What Equipment Do You Need For Baseball?

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Baseball, like most sports, needs plenty of equipment in order to play. Also, again like in most sports, players can go as crazy as they want when it comes to spending money on high-end gear and accessories. That doesn’t mean that a parent or player has to spend thousands of dollars on the essentials, however. 

This guide will look at everything a player will need for the first day of practice in order to have fun and not be missing anything important. Many first-time baseball players’ parents find themselves asking what equipment do you need for baseball.

Read on and find out.

Equipment Needed for Baseball

The list of equipment needed for baseball can be a little overwhelming. Before we break it down some of the more important items in the guide below, here is a quickfire checklist for game day.

  • Bag
  • Baseball Bat
  • Baseballs
  • Batting Glove
  • Belt
  • Cup (VERY important)
  • Glove/Mitt
  • Hat/Cap
  • Batting Helmet
  • Jersey
  • Padded Sliding Shorts
  • Baseball Pants
  • Baseball Spikes or Cleats
  • Socks
  • Water Bottle

Game Day Equipment

This next section gets into everything a player will need for game day.. Let’s start at the head and work down.

Baseball Cap

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The baseball cap has become an American fashion icon. You don’t often see people in everyday life wearing a baseball jersey, while anyone wearing baseball pants to a restaurant would get a funny look. A baseball cap, however, is more Americana than a white picket fence.

That is not to say that the baseball cap doesn’t have a practical use. The boys of summer obviously play their game through extreme heat and plenty of direct sun.

The brim of the cap shields the eyes from the sunlight, important when tracking down a fly-ball in the outfield. The brim also offers protection against sunburn on the face – one of the easiest to burn parts of the body – through sunscreening up is certainly also encouraged when it is 90+ degrees at game time.

Baseball Batting Helmet

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The cap is just one of the items of headwear that a player is going to need to get involved in baseball. Helmets became mandated by MLB in 1971 and over the next decade or so youth leagues incorporated the same rule for when players are at bat and running the bases. Many youth leagues also require a facemask in order to step into the batter’s box.

The reason for this is simply safety. Taking a fastball to the head is incredibly dangerous and players were getting seriously injured – and occasionally dying – as a result. The helmet will have at least one side extended down over the ear, protecting the batter on the side he faces the pitcher.

Jersey

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Pickup games won’t require a jersey, but be sure to take a light and a dark shirt with you to match (kind of) with teammates.

Jersey’s will be team specific and while kids might start with basic t-shirts, as the level improves so does the quality of the on-field kit. Eventually, expect to be wearing a button-up shirt with your name and number on the back to help protect the upper body when diving for balls or sliding into second base.

Batting Gloves

Batting gloves have different functions for different climates. In the winter they provide warmth and limit the shock and vibrations of a cold bat up the arms. In the summer they help provide extra grip as sweaty hands plus a baseball bat can lead to a slipping disaster.

Belt

Likely not required but certainly encouraged. No one wants their pants to fall down when trotting around the bases after hitting a home run. The belt does exactly what you would expect and also ties the uniform together.

Cup

Also likely not required, but it will only take one near-miss for the decision to own a cup to be made. Taking a fastball to the head can be deadly, but taking one to an unguarded crotch brings its own world of pain. This is a better safe than sorry scenario both in the batter’s box and also for any potential collisions in sensitive areas while on the diamond.

Pants

Usually made of polyester and match the team jersey as an essential piece of kit. Padded pants on the knee and backside are encouraged, especially for new players not used to how it feels to slide (it feels rough and even rougher when you are called out). If the pants provided are not padded but you still want that extra protection, then getting a pair of sliding shorts to wear under the team-issue pants is an excellent alternative option.

Socks

Socks will be matched to the team colors and are usually worn either calf-high or knee-high depending on the preference of the player. They provide protection when sliding, but many players also like the extra padding of the socks on the soles of their feet and the heel to prevent blisters. Socks are still the only item of clothing MLB teams are named after.

Baseball Cleats/Spikes

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The first piece of equipment that plays will want to spend time thinking about. The type of cleat that a player will need varies depending on the surface they will play on (grass or turf) and the climate that dictates the softness of the diamonds in a region.

