How a Baseball Glove Is Made
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How a Baseball Glove Is Made – The process of creating a baseball glove is both art and science. The manufacturer must take into account the size, shape and feel that the player desires while also ensuring that the glove meets the standards set by the governing body.
The Lacing
After the welt is sewn on, small strips of leather called lacing are sewn over the raw edge of the leather. The lacing protects the raw edge and adds strength to the glove. Once the lacing is in place, the glove is ready for the fingers.
The Webbing
The webbing of a baseball glove is typically made from cowhide or horsehide. The hide is cut into strips and then dyed. After the strips are cut, they are placed into a loom and woven together. The loom weaves the strips together in a crisscross pattern. This crisscross pattern is what forms the webbing of the glove.
The Palm
After the hide has been tanned and turned into a piece of rawhide, it is ready to be made into a baseball glove. The first thing that the craftsman does is cut out a pattern for the palm of the glove. This pattern has been passed down for generations, and it hasn’t changed much since the early days of baseball.
Once the palm has been cut out, the rawhide is wetted and then stretched over a wooden mold. The mold is in the shape of a hand, and it helps the rawhide retain its shape as it dries. After it has dried, the rawhide is trimmed to the correct size and then sewn shut.
The Back
By far the most important part of the glove is the back. The back is what covers the hand and gives the glove its shape. It also has a big impact on how the ball feels when it hits the glove.
There are two main types of gloves: those with a solid back and those with an open back. A solid back is made of one piece of leather that covers the entire hand. An open back has a hole in the middle of it, which makes it more flexible.
Most gloves have a webbing between the thumb and forefinger that helps players catch the ball. The webbing can be made of different materials, including leather, nylon, or Kevlar.
The size of the glove also varies depending on the position you play. Infielders usually have smaller gloves than outfielders because they need to be able to move their hands quickly to make throws. First basemen often have larger gloves than other infielders so they can better catch throws in traffic. Catchers have the largest gloves because they need to be able to catch pitches that are thrown at high speeds.
