Complete Guide to Youth Baseball Catchers Equipment Gear

• More than any other players (including a pitcher), a catcher is the backbone of a team, inspiring and encouraging his teammates
• Constant squatting to blocking breaking pitches in the dirt with bare forearms, a catcher’s position can be physically brutal on a young player’s body

Due to the physical nature of being a catcher, your child should be mentally and physically tough.

The catcher has the best opportunity to learn the game of baseball much faster than anyone else on the team because they will be involved with every single pitch.

But the position can also be tough on their bodies. I have seen many happy go lucky kids who get a nasty hit with a baseball in an unprotected area and quit being a catcher altogether.

Unlike other baseball accessories, buying the correct catcher’s gear can be complex so it is worthwhile to invest in some time to learn about how to properly size a catcher’s equipment before deciding on a purchase.

Few factors to consider as you contemplate on making a purchase:

• Many youth leagues teams have T-ball catcher’s equipment
• How old is your child?
• Is your child playing on a rec team or travel team or both?

You can expect to spend anywhere from $100 for a T-ball Catcher’s set to $600/800 for a set of high quality adult catcher’s gears.

Your child will go through multiple growth spurts so you will need to upgrade when his set wears out or he needs to up-size his gear.

Buy New or Used?

Catcher’s equipment can be a large investment so if you are unsure about your child’s commitment to being a catcher, you may want to consider buying a used or clearance set from one of these venues:

• Craigslist.org
• eBay.com
• Facebook.com/marketplace
• Offerup.com
• Playitagainsports.com
• Sidelineswap.com

Because catcher’s equipment are bulky, I prefer to look locally at FB Marketplace and Craigslist.

Sidelineswap and OfferUp may have few local listings but they are mainly online so if you are going in that route, I would first look at eBay because they offer a higher level of purchase protection.

Play It Again Sports is also a good option if you have a store near by but you would pay premium over other venues.

You can also look at the clearance section from online stores like Baseball Monkey.

Buying a Used Catcher’s Gear

You can usually get a good deal during fall or winter (you will compete with other parents during spring and summer so your negotiating power is reduced).

Few things to keep in mind before buying a used catcher’s gear:

• Pay attention to the scuff marks. Although surface scratches do not reduce protection, they are a good indicator as to how often/hard they have been used. If you see deep gouges, you want to pay a closer attention to the rest of the gear
• Check for hairline cracks on the helmet and shin guards. Pay special attention to fastener holes where a mask gets attached to the helmet. If you see anything resembling a crack, give it a pass
• Check the helmet face mask fasteners. Screws and clips tend to get loose over a period of time. A well-maintained helmet will have tight screws and clips intact.
• Don’t buy if you see any rips or seams becoming undone on the chest protector.
• Check the elastic straps and hardware on the chest protector, chest protector and leg guards. Straps are inexpensive and easy to replace but broken buttons and hooks on the chest protector and leg guards are not easy to repair
• Examine the foam cushion inside the helmet / shin guards / knee pads. If a cushion is coming apart or they feels compressed/very flat, that means these leg guards have probably reached the end of their serviceable life and will need to replaced. Leg guards cost around $150+ for a new pair so it will be cheaper to buy a new set
• Catcher’s mitt (mitt vs gloves)- if you are lucky, a seller may include a catcher’s mitt or two. Keep in mind that catcher’s mitts must be broken in that is specific to your child’s hand. Lots of catcher’s mitts are pancaked due to improper storage which makes it very difficult to catch a ball so if they are free or very cheap, get it. Otherwise, pass on them

Just for the record, when my daughter wanted to try out being a catcher, I snagged a used Mizuno Samurai set along with a brand new Mizuno catcher’s mitt and a matching bag for $75 from Craigslist. So with a little bit of foresight and patience, buying a used catcher’s equipment can be a great way to save some money!

Buying a New Catcher’s Gear

When it comes to buying a new catcher’s gear, you need to decide if you should buy each parts (i.e. chest protector, helmet, shin guards) separately or buy them together as a set.

