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When it comes to the equipment you pick out to accompany you on the field, it doesn’t matter whether the sport is baseball or softball - the choice is a highly personal one. Whether we’re looking at a bat, a pair of turf shoes, or a glove, there are a number of very personal factors that you will crunch before you make a decision. After what was a highly personal decision, to begin with, it will result in an even more personal process as you learn the ins and outs of your gear and equipment. While every piece of gear is vested with a personal element, you may be able to feel this the most poignantly with the glove you choose to practice and play with.
On its surface, the process of shopping for and selecting a new glove for baseball or softball is already highly involved. It will be influenced not only by your skillset but by the position you play. You don’t see many intrepid fielders out there using catcher’s mitts, for example. But beyond the fact that the gear itself is specialized, you will want to take some time to get familiar with the gloves you are evaluating before you purchase them.
Besides the position you play, you’ll need to determine the type of pocket and lacing that appeal to you. The depth and width of the pocket will come into play on this, as will the orientation and bulk of the fingers. You’ll need to figure out whether you want a buttery smooth glove or a stiffer glove that, while it will break in over time, offers a high degree of protection and support. You’ll find yourself looking for some features that go along with the glove and make it more comfortable to use. For example, some gloves are built using technology that make them lighter and stronger, and others are created using technology that enables them to repel water, or to dry faster when they do get wet.
You’ll also find yourself weighing decisions around largely cosmetic factors as well as by manufacturer. While cosmetic factors will not affect the performance of a glove, the brand very well will. With that in mind, very few manufacturers produce gloves of such quality and integrity as Rawlings. Whether for baseball or for softball, Rawlings gloves are renowned for their comfort, durability, and all-around quality.
Baseball
In any catalog of Rawlings gloves, you will be apt to find a number of selections that are worthy of highlighting for their merits. Some of the best baseball gloves available in the world today are made by Rawlings and we’ll take a look at the very reasons in some of these highlights.
2021 Rawlings Heart of the Hide R2G Infield/Outfield Baseball Glove
We’ll start out with this great pick from our collection of Rawlings and highlight some of the amazing features that went into making it a star both for infield and outfield play.
Right at the outset, you can tell this glove is a winner because it boasts of construction from ultra-premium steerhide leather. Extremely tough but capable of breaking in and providing a peerless fit, this leather is perfect for cushioning your catching hand and helping you rein in those serious hits. In addition to its excellent construction, these gloves are given what Rawlings calls a “35% factory break-in,” which makes them more comfortable out of the gate and slashes the time it will take you to get them game ready.
This glove also has a larger pocket which makes them all the more suitable for infield and outfield hybrid use due to their versatility. Since they are not overspecialized, you’ll find them right at home in a number of positions. It has an open back that helps to lighten overall weight and make the glove more nimble as well.
In addition to these features, these gloves have padded thumb sleeves and sheepskin linings to add an additional degree of comfort and cushioning to help absorb impact. They also are made with Rawlings’ thermoformed wrist lining to make them more capable of standing up to hard use. This is the type of glove that you can confidently use in most positions and will never notice the change.
Rawlings Pro Preferred Modified Trap Baseball Glove
Here is another great Rawlings glove that is a part of the lineup that you will find on our website. This glove is remarkable not only for the quality of its construction but for its aesthetics as well. It’s a beautiful glove in a lot of ways, and that will become all the more apparent with just a little bit of investigation.
This glove is broken in up 70% of the way at the factory, which means it's a glove you can slip right into and feel like you’ve worn it for a while. It’s definitely a glove that is noteworthy for its comfort but also for its durability. It is made with full-grain leather that will stand up to a lot of abuse but still age wonderfully.
In addition, this glove is lined with both wool and sheepskin, which are soft, supple, and add a lot of cushioning so you will be all the more comfortable during the break-in period.
The trapeze web is not only lightweight, making the glove a breeze to maneuver, but is an excellent design for bringing those killer hits to heel. It’s tough, yet able to break the force of a serious hit to help you put the brakes on a ball and minimize the chance of dropping it. It also comes with a padded thumb to help break those hits. In addition, it is made with Tennessee Tanning Company Rawhide laces to add a lot of toughness to its overall construction.
2021 Rawlings Heart of the Hide Yadier Molina Catcher’s Mitt
We wouldn’t be able to close out a highlight of some Rawlings baseball gloves without bringing out a superstar of a catcher’s mitt - and this catcher’s mitt offers a lot to love in terms of design and comfort.
