The first baseball gloves were simply work gloves that were adopted by baseball players to protect their hands from injury. These gloves had no webbing, and players caught the ball with their bare hands or with the palm of the glove.

In the early 1900s, baseball glove manufacturers began experimenting with webbing. The first webs were simple pieces of leather that were sewn between the thumb and forefinger of the glove. These webs helped to create a pocket, which made it easier for players to catch the ball.

The first gloves with webbing were made by the Rawlings Glove Company. In 1920, Bill Doak, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, suggested that a web be placed between the first finger and the thumb in order to create a deeper pocket. Doak patented his design and sold it to Rawlings.

The first professional players to use gloves with webbing were Bill Doak and Rogers Hornsby. Doak started using a glove with webbing in 1920, and Hornsby started using one in 1921. Both players were immediately successful with their new gloves, and soon other players began to follow their lead.

The evolution of webbing in baseball gloves

The design of baseball gloves has evolved over time, and the webbing has played a major role in this evolution. In the early days, the webs were simple and straightforward. However, as players began to demand more from their gloves, the webs became more complex.

Today, there are a variety of different web designs available. Some webs are designed to help players catch the ball with more control, while others are designed to help players get the ball out of the glove quickly with the result being throwing the ball more accurately. There are also webs that are designed to provide a balance of both catching and throwing performance.

The evolution of webbing in baseball gloves has helped to make the game more competitive and exciting. With the help of a well-designed glove, players can make more plays and help their team win more games.