Buying individual parts makes sense if your child’s body type, height and weight are either below or above “average”.

For example, some kids have longer legs than torsos (and vice versa) so you may need a longer/bigger shin guards than the stock leg guards included in a set. I think 80% of the players fir into the average size category so going with a set is perfectly acceptable.

Few things to keep in mind when buying a new catcher’s gear:

• Depending on the manufacturer, you may be able to buy a custom set. It will be more expensive than a generic set but you will still save few bucks by going this route
• If your child serious about being a catcher and they are 11 years old or older, consider getting 2 catcher’s mitts. Mtts take a long time to break in and it;s always good to have a spare, especially if your child plays for a travel team
• The specs on a catcher’s set rarely change significantly from year to year, so look around for clearance or previous year’s leftovers for a great deal/value

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Color and Style

You can choose any color and style your child wants but keep these three things in mind:

• Avoid dark helmets – Summer games can get extremely hot so choose a light colored helmet (remember, bright colors like white and yellow reflect the most light; light gray or white helmet would be good).

• Chest protector / leg guard color should be opposite that of the inside color of a catcher’s mitt. Young pitchers need a clear, visible target. For example, if you buy a dark colored chest protector, you should buy a light colored mitt and vice versa.

• Avoid wild patterns. I know it’s cool to wear camouflage or stars and stripes patterns but again, you want to present a clear target for your pitcher. Why confuse them?

Which Brand Should You Buy?

There are many, many brands that make catcher’s equipment:

• All Star
• Boombah
• Easton (in 2020, Rawlings purchased the Easton brand)
• Force3
• Louisville
• Mizuno
• Nike (Although used by many MLB players, Nike stopping producing catcher’s gear for the general public in 2017. According to Nike, it plans on returning to the consumer market in 3Q 2022)
• Rawlings
• Under Armor (sells re-labeled All-Star gear)
• Wilson
• Etc.

All brands share many of the same features but the most high level (High school and up) players I have seen use:

• All Star
• Force3
• Mizuno
• Rawlings

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Size Definitions

Actual sizing specifications are unique to each manufacturer so you should check their product pages before making your purchase decision.

The generic sizing categories are:

• Junior Youth (a.k.a. youth small/medium)
  • Ages: 5 – 8
  • Helmet: 6 3/8″ – 6 7/8″
  • Chest Protector: 12″ – 12 1/2″
  • Knee/Shin Guards: 11″ – 12″
• Youth (a.k.a. youth large/extra large)
  • Ages: 9 – 12
  • Helmet: 6 3/8″ – 7 1/8″
  • Chest Protector: 13 1/2″ – 14 1/2″
  • Knee/Shin Guards: 13″ – 14″
• Intermediate
  • Ages: 12 – 15
  • Helmet: 6 1/2″ – 7 5/8″
  • Chest Protector: 15″ – 15 1/2″
  • Knee/Shin Guards: 14.5″ – 15 1/2″
• Adult
  • Ages: 16+
  • Helmet: 7″ – 7 7/8″
  • Chest Protector: 15 1/2″ – 16″
  • Knee/Shin Guards: 15″ – 16″

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Head Protection

Catcher’s face mask (helmet) protects your child’s head so you cannot afford to skimp on this critical part of a catcher’s gear.

There are two design options:

• Traditional face mask [1]
• Hockey mask

Each design comes with its own pros and cons that a player must take into consideration.

[1] High School baseball catchers must follow these NFHS rules:

NFHS Rule 1-5-3: The catcher shall wear, in addition to a head protector, a mask with a throat protector, body/chest protector that meets the NOCSAE standard at the time of manufacture (Effective January 1, 2020), protective cup (male only), and baseball protective shin guards.

NFHS Rule 1-5-4: The catcher’s helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard. Any helmet or helmet and mask combination shall have full ear protection (dual ear flaps). A throat protector, which is either a part of or attached to the catcher’s mask, is mandatory. A throat protector shall adequately cover the throat. The commercially manufactured catcher’s head, face and throat protection may be a one-piece or multi-piece design. While in a crouch position, any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location shall wear a head protector, a mask with a throat protector and a protective cup (male only).

