A baseball mitt is the name for the large glove worn by baseball players in the sport of baseball. There are many different types of baseball mitt, with different players in different positions on the team having specialist baseball mitts to enhance their performance. However, when baseball first became a professional sport, the baseball players (much like their cricket counterparts do currently) did not use any form of baseball mitt at all instead using their bare hands to catch the ball. The advancement of the sport, driven by the sponsorship and commercial potential derived from all sorts of paraphernalia associated with the sport, have lead to several advancements in baseball mitt manufacturer and design.

As mentioned earlier, baseball mitts vary according to the position they are being used for. Generally, there are different baseball mitts for outfielders, infielders, first basemen, pitchers and catchers as these all require the player to make different, but set, movements and therefore different types of catches. Baseball mitts can often be quite expensive, with top of the range ones costing around £40, and some specialist ones of certain brands costing much more.

The main manufacturers of baseball mitts are Rawlings (probably the most famous and prestigious brand because of their long history associated with the sport), Worth, Louisville, Mizuno, Easton and Wilson. All baseball mitts are made from leather, although many have been given properties to enhance the grip, comfort and fit of the baseball glove to make it the perfect mitt to catch a baseball ball with.

More baseball equipment: Baseball Helmet