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Modern baseball players always seek an edge, whether that’s something to perform better, make the game easier, or just be more comfortable on the field. Each year we try to help out by presenting solid potentials for the best gifts for baseball players for the upcoming season.
There are so many sporting goods equipment items specially made for baseball, it’s hard to keep track of them even on a monthly basis. Of course, there are the expected gloves, bats, and cleats. But we also dug deep for what some might consider “comfort” items, or things players might not think to buy for themselves.
If you want that home run of a gift for your ballplayer, you can find it here. In honor of Aaron Judge’s American League home run record of 2022, we offer this list of 62 great gifts for baseball players for this season and beyond.
Our Choices: Best Gifts for Baseball Players this Season
Note: We choose not to number these, which might indicate a rating or preference. Instead, this list is presented randomly, with hope that readers will peruse the entire list to make sure they know everything that’s available!
1. Our Game book by Charles C. Alexander
This 1992 book on the history of baseball is written not like a textbook ~ and thank goodness. The author mixes factual occurrences with analysis and anecdotes to paint a beautiful picture of why so many people love the game.
2. 1975 Topps Baseball Card Set
For the uninitiated, there are a few sets that true baseball card collectors value most than this one, including the famous black-framed 1971 set or almost any from the 1950s. Give this set to any true fan and watch the face light up.
3. New Balance Baseball Cleats
From a manufacturer known to make the most comfortable shoes available to mankind, hand over a New Balance FuelCell 4040 V6 Baseball Shoe for the best baseball cleat in our view. There’s a reason you see the big N logo on the feet of many MLB players. They perform as well as support in style.
4. 2022 Topps Baseball Card Set
Earlier we mentioned the famed 1975 Topps set, but your ballplayer will appreciate all the valued rookie baseball cards [LINK https://baseballscouter.com/why-are-baseball-cards-so-valuable/ ] in this particular set including Julio Rodriguez, Adley Rutschman, Michael Harris II, and Bobby Witt Jr.
5. PowerNet Baseball Softball Practice Net
For practice pitching or hitting, this bow-frame contraption sets the standard among the best baseball nets. For the quality and skills your player will get from all the repetitions, this net is priced reasonably. We especially like its performance and durability.
6. Spark Catch Lighted Baseball
Sure, it may sound silly trying to play baseball in the dark. But how will you know if you’ve never tried it? We really like this concept for younger baseball players by Blackstar Corp. ~ it’s the same size and weight as official baseballs!
7. Top Baseball Movie
Whether that means “Field of Dreams,” “The Natural,” or another film based on the sport, your ballplayer is bound to appreciate the thought of one of the best baseball movies ever.
8. Cleat Insoles
Your ballplayer might not even be aware that those fine cleats on their feet can be made even better for play. The CURREX CleatPro Insole is among the best baseball cleat insoles for the ultimate in comfort and performance.
9. Classic Wood Baseball Bat
Think about how excited your ballplayer will be to have an Old Hickory MT 27 Pro Custom Baseball Bat sitting around the room or office? We also very much like the Marucci AP5 Pro Model Maple Wood Baseball Bat for its game performance.
10. Actual Major League Baseball
It’s hard to go wrong giving away a Rawlings official MLB baseball ~ already protected inside a high-quality case!
11. Sunglasses Just for Baseball
A while back we offered a list of what we thought are the very best Oakley sunglasses for baseball play. Pick one and be a superstar to your player! Remember, wearing sunglasses to play baseball is not just about being cool. Today’s modern lenses seriously protect the eyes, both from glare as well as from dangerous ultraviolet rays (UV rays) and infrared rays (IR rays) pounded down by the sun.
12. Batting Elbow Guards
With the best elbow guards for hitting in baseball, you hardly know they’re there ~ so your mind has one less thing to worry about trying to smack the ball. Attention parents of young players afraid of being hit by a pitch: these things can help build confidence in the batter’s box.
13. Rawlings R9 Baseball Glove
Make sure you know which hand your ballplayer throws with before taking the plunge to get him or her the very best baseball glove around. The Rawlings R9 tops the popular Wilson A2000 in our view.
14. EvoShield Youth Solid Compression Arm Sleeve
If you don’t know what the best arm sleeve is for your ballplayer, go with this EvoShield model and have peace of mind that he or she will absolutely love it! Whether you call it an arm sleeve or arm compression sleeve, same result: improved blood flow and joint support during strenuous play. They also look pretty cool, too.
