Baseball Glove Rule Clarified

Both the National Federation and WIAA have received numerous inquiries regarding clarification of Rule 1-1-6 (gloves/mitts).  The specific wording at issue is as follows: "The glove/mitt worn by the pitcher shall be uniform in color and neither white nor gray."

During the 2005 WIAA/WOA baseball clinics this issue was addressed as instructed by the National Federation.  The information provided at these clinics did not constitute a new rule or ruling, but rather a clarification of the existing rule.  In many parts of the country umpires were disallowing the use of gloves by pitchers that were two-toned but did not otherwise constitute a distraction to the batter.  As such, the NFHS's intention was to inform umpires that the two-toned gloves are considered, for the purposes of 1-1-6, to be "uniform in color."  In other words, the clarification was intended to relax the strict level of enforcement that had been implemented in several instances.

In many circumstances the clarification has had an opposite effect of its intention.  The purpose of requiring pitchers' gloves to be uniform in color, as well as neither white nor gray, is to prevent him from gaining an advantage over the batter by means of distraction. As such the glove should be composed of clearly opposing colors, with the opposing color forming a significant portion of the glove before it is disallowed.

The glove at left is legal for use by a pitcher.  The white space used in and around the logo is not sufficient to consider it as either multi-colored or partially white.

The glove at right is legal for use by a pitcher.  The tan of the glove and the dark brown of the stitching are considered to be, for the purposes of this rule, uniform in color as they do not pose a significant clash for the batter's eye.  This would also be true if the stitching were black rather than dark brown.

The glove at left is legal for use by a pitcher.  Again, the stitching and leather are considered as being of varying shades of the same color, and the trademark is insufficient in size to be considered a significant portion of the glove.  Were one or more panels or the stitching to be of the same color as the trademark, then this glove would not be acceptable for use by a pitcher.

It is also important to remember that the uniform color and white/gray restriction applies only to pitchers.  Other position players are free to use whatever color combinations they wish as long as the glove is otherwise legal under 1-1-6.

Further questions or requests for clarification should be addressed to WIAA Coordinator of Baseball Tim Stevens at 425-282-5236.