Tips on Getting the Best Baseball Gloves for Your "Little Hitters"

Nothing spells summer more then a good little league baseball game.Being the mother of 2 sons and 4 grandsons who are all baseball fanatics, I have had the opportunity many times to try and purchase the best baseball gloves for these young "Mickey Mantle'" and Babe Ruth's" in my life. Here are some tips on getting the best baseball gloves for all the little leaguers in your life.

1. Consider the material of the glove: Synthetic materials are the least expensive and may be okay for the beginner, but keep in mind, they won't withstand the wear and tear of playing ball like real leather does.

2. Consider the glove construction: Do you want an open or closed back? The type of back is a matter of personal preference, but some styles fit the position you're playing better. Outfielders usually prefer a closed back with a finger hole for some extra support.

3. Consider the child's age: Youth models are smaller to help kids maintain better control. Don't buy a glove bigger then you actually need. Beginners will benefit from the added control that they get from wearing a smaller glove. Kids under 8 usually need a glove that runs from 9" to 11" in size. For the kids 8 to their early teens consider the 11" to 12" size.

Keeping these considerations in mind, you're now ready to make that baseball glove purchase. You can purchase kids baseball gloves at a number of stores including actual sporting goods stores like Cabala's, discount stores like Walmart and Target or online at sites like amazon.com. The 5 baseball gloves that I'm going to recommend are available at amazon.com, which was recommended by the research company galtech.com as one of the best places to purchase the best kids baseball gloves.

1. Rawlings Playmaker Series PM 110TS-$21.05: This 11" youth baseball glove is a premium full grain leather glove. It is tough and pliable and break-in-ready to play. It has a closed basket web that is highly flexible for the young baseball player. Rawlings has over 100 yrs. of experience in crafting fine baseball gloves, so you know you will be getting the best baseball glove around if you purchase this one.

2. Rawlings Playmaker Series PL 195 PB-$10.99: This 9.5" baseball glove may be ideal as a beginner baseball glove for the little young lady in your life that wants to play baseball. It comes in purple or pink and includes a soft core training ball. It's designed to support the young players practicing real field techniques. The glove shows a little sense of style but is durable and ready for the big games or just some backyard sessions.

3. Rawlings Playmaker Series PM 909 RP-$24.99: This 101/2" youth baseball glove features a Neo Flex back, designed to give the young player even more flexibility. The full grain 2 tone leather baseball glove has the closed basket web construction that is highly flexible and pliable, making it field ready. It is available for either hand and would be ideal for the young lad, or young lady baseball player.

4. Mizuno Prospect Series GPP 1151-$24.99: This glove is specially designed to help the young players catch the ball the right way-in the pocket. It features Mizuno's patented Power Close 2 technology with an exclusive outer thumb slot to improve the gloves "close ability". The V-Flex notch design in the heel also helps initiate easy closure. The Para Shock Palm pad reduces shock to minimize the "sting" of hard throws.

5. Wilson A 350 Protege Series-$29.99: This 12 1/2" baseball glove features an all leather palm and is designed for any position. The embroidery and custom matched logo give it the truly league look. You can't go wrong purchasing a Wilson brand baseball glove. They have been manufacturing sporting goods for decades and are leaders in the industry.

Sources: amazon.com
galtech.com/research/sports
Glove Slingers.com
personal experience