The World Series is here. And with it comes a number of quirks, each designed to breathe life in America's oldest sport.
Style is substance across the diamond, with numerous players sporting eye-catching haircuts, jewelry and accessories as they attempt to coax talent across every inch of their bodies. From head to toe, there's a premium placed on fashion. Some players dress their earlobes in glistening gemstones, while others prefer stunting with Jordan-inspired cleats.
The devil is in the details. And throughout the postseason, the finer elements of ballplayers' wardrobes have come to the surface. Nowhere has that been more evident than across their hands. Typically cloaked by the cold embrace of a leather-bound gauntlet, a ballplayer's glove can take a backseat. But on the base paths, as dirt and dust swirls, they come to life.
MORE: Remembering Deion Sanders' brilliant 1992 World Series that almost didn't happen
The reason why: they don't look much like gloves at all.
Corbin Carroll has a stolen base, although not the way he had in mind:pic.twitter.com/lntlSM77x2
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) October 25, 2023
Here's what you need to know about the sliding mitt, MLB's latest innovation that shares a striking resemblance to one of the most ubiquitous pieces of kitchen wear, the oven mitt.
Why MLB players wear oven mitt gloves
At first glance, it may appear as if MLB's speed demons have a tremendous appreciation for the oven mitt. And perhaps they do.
However, their decision to shroud their palms in the finest fabrics is rooted in safety first and foremost.
For decades, players put their paws in harm's way in the hopes of taking an extra base. Sliding into a bag is a violent process, one that displaces plenty of terrain and presents baserunners with a great many risks. Hit the bag the wrong way and you could see a finger go awry. Slither across the canvas too harshly and blood could seep through.
In 2008, things changed. The sliding mitt was born, offering players extra padding and protection from the elements.
The invention has taken on a life of its own in the years since, becoming part and parcel of every great base stealer's repertoire. From Ronald Acuna Jr. to Corbin Carroll, it seems the league's fastest blurs all wrap their talons in a mitt rather than batting glove.
That has brought with it plenty of alterations to the look. Since its arrival on baseball's grand stage in 2021, the Dracula sliding mitt — created by Absolutely Ridiculous innovation for Athletes (ARiA) — has become one of the most high-profile pieces in baseball. Ketel Marte is one of numerous players who have draped their lead hands in cloth over the years. He has a special preference for the ice cream-flavored look, donning the minty-fresh armory while frolicking down the basepaths.
Ketel Marte steals second and steals tacos for America at Taco Bell!👏 pic.twitter.com/dYAJvwAVwp
— Trending Plays (@TrendingPlays) October 28, 2023
The sliding mitt is the hottest thing in baseball at present. Long may it continue, as well. For there are few things that reveal more about a person's interests than their hands.
