Baseball / Softball Catcher Equipment

History

In the early days of baseball, catchers played without any specific catcher’s gear. The ball was initially thrown with an underhanded motion, but it later changed to an overhanded motion, causing many injuries. The strike rule was introduced, and the catcher moved closer to the home plate. As pitchers' throws evolved, they introduced the spitball and knuckleball, which made the catcher’s defense more important. Additionally, less rubbery balls were used, leading to more injuries. By the late 1800s, catchers began using protection, such as padded, fingerless baseball catcher gloves to protect their hands, and the first protective mask was introduced. A few years later, catcher chest protectors were introduced, and in the early 1900s, the final piece: leg guards.

User Experience

Baseball catcher equipment is worn by the catcher, who stands behind the batter. His goal is to catch every ball thrown by the pitcher. The pitcher throws the ball at an average speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) towards the catcher, which is why a catcher needs to wear protective gear.

A full catcher set consists of the following: a baseball catcher helmet, a baseball catcher mitt (catcher's glove), baseball catcher leg guards, a baseball chest protector, and a protective cup. Some catchers choose additional protection, such as knee savers, inner protective gloves, a throat protector, or a thumb guard.

Age/Gender

There are different types of catcher sets. There is baseball catcher gear and softball catcher gear. The difference between softball and baseball sets is that a softball chest protector has a break in the chest area to better fit the shape of a female player. A fastpitch catcher set and a slowpitch catcher set do not differ. There are also youth catcher sets.

Materials

A catcher’s helmet is made of a durable ABS shell that is scratch-resistant and won’t crack under cold temperatures or melt at high temperatures. The faceguard is made of steel or another metal. The chest protector is made of polyethylene (PE), and the leg guards are made of ABS plastic.

Sizes

For sizing, you need to measure your chest length, leg length, and the circumference of your head. Based on this information, you can determine the required size. In baseball, there are the following sizes:

• Tee-Ball size: for children aged 5-7

• Youth size: for ages 7-9

• Junior size: for ages 9-12

• Senior size: for ages 12-16

• Adult size: for those aged 16 and older

In softball, the sizes are:

• Youth size: for ages 7-9

• Junior size: for ages 9-12

• Senior size: for ages 12 and older There is also an intermediate size for children aged 12-16.

Certification

A catcher’s helmet and chest protector need to be approved by NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) for use in most youth, high school, and adult leagues.

There is also the SEI certificate (Safety Equipment Institute). SEI oversees the NOCSAE standards certification process through several accredited, independent laboratories responsible for testing products to determine if they meet NOCSAE standards. SEI also conducts regular product testing and on-site quality assurance audits at each NOCSAE licensee’s production facilities to ensure continuous compliance.

Catcher Set

A catcher set consists of 2 leg guards, a chest protector, and a catcher’s helmet. We also sell individual catcher mitts (catcher’s baseball gloves). The brands we carry include Rawlings, All-Star, Easton, Louisville, Wilson, and Worth.

To carry the entire set, you need a catcher’s bag. We offer Easton catcher equipment backpacks and Rawlings catcher wheeled bags.

• Catcher Helmet: A catcher’s helmet has one purpose: to protect the face. It’s similar to the mask worn by ice hockey goalies. Older-style masks are usually worn over a flap-less helmet to protect the skull.

• Catcher Mitts: A catcher mitt is larger than any other catching glove and has extra padding to reduce the impact of the ball on the hand.

• Leg Guards: Leg guards are an integral part of the catcher’s equipment. They are designed to protect the knees, shins, ankles, and the top of the feet. They are made of thick plastic with a harness system to keep them in place.

• Chest Protector: A chest protector is padded with rubber, foam, or gel to protect the chest. Many also have extensions to cover the shoulders.

• Cup: This piece protects the groin area from serious injuries.

Some catchers opt for additional equipment:

• Knee Savers: These are special pads filled with air or foam to provide cushioning for the catcher when they are in a squatting position. They help support the knee ligaments, which can stretch and tear over time.

• Inner Protective Gloves: These are worn inside the catcher’s mitt to help absorb the shock of a pitched ball.

• Throat Protector: A hard plastic plate that hangs from the bottom of the catcher’s mask to protect the throat. A ball striking the throat may collapse the windpipe, so throat protectors are required in almost all youth baseball games, even at the high school level.

• Thumb Guard: A hard plastic guard that wraps around the thumb to prevent it from being broken by a pitch. The thumb guard is located on the inside of the glove (if worn) and provides useful protection.