Would a softball first base mitt be legal?

[Utility07]

Well, would it?

I am trying to find a first base mitt that isnt quite as long, but is wider, only ones I can seem to find carry the label of being softball.

This is the actual rule.

1.13
The first baseman may wear a leather glove or mitt not more than twelve inches long from top to bottom and not more than eight inches wide across the palm, measured from the base of the thumb crotch to the outer edge of the mitt. The space between the thumb section and the finger section of the mitt shall not exceed four inches at the top of the mitt and 31/2 inches at the base of the thumb crotch. The mitt shall be constructed so that this space is permanently fixed and cannot be enlarged, extended, widened, or deepened by the use of any materials or process whatever. The web of the mitt shall measure not more than five inches from its top to the base of the thumb crotch. The web may be either a lacing, lacing through leather tunnels, or a center piece of leather which may be an extension of the palm connected to the mitt with lacing and constructed so that it will not exceed the above mentioned measurements. The webbing shall not be constructed of wound or wrapped lacing.

However, this doesnt make sense to me, as I commonly see first base mitts for baseball that are listed as being over 12 inches.

[ironman]

I dont know about this, but what I do know is that this year Dustin Yount (son of Robin) who played for the Bowie Baysox, used a first base mitt that was about 10.5 inches and it worked fairly well.

[Utility07]

Would you happen to know what brand it was?

[Chris O'Leary]

Well, would it? I am trying to find a first base mitt that isnt quite as long, but is wider, only ones I can seem to find carry the label of being softball.

No, but I doubt if anyone would call you on it unless you pointed it out to them (or if it was gigantic). The only glove-related law that I have ever seen have been related to the pitcher; the color of their glove and wearing a glove under their glove.

The pros get a lot of leeway when it comes to the size of outfielders' gloves. I am sure that some of them are using 13" or 14" gloves when the limit is 12". I think there's a gentleman's agreement that says I'll let your guys use bigger gloves if you let my guys use bigger gloves.

As an aside, I just bought a catcher's mitt that is labelled a 34" but has to be more like a 38" or 39". There is some variability in how the manufacturers measure their equipment, so not every 12" is the same size.

[Utility07]

Ok.

I was trying to edit the previous post and I messed up.

[scorekeeper]

Utility07,

In order to fully and properly answer your question, you have to tell us what rules you’re asking about.

It appears the rule you quoted is from OBR. But, the rule for NCAA is slightly different.

NCAA
Gloves or Mitts
SECTION 13. a. The catcher may wear a glove or mitt of any dimension. b. The first baseman’s glove or mitt must not be more than 12 inches long or eight inches wide. The webbing shall not be constructed so as to form a net type of trap.
A.R.—The length measurement of any glove/mitt shall be from the bottom edge or heel straight up across the palm. The width measurement for the first baseman’s mitt shall be from the center of the base section between the thumb and the first finger to the outside edge of the little finger. The crotch area for the first baseman’s mitt shall not exceed five inches in length, 41⁄2 inches in width at the top and 31⁄2 inches at the base.

The rules for HS, NFHS, have much less strict restrictions, and the LLI rules too are slightly different.

As to whether or not any rule set would allow a softball glove, you’d first have to check the rules, but as far as I know, there’s no rules forbidding it just because it says "softball” on it. the ruling depend on the measurement.