15. Nike Baseball Hoodie
There’s many choices for hoodies that are good especially for baseball, but we prefer the Nike Therma Pullover Hoodie for a lot of reasons, including the lightweight and cool-looking material used.
16. Turf Cleats
Sometimes a baseball player has a lot of games on fake grass, also called Astroturf or artificial turf. In this case, a different type of shoe is recommended, and we suggest the New Balance Dynasoft 4040 V6 Turf Trainer. If you hear that your player or team has games slated for play on fake turf, start thinking ahead!
17. Easton Backpack Style Bat Bag
If you’re not a player yourself, it’s difficult to know which are the best bat bags[ https://baseballscouter.com/best-baseball-bat-bags/ ] for your ballplayer. We suggest the Easton Game Ready Backpack style bat and equipment bag. It’s designed by a company that knows baseball equipment, and has just the right bells and whistles, without overdoing it.
18. Genuine Leather Baseball Wallet
Baseball players come to love the smell of high-quality leather, especially the full-grain type. Check out this leather baseball wallet for a simple gift your player will appreciate every day! True baseball fanatics will absolutely love this gift ~ and remember who gifted it!
19. Drawstring Baseball Backpack
Stand out from the crowd at school or events with a backpack that looks like … a baseball! Complete with the red stitches that give baseballs their distinct look on the bright white background. Simple yet effective. Beautiful, actually.
20. It’s a Numbers Game Book by James Buckley
Have a new or relatively new ballplayer trying to understand the nuances of baseball? Then check out this modern look at how statistics and numbers are used to create better baseball play and games. (This is also a very good gift if your player mentions the term “fantasy baseball”).
21. Big League Chew
Young baseball players are often curious about why the guys on television have swollen cheeks. Well, parents, give them this gift and tell them those MLB players are just chewing pink bubble gum! (And this gum tastes way good, by the way).
22. Indoor Ceiling Baseball Game
Have a family member or friend who has a baseball-playing kid, who you want to annoy somehow? Get them this game so their kid will constantly bounce a ball off the ceiling and walls! Just kidding ~ this is a pretty cool game to have for young ballplayers.
23. Personalized Baseball Water Bottle
Every ballplayer must stay hydrated, whether it means drinking water, or some of the special fortified sports-themed drinks. Check out this insulated, stainless steel dandy with your own custom touches. Think about getting one with his or her last name and jersey number on it, in favorite team colors!
24. Baseball Pillow
They say true baseball fanatics eat, breathe, and sleep the game all the time. Prove it by getting your player this baseball pillow, and see how he or she reacts? Warning to older buyers: We can’t promise what this will do for your relationship. Just kidding! (Not).
25. 3D Baseball Night Lamp
This is an awesome-looking thing to have in any room of any baseball player from the youngest all the way through college. Just look at the thing. Does anyone you know have something like this? You gotta have a lamp in the room; why not make it baseball-themed?
26. Coffee Mug with a Glove
Most adult baseball players drink coffee ~ it’s almost a tradition ~ and this model with a glove attached certainly will capture your ballplayer’s imagination.
27. Wilson A2K Baseball Glove
We mentioned the popular A2000 Wilson model above, but take it another step in modernity and inclusion of advancements by gifting a Wilson A2K baseball glove. It’s hard, really, to go wrong by giving a baseball player this model of leather.
28. Lizard Skins bat wrap
This is Durasoft polymer grip tape for a baseball bat handle, and those in the know, they know this is top-of-the-line. Formally called Lizard Skins DSP Ultra Bat Grip, this model comes in all kinds of colors and crazy patterns. Simple, low-cost, and effective for any ballplayer.
29. Rawlings Heart of the Hide Portfolio
The company that makes baseballs for MLB also offers a variety of gloves made with very high-quality leather. It’s Heart of the Hide series features leather cut from steers, and crafted into a number of HoH styles to choose from.
30. Marucci CAT8 Baseball Bat
This is the best baseball bat for this year, according to our review. Understand that this model has many different styles to choose from, including different drop weights, or USABat-, BBCOR-, or USSSA-certified. Know the league rules of your player!
