The best leathers are taken from specially bred bovines, taken from a specific region of the animal’s body. Those leathers are inspected for imperfections, then treated and worked to make them ideal for baseball or softball gloves.

Rawlings’ Heart of the Hide is one of those leathers.

The durability and feel make the HoH a favorite among professional players and amateurs alike. And now, you can get Heart of the Hide leather in more than just gloves.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Leather Wallet ($54.99)

Looking for a wallet that will last forever? Look no further. Includes 6 credit card pockets, two interior pockets and one big ol’ pocket for your cash.

These wallets are on pre-order until June 8. Shop now.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Leather Travel Kit ($99.99)

A travel kit for players to take their game on the go. Includes two interior pockets.

This one’s also on pre-order with an expected ship date of June 8. Get one now.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Leather Duffel Bag ($499.99)

Take your gym bag to the next level. Premium heart of the hide leather exterior, with an exterior front zip, back pocket and interior zip pocket. Includes a padded leather strap.

These ship directly from Rawlings, and you can expect to see yours in 3-10 days. Shop now.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Leather Travel Organizer ($149.99)

This is the way to travel in style. Includes a clear ID pocket, passport pocket, boarding pass pocket, 2 interior zip pockets, currency pocket, 2 open pocket slots and 12 credit card pocket slots.

When you order this one, you can expect to see it on your doorstep in 3-10 days. Shop now.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Leather Briefcase ($529.99)

State of the art design combined with a true classic glove leather creates a perfect balance to keep you at the top of your business game. Now go out and pitch that new account.

Includes exterior front and back zip pockets with two large main zip pockets for laptop case and file space.

These ship directly from Rawlings, so expect another 3-10 day ship time. Shop now.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide Leather Glove Chair ($4,699.99)

We’ve reached the crown jewel of Rawlings’ Heart of the Hide accessories: The Glove Chair.

If you’re looking for the perfect throne for your man cave, this is it. The glove chair is handmade by Rawlings’ master glove craftsmen in the Rawlings Glove Factory for an incredible, quality look and superb durability.

It can be customized, just like your baseball glove (call for details).

You can be sitting in your new glove chair in 3-10 days. Shop now.

Related: Looking for an actual Heart of the Hide baseball glove? We have those too!

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The things we do in our modern-day lifestyles — whether it’s hunching over our desks at school or slouching on the sofa in front of the TV — can lead to poor shoulder posture. We roll our shoulders forward, and that can lead to problems down the road in sports.

That’s especially true in softball, where the shoulder and rotator cuff are so important.

Click for big (.pdf)

Proper shoulder positioning allows your shoulder girdle to perform to its potential. With shoulder muscles able to properly elongate and contract, you’ll get the most velocity on your throws, and you’ll have the most control.

But poor posture equals poor performance. Bad posture is linked with shoulder tightness in baseball players, and tight muscles are inefficient muscles. That means your throws won’t have that “oomph” behind them, and at worst, you can injure your shoulders.

So how do you avoid it?

First, stop slouching. Second, regularly stretch and perform mobility exercises on your shoulders and upper back. The primer includes a few examples to get you started.

It doesn’t take much. If you’re feeling tight, just add in 5 minutes of shoulder stretching a day, and you should see some improvement in your shoulder mobility.

Stretching is most effective when your shoulders and upper back are already warm (so, after practice is a good time for position players. Pitchers could do it after some light throwing.)

Taking those simple steps will help keep your posture good and your performance high.

Related: Keep your shoulders in top condition with a pair of Crossover Symmetry Cross Cords.

Ever finish up a mid-day game or a doubleheader to find that you came down with a case of itchy, burning eyeballs?

It means your eyes got sunburned.

It’s true. You can get sunburn on your eyes, and if you spend a moderate amount of time outside in the sun (say, playing softball) your eyes are susceptible to sun damage. While sunburn goes away, repeated sun damage can cause permanent problems. It can cause retinal damage, cataracts and even blindness.

That means there’s no reason not to protect your eyes, especially when you’re out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the most direct.

When looking for sunglasses, it’s important to get a pair of shades with 99-100% UV protection. Anything less will actually make it worse — the curve on the lens will intensify the sun’s UV rays going into your eyes.

From there, it comes down to your personal style. We carry everything from simple Oakley M-Frames to MAXX HD sunglasses with MLB team logos on the sides.

Every pair of glasses we carry was chosen because they are fitted and designed for athletic wear, so you can be confident they won’t interfere with your play.

Related: While you’re at it, cut down on glare with Rawlings Eye Black.

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No hassle bat buying! Buy a Softball bat and get free shipping……….don’t like what you bought? Ship it back for free.

See more details at Softball.com

Louisville Slugger announced this week that it has issued a recall of its entire 2013 line of oneX fastpitch softball bats.

Model numbers affected include FP136, FP1369 and FP1368.

According to Slugger, the company announced the recall after it became aware of a durability issue in the bat’s taper. In some cases, the bat would show some cracking between the barrel and handle. In extreme cases, there would be a complete fracture.

Louisville Slugger has asked that customers contact them at 1-800-282-2287 to arrange a return. Bats will be replaced with the 2013 Louisville Xeno, and customers will be given a choice of one of the following:

1. Equipment bag or ball glove with an $80 value.
2. A stored value card equivalent to $50.
3. A new 2014 oneX replacement bat available in late summer.