NFHS rule is generally accepted by many younger youth baseball leagues and since there aren’t many face mask with full ear coverage helmet combinations available on the market, most young catchers wear the hockey style mask.

Traditional Style Face mask

For professional baseball catchers, there are three components to a traditional style face mask:

• Face mask
• Face mask harness
• Skull cap

Hockey Goalie Mask

Similar to a hockey goalie mask, this style provides excellent, all around head protection for the catchers.

The two downsides to a catcher’s hockey mask are:

• the entire assembly can get heavy, especially during a long baseball weekend
• unlike hockey, baseball games are played in a hot environment so the mask can trap a lot of heat and sweat (you may want to provide a cooling towel and lots of fluid)

If you plan on using a T-ball catcher’s equipment provided by your local league, just keep in mind that newer style catcher’s helmet comes with a face mask that extends down to the jaw line for enhanced protection (without adding too much extra weight)

Catcher’s Helmet Sizing

For the most accurate sizing, you should use your child’s hat size by measuring the circumference of his head.

You can either use a soft measure tape or string to wrap it around his head about 1 inches above your eyebrows.

Please keep in mind that each manufacturer will have slightly different measurement methods so make sure to try out the helmet.

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Throat Protector

The proper technique of blocking a dirt ball is to bring your chin down to your chest, form a triangle with your arms in front of your body and drop your knees together. This way, any unexpected ball that kick up will not hut the catcher’s exposed throat.

Unfortunately, I have seen many youth baseball catchers react to dirt balls by actually lifting their chins up (with eyes closed).

Even with less dense baseballs (Different Types of Age Appropriate Baseballs), getting hit in the throat with a baseball really does hurt!

Other than training, you can purchase a simple throat protector

Although both the traditional and hockey style masks have a chins that are elongated, to provide extra neck protection, a bit of extra insurance against a ball unexpectedly kicking up

This is to provide a little bit of protection to the catcher’s throat.

A properly trained youth catcher is supposed to bring his neck down to his chest when attempting to field a dirt ball that may unexpectedly bounce up.hitting catcher’s expose neck area.

This is a simple device so no need to over think it. For aesthetics, you may want to match the brand and color to your child’s existing catcher’s helmet.

If you are an umpire, you may want to read YOU’RE WEARING YOUR THROAT GUARD WRONG – HOW TO FIX IT article.

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Chest Protector

A chest protector is a protective shell that covers the front side of a catcher’s upper torso to protect against foul-tipped balls and errant pitches.

Originally invented for both catchers and umpires in the 1890’s, catcher’s chest protector design shifted away from umpire’s design early on.

Umpire’s chest protector is usually made from thicker materials and often has an plastic exoskeleton for extra protection. The entire assembly tends to be fairly large with large pieces covering the shoulder, ribs and abdomen.

Catcher’s chest protector offers similar body protections but with less protective materials.

The chest protective materials are usually made with high density foam padding sandwiched between durable fabric material and has pronounced cutouts to allow the catchers their shoulders and arms to move without restriction.

Starting in 2020, catcher’s gear rules changes went into effect. One of those changes is to mandate that high school (NFHS) and college (NCAA) catchers are wearing a chest protector that is NOCSAE certified.

In youth leagues, there are no changes for now but if you are the equipment manager for a local league, you should purchase catcher’s equipment with NOCSAE certifications to ensure that your league meets this requirement in the near future.

Important Chest Protector Features to Consider:

• Chest protector must “ride high” – when standing, it must cover from sternum to belly button area; I see too many kids with chest protectors that are TOO LARGE (see pix below). Just know that a baseball has a way of finding that perfect, unprotected spot on a catcher so minimize any large gaps!

