When
it comes to choosing baseball gloves, you have a slew of options at your
disposal. From different types of leather to varying degrees of comfort, your
choice depends on multiple features.
But
apart from these aspects, you also have to consider other factors such as your
position on the field. This means that buying the right baseball glove isn’t
just a matter of ordering the right fit. The process needs ample time and
thought from your end.
From
learning about outfield gloves to researching the material, here’s
a lowdown on how to choose suitable baseball gloves for yourself.
Learn
the Difference Between Pitcher’s Gloves, Outfield Gloves, and Catcher’s Mitts
One
of the most critical factors in selecting the right glove is your playing
position on the field.
For
instance, if you play as a pitcher, then your glove’s primary purpose will be
to hide your throwing position from the batter. But if you play as an
outfielder or a catcher, your glove has to be shaped in a certain way that
gives you maximum advantage through your position.
That
is why you must keep your playing position in mind while selecting a glove.
Fortunately, almost every vendor allows you to sort through baseball gloves by
positions quickly. This ensures that you can make your selection
without any compromise.
Assess
the Overall Comfort and Protection Level of the Gloves
This
particular factor usually refers to the way your glove is made, built, and
designed.
No
matter what position a glove is styled for, it has to excel at delivering
optimal comfort and protection to the wearer. This is especially true for those
positions where the ball comes towards the player at significant speeds.
Outfield gloves are a shining example in this category, which easily allows
players to absorb the ball’s force.
There is no question that 2020 has been a tough year for
everyone, but it has been an especially sad year for long-time baseball fans. Bob
Gibson, who passed away this weekend, is the fourth member of the Baseball Hall
of Fame to pass away in 2020. The other members of the HOF to pass away this
year are Al Kaline, Tom Seaver and Gibson’s long-time teammate Lou Brock.
In addition, the game has said goodbye to several other
notable players including Don Larsen, Jimmy Wynn, Tony Fernandez, Tony Taylor,
Bob Watson and Claudell Washington. Here is the full list from Baseball
Reference.
Gibson, Brock and Kaline were all part of the dramatic 1968
World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. As should be
the case on the World Series stage, all three of the future Hall of Famers were
at their best during the seven-game series.
For Kaline, who played his entire 22 year career with the
Tigers, the 1968 World Series marked the first post-season opportunity of his
career. He definitely made the most of it as he registered at least one hit in
each of the first six games and finished with a team-high 11 hits and a .379 average.
He also hit two home runs and drove home eight runs.
Gibson and Brock were both playing in their third World
Series in five seasons in 1968. The Cardinals claimed World Series titles in
1964 and 1967. Both Gibson and Brock were key performers in both of those wins.
In the 1964 World Series against the New York Yankees,
Gibson won two of three starts, including a 7-5 victory in the decisive seventh
game. Brock had two hits, scored a run and drove home a run in the seventh
game. Over the full seven game series, Brock had four multi-hit games and drove
home five runs.
Now, who
doesn’t know Barry bonds? He’s one of the most celebrated and cherished
baseball players in the world. And like him, Barry Bonds rookie card are widely popular too. His cards
are a worthy addition to any baseball lover’s card collection. Regardless of
all the scandals linked to him, his rookie cards remain very popular amongst
the fans especially those cards that were printed in a limited quantity.
Therefore, in this article, we have compiled the most valued and cherished
Barry bonds rookie and autographed card.
5. 1987 Fleer Baseball’s Hottest
Stars Barry Bonds no. 5: One of the most unpopular bonds rookie card
was founded by a pharmacy chain named Revco. It had a white, blue, and red
border all around the card. It was made in 1987 and was sold as a set in a
small box of paper, whoever bought this set also received a set of 6 stickers
along with it.
4. 1987 Fleer
Glossy Barry Bonds RC no.604: This Barry bonds rookie card was the
first premium set produced by the fleers. It was glossy material and it’s
rapidly become a fleer collection as it was printed in a very limited quantity.
The lesser the cards were printed the better the quality of the product was. It
is said that around 100,000 glossy cards were printed and sold.
It is hard to believe that a quarter century has passed
since Cal Ripken Jr. put Major League Baseball on his back and helped it get
past one of the darkest periods in its illustrious history.
On September 5, 1995 Ripken matched the seemingly
unbreakable record of Lou Gehrig by playing in his 2,130th consecutive
game. After the game became official and the streak numbers on the B&O
Warehouse turned to 2,130, he punctuated the night with a sixth inning home
run.
The drama was even better the following night as Ripken hit
a home run in the fourth inning. Then, with Baltimore leading 3-1 midway
through the fifth inning the game was halted for the dramatic unveiling of the
number 2,131.
Playing baseball is a leisure and pass time activity for
American families. Baseball plays a significant role in the development of
children in the states. Most American baseball fans grew up knowing and playing
baseball. This is the reason that millions of American citizens follow the
sport.
A Brief History of the Sport
The history of baseball dates back to hundreds of years in
the past. In the 1800s, the sport received recognition from the government and
set on the path to create a formal league. The Major Baseball League came into
existence in the 1900s. In the modern era, the Jackie
Robinson jersey portrays the end of racial segregation in professional
baseball.
Unity through Baseball
In the past, when America was undergoing a civil war
baseball was a factor in unifying the people. Not only was the sport efficient
in the unity of the North and South of America but it brought people together
because of the athleticism and ability to play the sports. After the game broke
the New York borders, the sport gained popularity as a national symbol of
unity. The pastime was responsible for building a rapport between soldiers of
the different sides and the conclusion of the war.
Fast-forward to modern times and the sport is a factor in
unifying rivals in the global political scene. Amid the growing political
divides in residents of Washington DC, the locals come together to support
their team. The game presents the chance for Americans of different social and
political views to put the differences aside.
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month pitched
in four decades, was a veteran of World War II and is one of only two pitchers
to finish with exactly 300 career victories.
Hall of Famer Early Wynn began his career as a 19-year old in
1939 by pitching three games for the Washington Senators. After spending the
1940 season in the minors, he went 3-1 with a 1.58 ERA in a brief stint in the
majors in 1941.
The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is a former major league baseball player who came into the game as a teenager and stayed until he was in his 40s. In between, Rusty Staub put up a solid career that was primarily spent on expansion or rebuilding teams.
Originally signed by the Colt .45s at age 17, he made his major league debut as a 19-year old rookie and became only the second player in the modern era to play in more than 150 games as a teenager.
Though he hit only .224 splitting time between first base and rightfield, Staub did start building a foundation that would turn him into an All-Star by 1967 when he finished fifth in the league with a .333 batting average.