31. Easton Elite Sliding Short
As baseball players age, they gain weight, and because of this sliding into bases can cause injury. Namely, sliding shorts are essential to avoid what are called “strawberries,” or big burn scabs you can get on your rear end or outer-upper thigh without proper padding. This Easton model delivers that.
32. Pro Hitter Batting Tool
Your young ballplayer is bound to notice the little foam thingies MLB players wear on their thumbs when batting. Supposedly they help to hit better!
33. Baseball Glove Kit to keep in the gear bag for emergencies!
34. Stadium Seat Pad
Not just for fans, but also for players who don’t see much action, or are recovering from injury.
35. Extra-Wide Wristbands
These are killer stocking stuffers! Gives the player both home and visitor uniform options, which is cool. And this Nike model is made of a very comfy material.
36. Tiger Balm
Keep it in the gear bag to warm up joints before or after the game!
37. Batter’s Leg Guard
Wear on the inside of the leg closest to the pitcher to protect against foul balls.
38. Hand Guard
To protect the outside of the hand, where bones are not naturally padded, while hitting.
39. Ice Pad for Shoulder and Elbow
Not just pitchers need some throwing arm relief after baseball action.
40. Backpack Style Baseball Bag
We highly recommend this model from EvoShield!
41. Uniform Belt
Check out this all-leather, easy-cleaning 1.5-inch wide dandy. Pick your team color!
42. Umpire Call Order Indicator
All players could use one of these in their gear bag, just in case.
43. One Shot at Forever Book by Chris Ballard
Follow a magical season by a small-town baseball team with its quirky coach.
44. Swing Analyzer
Help your player figure out his or her bad speed and launch angle.
45. Bat Tube Bag
Tired of trying to squeeze bats into already packed gear bags? Why, get bats their very own bag!
46. The Baseball 100 Book by Joe Posnansky
Check out why the New York Post reported this as an “instant baseball classic” book.
47. Warstic Batting Glove
It’s tough to differentiate between the very many different batting gloves available today. There’s only so much you can do with cowhide or sheepskin. However, get your player gloves with the recognizable pair of diagonal stripes and see what happens.
48. Spitz Sunflower Seeds
The dill pickle and cracked pepper flavors of this sunflower seed is known to just about every youth ballplayer in America.
49. Hitting Stick Batting Trainer
Both coaches and players have come to love these flexible yellow dandies, and they work.
50. Portable Sock Screen
These dandy moveable tools to hit into are cool in the “sock” style because they can hold many balls struck into it ~ instead of bouncing off and forcing pickup after. Convenience here!
51. Old-School Duffle Bag
There is not a baseball player we know who would not appreciate having one of these, even if they already have a fancy bat bag. These are all-purpose survivors of time.
52. Quality Pullover
Yet another item we can see no baseball player rejecting, we love this New Balance model and the material it’s made of. Your player will, too.
53. Short Sleeve Under Shirt
While long sleeves get most attention, baseball players need short-sleeve shirts, too, for practice, or to wear under itchy jerseys.
54. Batting Cage Jacket
Younger players will want to look like those guys on TV when in the cage ~ so give one of these and make it so!
55. Rawlings Pullover
Want a pullover but a) want one specifically for baseball; and b) want one like we see in the dugouts on TV? Then here’s your choice, made famous at least partially by Terry Francona.
56. Tee Shirt with Team-Colored 3/4 Sleeves
All baseball players dig wearing these shirts with the sleeves that cover the elbows but not the wrists. Your choice of a stylish tee shirt for wear also off the field, or a shirt made of fancy material to keep cool on the ballfield.
57. Maybe I’ll Pitch Forever book by Satchel Paige
The classic by the Negro Leagues superstar turned MLB pioneer, considered one of the best pitchers in baseball history ~ and biggest characters. Learn how he struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and how he was able to pitch into his 60s.
58. Baseball Almanac
If you made it this far on our list, you might be desperate. Trust us on this: if your player is a true fan, get him or her the most recent version of this. At the very least, it will keep your player busy on rainy days.
59. Baseball Card Binder
Has a lot of cards? Every card collector could use a nice binder to protect the valuable assets.
60. Baseball-Themed Tee Shirt
There are thousands of tee shirts with baseball slogans and themes on them. Find one to match your player.
61. Baseball Keychain
Give something to remind them every time they start their car who got them this!
62. Compact Wireless Speaker
Players like some tunes during practice and before and after games, so help them connect to their smartphone!