• Look for the “I” or “X” design straps – most chest protector straps come with a weak Y design straps. In my opinion, this design does not allow the chest protector to follow the contours of a player’s chest. A better fit would be the X or I straps which independently pulls both shoulders corners and belly sides for better protection and ball control during blocking

• Look for breakpoints that suits your child’s body type – all chest protectors come with ridges or breakpoints to allow a chest protector to fold in certain spots when a catcher squats down (remember, some kids may have longer or shorter torsos than average). Higher quality chest protectors have specific design patterns to create a large blocking area, including wedged abs.

Sternum or Collar Bone Cushion

Most newer chest protectors come with a sternum cushion. What you DON’T WANT is this:

Groin cover / extender

Some catcher chest protectors comes with a flap that extends over the groin area. This design is mostly targeted for very young catchers who may not be wearing baseball cups yet.

For older kids, most chest protects come with a detachable groin flap so that manufacturers can produce one design for both boys and girls.

Most older boys I have coached remove this flap as it tends to cause the chest protector to crunch up which makes it hard to predictably block any in-the-dirt pitches.

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Shoulder Pads

Prior to 1981, chest protectors did not have any shoulder protections because manufacturers thought that catcher;s needed to have this throwing arm free from any restrictions.

This flawed design logic left catchers getting injured from foul-tipped baseballs and errant pitches.

So in 1980 an MLB catcher named Bruce Robinson invented a “Robby Flap” to protect catcher’s exposed shoulder made from the same material as the rest of the chest protector.

Who gets the credit for inventing the Robby Flap?

According to Mr. Robinson, it was he who first invented it and has alleged that Wilson Sporting Good stole his idea. He did an extensive review about this topic and his baseball career and life that was really cool with Cococrispafro.

After his baseball career was over, he became a musician so check out his website, www.brucerobinsonmusic.com as well!

Interestingly, Mark Neuhalfen / Wilson Sporting Goods patented a similar design in 1989 (expired since 2009). Today, almost all catcher protectors come with a set of removable “RobbyFlaps”.

The “correct” way of wearing the flap seems to be a personal preference (see MLB catchers below), I would recommend that youth baseball catchers wear both shoulder pads.

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Chest Protector Sizing

Generally speaking, you want to measure from the top of the collar bone (sternum) to your belly button.

One of the most important job of being a catcher is blocking and keeping all baseballs in front of the body for fielding purposes.

A chest protector that is too long or too big will cause the surface to bend when a catcher squats down, making it very difficult for the catcher to predict where the blocked ball will end up.

A properly sized chest protector will allow your catcher to correctly react to a blocked ball.

The table below is the approximate (recommended) length for each age group:

• T-ball (5 to 6 years old, 3’7 to 4′ tall) = chest protector should be approximately 9″ long
• Farm A/AA (7 to 8 years old, 4′ to 4’5″ tall) = chest protector should be approximately 10″ long
• Minors/Majors (9 to 12 years old, 4’6″ to 5’0″ tall) = chest protector should be approximately 12″ long
• Pony (13 to 14 years old, 5’0″ to 5’4″ tall) = chest protector should be approximately 13″ long
• Senior (15-16 years old, 5’4″ to 5’9″ tall) = chest protector should be approximately 15″ long
• Adult (17+ years old, 5’9″ to 6’3″) = chest protector should be approximately 16″ or longer

Please note that manufacturers have their own way of measuring so you want to carefully read their instructions (and try it out) before making a purchase.

If you are purchasing a complete set (helmet+mask, chest protector, shin guards), most manufacturers bundle their sizes into these 4 categories:

• Junior Youth = 6 to 8 years old
• Youth = 9 to 12 years old
• Intermediate = 13 to 15 years old
• Adult = 16 and older

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Catcher’s Mitt

Unlike a fielding glove, a catcher’s mitt has additional layers of protection from more durable leather that allows a catcher to receive, block and throw the controlling errant pitches.

Finding a catcher’s mitt that is the right size an weight will ensure that a catcher will develop properly during his baseball “career”.

When looking for your best catchers mitt, these are the things to keep in mind:

• Leather Quality
• Hand Protection
• Hinge Construction
• Break-in time
• Webbing, Back and Color
• Mitt Sizing and Weight

Leather Quality

Being a catcher means repeatedly catching pitches frequently so investing in a mitt that has high quality leather will ensure that a broken in mitt will last a long time.

