rather than catching a ball.

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BaseballRelated: The glove cushions and secures the ball during defensive plays.