The Best Leather Baseball Glove For 2024

Jonathan Wilson By, Jonathan Wilson
Updated
Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove

"Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove, Regular, Slow Pitch Pattern is the perfect glove for recreational or competitive softball or baseball. With a 12-inch adult glove and a full grain leather palm and web, this professional grade glove offers superior durability and comfort. The adjustable wrist strap provides a customized fit for maximum comfort." Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: Rawlings Baseball Glove

"This is a game ready baseball/softball glove from Rawlings. The Renegade 12. 5 inch Neo Flex/Basket Web baseball/softball glove has a 90percentage factory break in, giving you all the feel of a new glove, out of the box. Whether you use it as right-handed or left-handed, this 12. 5 inch ball glove has a game ready feel and is designed to be used by any position on the field." Read Review

3. Best Reliable: Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth Baseball Glove

"Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth Baseball Glove, Bryce Harper Model is a 12 inch all leather youth baseball glove styled after Bryce Harper's game model. It has a professional H web with all leather lacing ideal for use in the outfield. The Rawlings Pro Taper Fit pattern offers a smaller hand opening for greater control with an 11.5 inch fingers circumference, and is made of 100% full grain cowhide leather to ensure excellent durability." Read Review

4. Best Style: Rawlings Sandlot Baseball Glove

"Rawlings Sandlot Series Gloves are designed with zero shock palm pads for added protection, full-grain oiled shell leather for added durability, and padded finger back linings for unmatched comfort. These gloves are perfect for use at multiple infield positions. Rawlings games ready gloves arrive 80 percent broken-in from the factory and are available in 11.5 inches infield model, pro-I web." Read Review

When it comes to playing the game of baseball, there are many things that you have to take into account. If you are a beginner or even an experienced player, you will find that there is a lot more to the game than just being able to hit the ball and throw it accurately. The right equipment plays an important role in making sure that you have the best experience possible while playing.

The right leather baseball glove can make all the difference in your game. There are so many different factors when choosing what type of glove to use, from cost to material and brand name. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of our top recommendations for the best leather baseball gloves available on the market today.

We think the best leather baseball glove of 2024 is Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove. However, in order to provide the reader with a wider variety of alternatives, we recommend adding Rawlings Baseball Glove if you are interested in purchasing another appealing one.

Here are the buying guides that we specially made for you guys. Follow all the words below for successful shopping!

Compare

TOP Choice #1 Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove
Our Score:
9.8
Rawlings

ADJUSTABLE WRIST STRAP | Allows for a customizable fit for maximum comfort

12 INCH ADULT GLOVE | Perfect for recreational baseball and slowpitch softball

GAME READY FEEL | With quick, easy 80% factory - 20% player break-in process

ZERO SHOCK PALM PADDING | Provides increased impact protection while catching

FULL GRAIN LEATHER | Quality material ensures enhanced durability

BASKET WEB | Versatile web that can be used at any position on the field

TOP Choice #2 Rawlings Baseball Glove
Our Score:
9.6
Rawlings

DESIGNED AS A UTILITY GLOVE FOR ANY POSITION, this Renegade 12. 5 inch Neo Flex/Basket Web baseball/softball glove has a game ready feel right out of the box thanks to the 90percentage Rawlings factory break in

Right Hand Orientation = Right Hand Throw / Left Hand Orientation = Left Hand Throw

DURABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT pro mesh back design for optimal balance, added quickness, and shape retention

Right Hand Throw is equal to Left Hand Glove, Left Hand Throw is equal to Right Hand Glove

EXTRA COMFORT AND PROTECTION thanks to the high density cushioned palm and index finger pads

IDEAL FOR RECREATIONAL BASEBALL, SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL AND FASTPITCH SOFTBALL PLAYERS

TOP Choice #3 Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth Baseball Glove
Our Score:
9.4
Rawlings

Right Hand Orientation = Right Hand Throw / Left Hand Orientation = Left Hand Throw

12 inch all leather youth baseball glove styled after Bryce Harper's game model

Pro H web with all leather lacing ideal for use in the outfield

Youth Pro Taper Fit pattern offers a Smaller hand opening for greater Control

Palm and index finger padding with cushioned fingerback lining

Game Ready; comes 90percentage broken in from the factory

4 Rawlings Sandlot Baseball Glove
Our Score:
9.2
Rawlings

ZERO SHOCK PALM PADS for extra protection

FULL-GRAIN OILED SHELL LEATHER for added durability

PADDED FINGER BACK LININGS for unmatched comfort

GAME READY: Sandlot gloves arrive 80 percent broken-in from the factory

11.5 in. INFIELD MODEL, PRO I WEB - great for use at multiple infield positions

Right Hand Throw = Left Hand Glove, Left Hand Throw = Right Hand Glove

Mzo lining: disperses perspiration away from the skin

Full grain pigskin leather: for great durability

Right Hand Throw= worn on left hand, left hand Throw= worn on right hand

Butter soft palm liner: PU palm lining for increased durability, feel, and comfort