Cheaper leather tends to lose its shape and rigidity quickly, making the catcher’s glove flimsy and floppy. That in turn increases the chance that a ball is not received properly and makes it very difficult to frame a pitch.

Cheaper leather also tends to form an unintended creases inside the glove pock, increasing the likelihood of a baseball popping out.

A catcher’s glove made from quality leather will retain its shape, allowing pitches to be securely caught with a nice popping sound.

Hand Protection

Catcher’s mitts come with a strategically placed thicker padding than fielding gloves.

Some mitts come with a builtin wrist pad that provides further protection from foul tips and from blocking breaking pitches ending in the dirt.

Also, pay special attention to the thumb strap and make sure that it is easy to adjust yet secure.

Hinge Construction

Hinge on a catcher’s mitt is what allows the it to open and close A wider heel channel will make it easier for youth catchers to close the mitt

Break-in time

Although some manufacturers will sell catcher’s gloves that are broken-in but I prefer that my players break-in their own gloves to match their hand shapes.

Catcher’s glove will take a bit more time to manually break-in than a regular fielder’s gloves.

Webbing, Back and Color

When it comes to web style and glove backs for catcher’s mitts, there are really only two types that are used. These are two-piece closed webs and closed webs. Both of these styles help to conceal signals to the pitcher, provide a stronger, deeper pocket, and allow for extra padding to help protect the hand when catching hard thrown pitches.

You can choose whatever design you want (i.e. open or closed webbing) but when it comes to color, you need to choose a color that is in direct contrast to your catcher’s chest protector. This will ensure that your pitcher can easily see the target.

Mitt Sizing and Weight

Unlike regular gloves, you do not directly measure your child’s hand and buy a corresponding catcher’s mitt.

Instead, you need to look at the recommended sizing table (below) and try it out. It’s more of how it feels in your child’s hand that will allow him to catch and quickly transfer the baseball.

Please remember that the size, model, leather quality, usage (sweat and dirt build up) and glove oil all contribute the overall weight of a catcher’s mitt and anything that is heavy becomes hard to maneuver and control during a game.

Few things to keep in mind:

• catcher’s mitts are measured in circumference
• for catchers who are 7 or younger, I don’t think there is a need (or justification) to spend money on a catcher’s mitt. Pitchers at this age simple do not throw hard (or accurate) to sting your catcher’s hand.
• for 8 or 9 year old players, you want them to start using a catcher’s mitt, not because pitchers throw hard, but to get them acclimated
• Generally speaking, younger catchers who are 12 years old or younger will buy a 32″ (or smaller) mitt whereas 13+ years or older players will choose a mitt that is 32.5″ or larger
• Youth mitts have smaller openings with tighter finger pockets
• Of course the actual size will entirely depended on the size of your child’s catching hand
• Some mitts come with additional index finger padding for protection against stings

At around 11 to 12 years, pitchers do start to throw hard so your child may need some accessories a thumb guard, finger cushion, padded inner glove, etc.

You have to account for additional bulk before setting on a final size.

At the end of the day, what you want is a catcher’s mitt that fits snugly as a loose fitting mitt will make it very difficult to receive and hold the baseball.

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Leg / Shin guards

The purpose of the shin guards is to protect the knees, shins, ankles and toes from balls that end up in dirt, collisions at the home plate and errant pitches.

The cost can be anywhere from $50 to $250 with more expensive shin guards having higher quality padding inside and hardware.

Few features to look out for:

• Triple knee-cap shields are far superior to a double-knee cap protection (double-knee caps are fine for softball players due to the way pitches are thrown; in baseball, because pitches are thrown in a downward direction, having a 3 piece design provides better protection than a 2 piece design found in beginners/less expensive sets)

• High quality fastening hardware (stainless steel hooks; no buttons) and wide straps (stay away from Velcros)
• Ankle bone shields (plastic shell is preferable)
• Double jointed foot/toe covers (better protection when crouched)

Triple Knee Protection

Triple knee caps provide more flexibility and movement and they contour around your knees for better protection from foul tips and wild pitches.

