User:Cdsteph99/sandbox

The structure and quality of the baseball glove has developed greatly over the past century. Today, the production of baseball gloves is much more precise and efficient. This has greatly increased the usefulness and accessibility of baseball gloves to the general population. Currently, Easton is "experimenting with combining leather and Kevlar (used in bullet-proof vests) in a new ultra-light weight glove line".(2) Manufacturers have also designed new, non-traditional types of gloves to suit non-traditional players. Also, manufacturers are personalizing gloves for high caliber players to help increase their exposure on national television. Even though there have been many advancements in the design and creation of the baseball glove, the greatest came in the invention of the catcher's mitt. However, as a Wake Forest University study demonstrated through 39 minor-league players, even though today's catcher's mitts are state-of-the-art, they still do not offer enough protection from long-term injury to the hand and wrist.

The highest-quality baseball gloves are typically made of heavy leather. These heavy leather gloves usually take more time for the player to break in. These gloves also provide a tighter, more personalized fit for the player. This is an improvement from youth and recreational gloves, which tend to feature palm pads and/or adjustable velcro wrist straps. These gloves take less time to break in or they are pre-broken in, and they less personal and more "one size fits all".

Most players choose which glove manufacturer they will sign with when they are in the minor leagues, and stay with them for their entire career.(5) Most glove companies will pay in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for high-caliber players to endorse their gloves.(5) Pitchers usually get the highest contracts for gloves because their glove is shown on television more frequently than other gloves.(5) One of the biggest endorsers of gloves was Roger Clemens, who won seven Cy Young Awards with gloves from three different glove companies.(5) Rawlings currently sponsors more than 49.99% of the current MLB Players.(5) Due to Rawlings dedication to baseball and the improvement of baseball gloves, the MLB has rewarded Rawlings with the "annual Rawlings Gold Glove Award, which has been presented to players for fielding excellence since 1957."