Cleats provide players with the grip to make hard cuts when running the bases and the traction to initiate a sprint to track down balls hit into the outfield. 

While metal cleats are the way to go for pros, plastic and rubber options are also available at a much lower cost. Also experiment with mid/low cut options as a player to see what combination of ankle support/ankle flexibility works best for you.

Baseball Bat

This is where a parent or player can really start to spend some serious money. Don’t feel like you need to show up on day one with a bag loaded with four brand-new bats. Instead, use what bats they have at the club that you are playing for, or try using a bat of a friend or family member.

The wooden bats the pros use are expensive and not particularly durable. Aluminum or metal composite bats are the way to go when starting out. They are lighter, the barrels have a bigger sweet spot for contact, and they make the world’s most satisfying “ding” on contact. Learn more about the different types of baseball of bats.

Baseball Glove

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Another hugely important piece of baseball iconography is the baseball glove. Balls are hit so hard that bare handing everything hit into the field of play became a bad decision decades ago. Baseball gloves not only provide a bigger hand span on the field but the padding and protection they offer will save you a dozen broken hands or fingers by the time your career is over.

Gloves come in different specs in terms of their materials and in different sizes. Bigger gloves will catch more balls, but the downside is that they increase the transfer time to your throwing arm. If you are playing as a middle infielder then smaller gloves are recommended for an increased ability to get the ball to first base in a hurry.

Protective Equipment In Baseball

Chest Protector

Worn by batters to protect their chests from a misplaced pitch. Can save a player from cracked ribs or – in incredibly extreme and rare circumstances – death from a blunt force trauma to the chest.

Leg Guards

If you are a player with a tendency to slide the ball down towards your own body when you foul off pitches then leg/shin guards are an essential part of the kit. These will save you from days of painful bumps and bruises on the lower legs.

Catcher’s Equipment

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Specialized towards the most specialist position on the diamond. A catcher not only needs an oversized glove, but also his own helmet, mask, and chest protector. Protection is the key here as the catcher is in the line of fire for every pitch his team throws in a game. That is why the mask not only protects the face but also extends down over the throat of a catcher, a very vulnerable spot.

Comfort is also important given the amount of time a catcher is on the field. Masks should be as breathable as possible, giving the catcher ventilation and allowing the player to breathe easily even on the most humid night.

Baseball Training Equipment, Aids and Accessories

Here is a quick rundown of other items worth considering when answering the question of what equipment do you need for baseball.

  • Equipment bag – Better have something to lug around a bunch of bats and a glove.
  • Baseballs – Pretty important if you want to practice any single aspect of the game.
  • Water bottle – Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Baseball is a summer sport and cramping up in the ninth inning because of a failure to hydrate would be sad.
  • Sunglasses – Practical to stop your eyes from falling apart in old age with the added bonus of making you look cool.
  • Snacks – Sunflower seeds are as ingrained in baseball heritage as the New York Yankees.
  • Eye black – Prevents the glare from the sun and is important in games when playing against the backdrop of a setting sun.
  • Pitching machine – More for teams than individuals unless there is money to burn. If you don’t have one then a friend can do this job too.
  • Nets – See above unless you want to spend hours tracking down balls.
  • Batting Tee – A tee to put the balls on to work on your swing.

Common FAQs

What to wear for playing baseball?

Baseball players have a lot of equipment to wear for games. Uniforms consist of a cap, jersey, pants, belt, socks, and spikes/cleats. Players will also need a helmet and gloves for when they are at-bat and a baseball glove for when they are in the field. Don’t forget the cup to protect a very sensitive area from incoming fastballs!

What is the most important equipment in baseball?

The most important piece of equipment is probably a baseball as without it players are just swinging bats at nothing but air. In terms of player equipment, the bat, helmet, and a baseball glove to catch the ball are the most important pieces of equipment.

Is baseball equipment expensive?

Baseball can be very expensive. According to this article from the University of Ohio, baseball can cost upwards of $600 for equipment. This is before league fees/travel costs are factored in. The main reason is that while it doesn’t require the protective clothing of football or hockey, baseball bats are very expensive and can easily cost more than $350 on their own.

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