Yes, they do weigh more than a double knee cap design, but if you have ever played this position, you would know that getting hit in the knee while it is fully flexed is extremely painful.

Your knees will still hurt but a third knee cap cover over the gap in the double knee cap will take the brunt of the force and will allow you to continue in the game.

Shin Guard Straps and Hardware

One of the annoyance of being a catcher is that straps securing your shin guards will constantly come off during a game.

Young players will often get flustered and will try to play on without properly securing their shin guards.

I have seen Velcro straps and weird straps with fancy contraptions but the best design is the tried and true flexible “I” straps like this All-Star Flex Leg Guard Harness.

Athletic Baseball Cup

Catchers at all ages should wear a cup!

I highly recommend that your child wears a cup sooner than later. It take some time to get comfortable playing baseball wearing a cup.

For young children, I suggest your child wears a cup that has foam protection around the edges for comfort along with a slider short:

• Nutty Buddy
• Comfy Cup along with Franklin Sports Youth Baseball Sliding Shorts
• Shock Doctor Slider Shorts and Athletic Cup (suggested for 9+ year olds)

Optional Accessories

As your child gets older, you may want consider some of the following accessories:

• Knee Savers
• Forearm and wrist protectors
• Thumb guards
• Index finger cushion

Knee Spacers

Baseball catchers squat and stand up hundreds of times every single game. That’s probably why most MLB catchers develop difficulty walking after they retire.

Knee Spacers (also commonly referred by a trade marked name “Knee Savers”) are made from high density foam pads and they are designed to reduce wear and tear of your knees by limiting the extension of your knees.

These pads take the pressure off your knees by creating a space between the back of the thigh/butt are and calves.

The use of knee spacers are somewhat controversial in that some coaches claim that these pads reduce your ability to move quickly and make you lazy behind the plate.

I agree that it can be bit cumbersome but with some strength training and practice, it really becomes second part of your body.

There are two types of knee spacers: a wedge and a block

Knee Saver is the original trade-marked invention tat comes in a block design. Because of its design, Knee Savers are meant to be worn away from the knee joints.

The wedge design was popularized by Mizuno and it copied by other manufacturers. The wedge design allows it to be worn very close to the knee joints.

The cost is usually around $25-$35 for a pair”

• Knee Savers (Amazon)
• Champion Sports Catcher’s Knee Supports

Forearm and wrist protectors

Thumb guards

Index finger cushion

Catcher’s equipment bag

There a lots of options but you want to keep few things in mind:

• Getting a wheeled bag is easier to move than carrying a backpack
• Larger wheels are definitely better than small wheels
• You don’t need 10 million pockets as most kids will only use 1 or 2
• Don’t buy an over-sized bag, especially for a young catcher because it will be hard to maneuver

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Equipment Maintenance

Performing properly cleaning and maintenance is essential for maximum injury protection as well as for the longevity of your catcher’s gear.

Here is a quick checklist to perform after each game:

• After getting home, remove all equipment from the bag to air dry. If you leave them inside a zipped up catcher’s bag, I guarantee you that you will end up growing bacteria
• Your helmet traps a lot of dirt and sweat. Use Clorox wipes to wipe down the helmet (inside and outside). Even better if you can remove the inside cushion just prior to cleaning
• Use a medium sized scrubbing brush to scrape off any mud (from playing on a wet field) and dirt from the chest protector and leg guards
• Spray Lysol on the inside part of the chest protector and leg guards
• Check and tighten the facemask to ensure that all screws and fasteners are intact
• Verify that straps and hooks on the chest protector and leg guards are in good working order
• Clean your mitts with damp cloth. Add a baseball into the pocket and wrap it with a wide velcro to hold its pocket shape. Do not store without placing a ball! That will pancake the mitt which is not good.

Do NOT submerge your equipment in water as it will take a very long time to dry!

