The key baseball equipments are the bat, gloves, mask and the ball itself. The information about the same is available all over the Internet. Even 5 year olds have their opinion on the same. However, let us now look at the evolution of these equipments over a period of time.

The evolutions of baseball equipments can be traced from the 19th century itself right fro the conception of the game. However, the game then used very few types of equipment in the 19th century. No helmets were used. Gloves gained popularity in the late 1880s and the baseball has retained the same dimensions, weight and leather pattern since 1872.

Baseball Equipment: Bat
The look and feel of the 19th century bats was very different from the present day’s bats. The handles were heavier and thicker and had more of a gradual taper from the handle to the barrel. They were made with or without knobs on the handle and ‘rings’ were painted on various parts of the bat to reflect the team color.

The dimensions of the bat were finally agreed upon during the first baseball convention in 1857. The dimensions were described as round, not to be more than two and one-half inches around in its thickest part and the length could be decided according to the suitability of the striker. However, during the 1868 season, it was decided that the bat could not be longer than 42 inches.

Baseball Equipment: The Glove and the Mask
The gloves in the 19th century started out as merely a leatherwork glove, with or without full fingers, and gradually padding was added to it. Though, it is not possible to pinpoint the first player to wear a glove but reports indicate that as early as 1860 the catchers were wearing them.

In 1885, Arthur Irwin, in order to protect his two broken fingers, added ‘padding’ to his buckskin glove. This is probably the first instance of a player introducing noticeable padding to a glove.

As the evolution of the glove progressed, the National League and American Association of Base Ball Clubs instituted a rule in 1895, which stated, “The catcher and the first baseman are permitted to wear a glove or mitt of any size, shape or weight. All other players are restricted to the use of a glove or mitt weighing not over ten ounces, and measuring in circumference around the palm of the hand not over fourteen inches.” This would be the rule for the rest of the 19th century. » Read more: Baseball Equipments