We spent the summer watching our local collegiate league baseball team and my 6 year old got about 20 foul balls and 5 home run balls. He basically lives for all things baseball right now. We're taking the kinds to their first MLB game next week and he's excited to bring his glove and got upset this morning when he asked me to bring mine and I told him I wasn't going to. It had honestly never dawned on me as an adult to bring a glove to a game but I guess a lot of people do? Is it crap? Am I a jerk for thinking it's crap?

Not crap, but...

If you wear a glove to a game, a foul ball heads your way, and you DROP it, prepare to get BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOED.

I wish this perception that adults aren't supposed to wear gloves at baseball games would go away. There are signs all over the place at the stadium to watch out for round projectiles traveling ~ 100 MPH and people get hurt all of the time at games. You should be permitted, in fact encouraged, to wear something that could protect you from injury. Hell, the PROFESSIONALS on the field are wearing gloves. Would much rather have an adult wearing a glove at a baseball game, paying attention, than staring at their mobile phone.

I have brought a glove to a game with my nephew when we sat along the first base line in the line of fire at the not old enough to be retired yet but still retired because it's hot as balls Rangers stadium.

Go for it. Not crap at all.

Not crap at all, unless you actually catch a ball with said glove and then don't give the ball to the kid. That would be very crap.

jfv wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 11:46 am Not crap, but...

If you wear a glove to a game, a foul ball heads your way, and you DROP it, prepare to get BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOED.

I wish this perception that adults aren't supposed to wear gloves at baseball games would go away. There are signs all over the place at the stadium to watch out for round projectiles traveling ~ 100 MPH and people get hurt all of the time at games. You should be permitted, in fact encouraged, to wear something that could protect you from injury. Hell, the PROFESSIONALS on the field are wearing gloves. Would much rather have an adult wearing a glove at a baseball game, paying attention, than staring at their mobile phone.

This. I've seen baseball games where people were carried out on a stretcher. Used to happen more often. Nowadays they have the netting up more often around the field.

Bringing a glove is totally normal.

I can't give any baseball advice but I can give some dad advice:

You probably know this already, but if your 6 year old informs you that it is expected that you bring your ball glove to the baseball game, then that's what you must do. Then you'll be a Good Dad and you will see all the other Good Dads at the ballgame with their kids and their gloves and you will exchange knowing glances.

There's no upside of saying no. You're not going to want to hear the story at the dinner table in 20 yrs about how "Dad" declined to bring his glove to the game.

Aside, pertinent to situation: I'm taking kid 2 (of 2) to college next wk and I'm sad about that. At this week's (final) beach trip, at the tshirt/hat/crap store, I was informed that we were getting matching rad wraparound mirrored shades. Gut reaction: No fuckin' way. Outcome: matching shades. We walked around York Beach looking douche-y together. No regrets.

As someone certified to teach parenting skills, I endorse this^^^ post.

elisha wiesner wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 11:30 am We spent the summer watching our local collegiate league baseball team and my 6 year old got about 20 foul balls and 5 home run balls. He basically lives for all things baseball right now. We're taking the kinds to their first MLB game next week and he's excited to bring his glove and got upset this morning when he asked me to bring mine and I told him I wasn't going to. It had honestly never dawned on me as an adult to bring a glove to a game but I guess a lot of people do? Is it crap? Am I a jerk for thinking it's crap?

I think if there's a kid involved, and he has his, it's absolutely not crap.

Mansfield wrote: You're not going to want to hear the story at the dinner table in 20 yrs about how "Dad" declined to bring his glove to the game.

Is the argument here that it's uncool or dorky to do this as an adult?

Indie rock dudes be like: "You see, son, It's difficult for me to explain, but wearing shorts under ANY circumstances, even when it's 95 degrees out, is just not cool and will not be tolerated. You need to wear tight jeans that bunch up in all the wrong places and accentuate your frail, yet dumpy body."

jeff fox wrote: Is the argument here that it's uncool or dorky to do this as an adult?

Indie rock dudes be like: "You see, son, It's difficult for me to explain, but wearing shorts under ANY circumstances, even when it's 95 degrees out, is just not cool and will not be tolerated. You need to wear tight jeans that bunch up in all the wrong places and accentuate your frail, yet dumpy body."

That's not it for me. I'm 100% a shorts wearer, including on stage. I honestly have just never though about the glove thing. I brought my glove when I was a kid and have been to piles of games as an adult and it never even dawned on me to do it. When he asked it just sounded really silly to me. He has already talked me into it though and we're showing up when the gates open to watch batting practice and up our chances of getting a ball.