Softball Sales will not be able to accept any returns on Louisville Slugger’s behalf. We asked that all affected customers contact Slugger directly.

You can read the entire announcement here.

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Presidents Day weekend starts today, and we’re celebrating in style!

Now through Tuesday, you can take 15% off all orders at Softball Sales. There is NO minimum order.

Just use the promo code JSSBSP88 at checkout. Shop now.

Related: Browse our selection of closeout softball equipment.

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Meet Baby Paisley! Jennie Finch has welcomed her first daughter into the world, the little one arrived on Saturday morning

Read full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2261442/Its-girl-Former-softball-star-Jennie-Finch-welcomes-daughter–Paisley.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Can anyone claim ownership?

Our Cyber Specials end today, which means this is your last chance to take advantage of these unbeatable deals on softball gloves. These are some of the best softball gloves in the game — available for Cyber Monday prices today only.

(Drop the glove into your cart to apply the discount.)

Mizuno Franchise Finch Fastpitch Softball Gloves
(Was: $79.99 NOW: $59.99)

Designed for the specific biomechanical needs of the fastpitch player. Features SureFit foam, double hinge heel and V-notch. Get it for $59.99.

Louisville TPS Valkyrie Fastpitch Gloves
(Was: $79.99 NOW: $69.99)

The TPS Valkyrie Fastpitch series is made with premium grade, oil-treated steerhide leather that has soft feel and long-lasting shape. Get it for $69.99.

Wilson Exclusive Yak Series Gloves
(Was: $149.99 NOW: $99.99)

Yak hide is three times stronger than cowhide, allowing Wilson to skive the hide thinner, providing players with the best possible feel without sacrificing durability. Get it for $99.99.

Easton Exclusive Rival Gloves
(Was: $89.99 NOW: $50.00)

Made from some of the strongest leather in the world — American steerhide. Back of hand strap is adjustable allowing for multiple fit range. Get it for $50.00.

Insignia All Out Series Gloves
(Was: $279.99 NOW: $50.00)

The premium glove in the Insignia line. Made with top-grade American steerhide. Get it for $50.00.

Insignia Range Series Gloves
(Was: $229.99 NOW: $50.00)

These two-tone lightweight high-performance gloves are made with two distinct leathers: Black Hills buffalo leather and Badlands brown American native steerhide. Get one for $50.00.

Mizuno MVP Prime Series 33 1/2″ Catchers Mitt
(Was: $99.99 NOW: $49.99)

All new MVP Prime Series features professional patterns, oil soft leather, and a perfect balance of oiled softness and firm control. Get it for $49.99.

Related: Shop our entire selection of Cyber Specials

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On this most sacred of shopping days, we’d like to call your attention to our unbeatable deals on softball bats. These are some of the hottest bats on the market today, all available for limited-time Black Friday discounts.

(Drop the bat into your cart to apply the discount.)

Louisville 2012 TPS Zephyr -13 Fastpitch Bat
(Was: $149.99 NOW: $99.98)

The new Zephyr composite features high performance, lighter weight thinner graphite fibers which allow the use of more layers in the barrel for added strength. Get it for $99.98.

Easton 2012 Synergy Speed -10 Fastpitch Bat
(Was: $259.99 NOW: $129.99)

Single System technology design increases bat control and balance. Lower M.O.I. provides lighter swing weight and faster swing speed. Get it for $129.99.

Worth 2013 454 Resmondo USSSA Slowpitch Bat
(Was: $299.99 NOW: $199.99)

Resmondo loading is the maximum USSSA endload allowed. 454™ technology extends 2″ on each side of sweet spot. Get it for $199.99.

DeMarini 2012 Crystal Bustos -13 Fastpitch Bat
(Was: $119.99 NOW: $99.98)

Barrel made of DX1 alloy which delivers a perfect balance of KSI strength and fracture toughness for long lasting performance. Get it for $99.98.

Worth 2013 454 Legit ASA Slowpitch Bat
(Was: $299.99 NOW: $199.99)

Balanced loading for players seeking maximum bat control and consistency at the plate. 454™ technology extends sweet spot 2″ on each side. Get it for $199.99.

Worth 2013 Titan USSSA Slowpitch Bat
(Was: $249.99 NOW: $149.99)

5.4L multi-layer core extends sweet spot. Features soft touch grip. 100% composite construction. Get it for $149.99.

Easton 2011 Rival -12.5 Fastpitch Softball Bat
(Was: $149.99 NOW: $99.98)

THT100 aluminum. Expanded sweet spot. 2 1/4″ barrel. Approved for all softball associations. Get it for $99.98.

Worth 2010 Toxic -8 Fastpitch Softball Bat
(Was: $279.99 NOW: $99.98)

The hybrid composite frame is the most forgiving bat frame on the market, and offers performance and durability. Get it for $99.98.

RIP-IT 2012 Reaper Light -12 Fastpitch Softball Bat
(Was: $179.99 NOW: $99.98)

Introducing the first ever slightly endloaded drop 12 for young power hitters. Players love the large barrel, extended sweet spot and feel. Get it for $99.98.

Related: Shop our entire selection of Cyber Specials

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