Air mesh back: increases flexibility & breathability

6 Franklin Sports Baseball Glove
Our Score:
8.8
Franklin Sports

DURABILITY: These baseball gloves combine a premium cowhide palm with a PU-Laminated PVC hybrid shell

SIZE: 13" ; Outfield ; Basket Web design for extra glove flexibility

VERSATILE: These gloves are perfect for baseball, softball, and t-ball play

FAST PLAY: Specially treated to go from the store to the playing field with no break-in required

ADJUSTABLE: The adjustable wrist strap provides a custom and versatile fit

7 Franklin Sports Baseball Fielding Glove
Our Score:
8.7
Franklin Sports

FAST BREAK-IN: The soft, flexible cowhide makes the breaking in process quick and easy to provide optimal performance right away

BASKET WEBBING: The basket web design is perfect for 3B, outfielders, and pitchers to catch pop-flies and hard hit balls deep in the enclosed pocket

DURABLE COWHIDE CONSTRUCTION: This mitt is made from genuine black cowhide leather for premium durability and performance season after season

CHROME TREATMENT: Chrome accent stitching and logo patch give this mitt a stylish professional look so you can look and play your best

SOFT PALM LINING: Designed with a super soft palm lining for maximum comfort while you're out in the field

8 Wilson A2K Baseball Glove
Our Score:
8.6
WILSON

12 inches

Double Palm Construction: A thin, perfectly shaped piece of leather placed between the palm liner and the outer shell enhances pocket stability. It also reduces the wrinkles in the palm of your glove, reducing the rebound on balls that hit your glove and

Single Split Post Web

Position: Infield

Flat Finger Binding: Flat Finger Binding gives players who prefer to play with a finger outside the glove greater comfort and control in the field. By reducing the amount of space between your finger and the back of the glove, you’ll experience less pain

SuperSkin: SuperSkin is a microfiber material that’s half the weight of Pro Stock Leather, but twice as durable. Its moisture-resistant design extends the longevity of the glove, and is easier to clean than traditional leather.

Pro Stock Select Leather: No leather in the game today compares to our Pro Stock Select leather. We triple-sort our leather hides for consistency and flawlessness, using only our top 5% of hides when crafting our A2K gloves.

Rolled Dual Welting

9 Shoeless Joe Gloves - Junior Baseball Glove
Our Score:
8.3
Shoeless Joe Gloves

Field Ready Shoeless Joe Gloves require little or no break in time

Shoeless Joe Ball Gloves have that "Game Worn" look but are designed and ready to take to the field at any level of play

Made from 100% Antique Tobacco Tanned cowhide and hand rubbed with old time ingredients to soften the leather

FIT - Left-Hand Throw (Item goes on the right hand), Right-Hand Throw (Item goes on the left hand)

MODEL - Junior Model – Tee Ball (7-year old and younger baseball players)

MATERIAL & DESIGN - Special aged soft antique tobacco leather with traditional open back and I-Web style

INTENDED FOR - Help train younger baseball players accept and hold a baseball FEATURES - Unique unstructured glove, individually hand-cut and sewn, handmade with no synthetic stuff

10 Rawlings, Encore Baseball Glove
Our Score:
8.5
Rawlings

DESIGNED FOR INFIELDERS, this Rawlings Encore 11.5 inch Pro I Web youth glove provides the player with the competitive advantage to field any grounder and quickly transfer the ball to their throwing hand for a throw around the infield

IDEAL FOR PLAYERS FROM AGE 8 THROUGH 14, Encore gloves provide more hand protection and shape retention for younger players, thanks to the extended web base which creates a deep pocket to help secure the ball when catching and fielding

65% FACTORY / 35% PLAYER BREAK-IN allows for a faster break-in process, while still holding shape

ADJUSTABLE HAND OPENING allows every player to dial in the fit of their glove

RIGHT HAND THROW (Glove goes on left hand)

Tips and strategies for selecting the best leather baseball glove on the market

People are always attempting to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Whether they're shopping for new shoes or a new automobile, knowing which best leather baseball glove to buy on the market might be difficult. Fortunately, this article gives some amazing keyword selection tips and tactics, so you don't have to worry about making a bad option!

