Baseball Equipment List
Below is a list of required baseball equipment as well as some optional items.
Baseball can feel like an equipment heavy sport, but in its purest pick-up/backyard form you really only need a glove, a ball, and a bat. As an organized sport playing under PONY Baseball rules, we do need a little more, like a helmet, a cup, and some cleats. We need to be safe while we're having fun!
Most players will have all of their own equipment so they can practice at home. And if you search around a bit you can find most of the equipment at reasonable prices. There is no need to spend tons of money on the newest, fanciest equipment. There is also a great used equipment shop in Fullerton called Play It Again Sports. Some baseball equipment, like gloves, can be BETTER when they are good and broken in.
Required Equipment
Glove
The most important aspect of the glove is being well broken in with a decent pocket. We recommend getting a bigger glove than you think, even for young players. Make sure the glove is well broken in or conditioned, so the player is able to squeeze it. If you are planning to buy a brand new glove, make sure to set aside time to condition the glove before the start of the season.
Catcher’s mitt - With the exception of a catcher’s mitt, specialized position gloves (like a first baseman’s glove or outfielder’s glove) are not required in PONY baseball. Starting in the Mustang division, catchers are required to use a catcher’s mitt.
Cleats
Rubber-soled or rubber-cleated shoes are permitted. Metal cleats are prohibited for all divisions except Pony 14U.
Bat
With the exception of -3 BBCOR bats, all bats must have the USA Bat licensing stamp on it to be used in PONY baseball. You can read the detailed bat rules here.
Tee Ball bats may be used in the Foal and Shetland divisions during the regular season. Regular baseball bats must be used starting in the Pinto division and above.
When selecting a bat, pay attention to:
the weight of the bat
the length of the bat
the barrel diameter of the bat
Bat Weight
2 5/8" is the maximum barrel size allowed on a USA Bat and most players will want those big barrel bats.
For the youngest players, you may want to go as light as possible, but as the kids approach Pinto age they should be ready to swing a 27" bat or bigger (typically 17oz or more). There are very few bats shorter than 27" that are legal in Pinto baseball.
The key is to have a bat that a player can consistently swing level. If a bat is too heavy, the barrel will drop and it will be harder for the player to make consistent contact. Justbats.com has a pretty good bat sizing chart.
Batting Helmet
Each player is required to have their own baseball batting helmet. The helmet needs to be a proper baseball helmet (not a helmet repurposed from another sport). The use of face masks and jaw guards on protective head gear is not required, but it is recommended for additional safety, especially in our older divisions with live pitching (Pinto and above). Many players like to personalize their helmets with stickers.
Face masks and jaw guards must be factory installed.
Cup
A protective cup is required for all male players starting at Shetland division and above. Female players are not required to wear a protective cup.
Uniform
ROWLAND PONY will provide each player with a team jersey and hat. Players are responsible for purchasing their own pants, belts, and socks. Please hold off on purchasing baseball pants, belt, and socks until team names and uniform colors have been determined. Your head coach will be in touch a few weeks before the season starts with details about the uniform colors and recommended style/color for pants, belt, and socks.
Optional Equipment
Backpack
Baseball backpacks and bags are entirely optional, but can be very useful. It’s a great way for players to keep their baseball gear organized, both at home and in the dugout. Most baseball backpacks will have a sleeve for a bat, room for a helmet, a separate pocket for cleats, and a hook to allow the backpacks to be hung on a chain link fence.
Batting Gloves
Batting gloves are completely a personal choice. At the younger levels they are just a fun accessory, so the players can look like the pros! Youth playing in Mustang and above divisions may find wearing batting gloves can help increase the quality of their grip on the bat.
Catcher’s Gear
Catcher’s gear consists of a catcher’s mitt, helmet (with throat guard), leg guards, and chest protector. Rowland Pony maintains one set of catcher’s gear for each team. By Mustang most catchers are purchasing their own gear due to differences in player size, brand preferences, and role specialization.