Unlike many other gloves out there, Rawlings does an exceptional job when it comes to factory break-in on this model, more than any of the other gloves on this list. They claim to offer 80% factory break-in before the glove even gets to you. Catcher’s mitts are notorious for their stiffness and long break-in periods, which is reasonable as they must be stiff enough to offer adequate protection and cushioning. Rawlings has hit it out of the park with their break-in process, offering up gloves that are not only extremely durable but seasoned as well.
This glove is made from the extremely tough Heart of the Hide Traditional leather shell, which is reserved for only their most ultra-premium models, like this one. It comes with a padded thumb sleeve and a soft-grain finger lining for unmatched comfort. If that weren’t good enough, this is quite a glove to look at. Impossible to miss, it is just as noteworthy for its handsome visual aesthetic as it is for its good old-fashioned toughness.
Fastpitch Softball
Softball, like baseball, has specialized gear that makes it more practical for players to be effective in their craft. Check out some of these collections in softball mitts from Rawlings when you begin the search for some new gear.
Rawlings Heart of the Hide Fastpitch Softball Glove
This glove, which is custom-tailored to the shape of a female player’s hand, is an extremely versatile glove that is great for outfielders and infielders, including pitchers. Like the other picks on this list for Rawlings’ Heart of the Hide line, this glove is made from ultra-premium leather that is only used in the making of 5% of their gloves. It also boasts of amazing padding for great cushioning to help reduce fatigue in the field.
It also comes from the factory broken in up to 35% so that you can get right to playing and diminish the amount of time it would otherwise take to prepare this glove for a game. And, with Tennessee Tanning Company rawhide laces to add strength, a padded thumb sleeve, and a non-slip pull strap for a near-custom fit, this glove is loaded with features to enhance its performance and durability.
Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove
Recommended for infielders and specifically designed for female athletes, the Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove offers just as much for players to appreciate as any of the other gloves on this list. Like them, it is saturated with player-friendly features to build up its comfort and performance.
It is made with new pattern technology that gives the glove an excellent balance between durability and comfort and comes from the factory broken in by about 70%, reducing the amount of time you will need to break it in. It is also made with Poron XRD palm and finger padding to reduce the sting of impact and minimize fatigue. If you’re looking for a light glove with an extremely ergonomic design that absorbs impact well and is still designed for great performance, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Catcher’s Mitt
In fastpitch softball, catchers need to be able to put the brakes on pitches that really come in hot, and so they need mitts that protect their hands throughout an entire game. In that way, they can minimize the fatigue that makes drops and delays more likely.
This mitt is designed to offer rugged durability and maximum cushioning, and it is specifically designed for female players. This mitt also comes with an 80% factory break-in so it is ready to get to work as soon as you are.
In terms of its durability, this mitt is built with a full-grain shell for a toughness that simply can’t be matched. Very few materials offer the support and protection of full-grain leather, and fewer still will break-in and age as gracefully.
Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove
This is another great fastpitch glove by Rawlings with excellence coded into its very DNA. Like the model explored immediately above, this glove is made with an oil-treated shell of full grain leather which offers a ton of support and protection. It also is crafted with leather laces which much like rawhide laces are designed to enhance the structural soundness of the glove and give it additional retention.
This glove has a deep pocket which, although designed specifically for softballs due to their shape, is also excellent at helping to absorb some of the impact of hard hits. It also comes with Poron XRD padding in the palm and along the fingers to help absorb shock and reduce fatigue.
Ideal for outfielders due to its deep H-web pocket that is great for bringing those fly balls home, it is also something to look at. With bright white leather and red accents, it’s a classically styled glove that will stand out well even among competition. This glove has it all when it comes to performance and design.
Give Us A Call
As we stated at the outset of this article, not every glove will work for every player. You need to take some time to figure out just what balance you want in a glove between stiffness, cushioning, factory break-in, and overall functionality. Only then can you begin seriously looking for some options in Rawlings gloves to bring your game to the next level.
While most of the decision-making process will - and should - remain with the player, our customer service team is always at the ready to help narrow down the choices and make the selection process easier. Just like if you were shopping for a bat, we know the ins and outs of our products like no other, including their construction and features. That means if you need suggestions or recommendations, we’re more than glad to help you find the perfect glove by answering your questions on the matter. Give us a call at 1-888-540-BATS before you set out to get your next glove and we’ll help you along.
