Baseball players from major leaguers to Little Leaguers are using sliding mitts as a form of self-expression, even it at some levels, they’re not needed at all.

Scott McMillen, a lawyer in the Chicago area, had no plans to get into the baseball accessory business. He first took notice of sliding mitts when his son Braydon, then 10, pointed out one of his ...

Sliding mitts are baseball's 'must-have,' even if at youth levels, they're all fashion, no function Updated May. 6, 2025 12:41 p.m. ET ...

Youth ballplayer Josiah Jones bats during youth baseball game in Monroeville, Pa., with his sliding matt in his back pocket on April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) ...

Sliding mitts are baseball’s ‘must-have,’ even if at youth levels, they’re all fashion, no function The Associated Press May 6, 2025, 12:41 PM ...

Baseball’s numbers have steadied following a decline. Little League International told The Associated Press last fall that more than 2 million kids played baseball or softball under its umbrella ...

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)ASSOCIATED PRESSYouth ballplayer Josiah Jones bats during youth baseball game in Monroeville, Pa., with his sliding matt in his back pocket on April 27, 2025.

With a sliding mitt, it’s also like, ‘Hey this is fun. It’s cool. I want to be like my fave high school player, like my favorite college player.’” ...