Position

The needs of every player are different so baseball gloves have a variety of styles. Baseball gloves can have huge differences in design. First baseman need to have more surface for contact with the ball and outfielder must have more. Your position will dictate the size of your glove to best fit your actions on the field.

Padding

It is also important to think about your preferred padding. Based on what position you play, the padding on your glove will vary. The padding in the catcher's glove is more to shield their hands against pitcher's throws. Some positions may need additional padding, like third base and first base. The popularity of additional wrist padding, especially in corner-infield positions, has increased recently.

Webbing

You can find different kinds of webbing in gloves made for softball and baseball players. For infielders, the most popular type of webbing is looser. This gives you more control to get the ball out quickly and doesn't collect large amounts of dirt. Gloves with open webs will be preferred by infielders to provide visibility while protecting the sun.

Size

Bad fitting gloves can distract and make you uncomfortable. It is crucial to find the perfect fit. The size of the glove that you will need depends on where you play. The glove size of outfielders is usually greater than that of infielders.

Backs Of A Glove

The open and closed-back gloves are available to players. On the glove's backside, this portion can be seen above the wrist. If you have an open back, there will be a small space between the wrist and your back. While this is personal preference, there are some backs that work better in certain positions.

Material

Many materials can be used in gloves. These include leather, synthetic material, mesh and treated leather. Players prefer leather for its strength and durability. Pre-conditioned oil can be added to treated leather gloves for an easier break-in. Many prefer the lighter mesh-backed glove. The synthetic glove, which is lightest and cost-effective for players younger than adult size, works great.

Wrist Adjustments

A few gloves feature wrist adjustments. They allow players to tailor the glove to their needs, making it easy to take on and off. Velcro, a buckle and a D ring are all possible.

FAQs

How Do You Clean A Baseball Glove?

It can be quite delicate to clean a baseball glove if it is done properly. A simple wipe with your hands can be used to remove dirt from the glove. Use soap and water sparingly. Don't wash the glove with soap or use water as this can dry out leather and cause it to turn crusty.
Once you have finished cleaning the gloves you can apply leather conditioner to your hands.

What's The Difference Between Right-hand Thrower Vs Left-hand Thrower?

A left-handed person would use the glove on their right-hand. For right-handed people, they will need the glove on their left. The left-hand thrower will be more rare than the right-hand one.

How Do You Size A Baseball Glove?

It is important to consider the positions you play and personal preferences when choosing the right size baseball glove. Iannarilli stated that size is determined by preference. He also stated that the size of a glove varies depending on its position. For example, infielders will prefer gloves between 11.25 to 11.75 inches. While outfielders may favor gloves up to 12.5 inches.

How Do You Break In A Baseball Gloves?

Many baseball gloves come soft and ready to use, however, if you choose a premium leather glove, it will likely need some breaking in.

How Do I Get My New Glove In Place?

There are many methods you can use to get your glove in shape. Your glove will only be as good as the time it takes to get used to. The more leather you have, the easier it is to break in.

What Should A Baseball Glove Look Like?

You should find a baseball glove that fits comfortably but is not too tight on your hand. So that you don't have any extra hands, the glove must stop about halfway between your thumb and your finger. But if you feel the glove falling off your fingers or it feels too tight, it may be a sign that the glove is not fitting correctly.

Which Size Glove Should You Get?

Because of their slower reaction times, infielders tend to wear smaller gloves that are easier to control. Because infielders use smaller gloves, they are able to get the ball out faster and throw out runners. Outfielder gloves tend to be larger and have deeper pockets because they chase down fly balls. A bigger mitt also helps reduce the distance from the ball.

Conclusion

Choosing the best leather baseball glove for your purposes might be a difficult challenge. It is critical to remember what you want to achieve with the purchase as well as any factors that may influence your selection. 
Whether it's as basic as reading reviews before purchasing or inspecting images of best leather baseball glove on the market from numerous perspectives. When you wish to locate another one, you may also look at the Shoeless Joe Gloves Baseball Glove. Now, let’s pick one for you!


2 ratings

About Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson is a former pro football player and tech reporter who now serves as the editor of Kris Van Assche's website. He is a dedicated fitness enthusiast who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts and running.

Jonathan's athletic career began in college, where he was a star running back. He went on to play professionally for several years before injuries forced him to retire. Afterward, Jonathan transitioned into a career in tech reporting, where he quickly made a name for himself as a knowledgeable and insightful commentator on the industry.

In addition to his work with our website, Jonathan remains active in the world of sports. He regularly competes in martial arts tournaments and running events, and he is always looking for new ways to challenge himself physically. Jonathan is an inspiration to many people, and he is proof that it is never too late to pursue your passions.

Read Jonathan's full bio