Lastly, don’t forget to dry your cleats (if they smell bad, check out my post, “Solutions to Your Child’s Stinky Feet“) for solutions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which brands of catcher’s mitt are are popular with youth catchers?

Most youth baseball players under 14 years old buy a catcher’s mitt from All Star, Easton, Mizuno, Rawlings and Wilson. Older players tend to buy All Star, Rawlings and Wilson mitts

What do MLB catchers wear?

Force3 seems to be popular with MLB catchers due to its innovative face mask with shock absorbing springs. If you are interested to know which brands are used by professional players, WhatProsWear.com created a list back in 2018. Obviously, what pros wear probably has a lot to do with sponsorships so keep that in mind.

Are there any left handed catchers in the major baseball league?

Because the majority of MLB batters are right handed, left-handed catchers making a throw to second base is at an disadvantage. Out of 19 Hall of Fame MLB catchers, four of them were left handed: Yogi Berra, Bill Dickyet, Mickey Cochrane and Louis Santop

Who were some of the most Famous baseball catchers of all time?

Baseball has seen many legendary catchers, each leaving a distinct mark on the game. Yogi Berra stands out with his unparalleled 10 World Series championships and 3 MVP awards. Johnny Bench, known for revolutionizing the catcher’s role defensively, also shines with 2 MVP titles and 10 Gold Gloves. Ivan Rodriguez, another great, excelled in both offense and defense, earning 14 All-Star selections and 13 Gold Gloves. These catchers not only demonstrated exceptional skill but also significantly influenced the evolution of their position in baseball.

How much does catcher’s gear weigh in total?

Catcher’s gear in baseball, essential for protection, typically weighs around 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11.3 kg) in total. This weight can vary based on the type, quality, and size of the gear. A standard set includes a helmet, chest protector, and shin guards. The helmet usually weighs between 3 to 5 pounds, the chest protector around 2 to 5 pounds, and shin guards approximately 3 to 7 pounds. Additional gear like a catcher’s mitt and optional knee savers can add more weight. The exact total depends on the specific combination of gear used.

How much does a helmet weigh?

A catcher’s helmet typically weighs between 3 to 5 pounds (1.4 to 2.3 kilograms). The weight can vary based on the design, materials, and size of the helmet. Modern helmets are designed to provide a balance between maximum protection and comfort, using lightweight materials that can absorb high impact. The exact weight depends on the brand and model.

How do I know when to replace my catcher’s gear?

You should replace your catcher’s equipment when you have protective foam rips inside your helmet, mask fastener hole(s) are cracked, chest protector fabric is starting to rip, shin guard foam pads are flat or missing or if your toe guards are no longer covering the tip of your cleats

How much does a catcher’s mitt weigh?

The average weight for a catcher’s mitt for youth and adult was approximately 26 ounces; youth players lack upper body strength so don’t use too much glove oil as it will make the mitt heavier over a period of time

Best catcher – Yadier Molina; what does he wear?

Yadier started with Rawlings 950Z but switched to Nike Pro Gold Precision towards the end of his career

Are knee savers bad for your knees?

I have not come across any scientific study that says the knee pads are bad for your knees. However, you do need to position them at the mid-point or lower of your calves to be effective.

How often should you replace catchers gear?

Catcher’s set normally lasts two to three years. Of course if your child grows fast, you will need to replace it sooner. You do need to check each components to make sure that they are in working order. The knee pads on shin guards usually wear so they need to be checked every year. Catcher’s helmet will last but you need to check that all fasteners are there to ensure that the face mask is securely attached to the helmet. You also need to check the helmet for any cracks.

Is there a difference between baseball catchers gear and softball catchers gear?

In most cases, catcher’s gear can be used interchangeably between baseball and softball

What is a catcher’s balk?

Catcher must be in the catcher’s box before a pitch is thrown; otherwise a catcher’s balk may be called and just like a pitcher’s balk, all base runners advance one base. For more info on this topic, read my post Catcher’s Box – Shape and Dimensions

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Related Posts

• The Importance of the NOCSAE Certification
• How to Fix a Catcher’s Bag rip with Gear Tape