How to Repair a Baseball Glove Left Out in the Rain

Baseball often continues despite the arrival of light rains, which leather baseball gloves can tolerate with no ill effects. A forgotten glove left out to weather a drenching downpour is another story. The soaking deluge can damage the leather by washing away precious oils, resulting in a rock-hard glove. Taking the time, effort and patience to dry the baseball glove out properly will repair it and return it to the ball field, no worse for the experience.

Dab the baseball glove gently but firmly with clean, soft towels inside and out to blot up as much excess surface water as you can. Try not to rub the glove, and don’t wring it.

Tear some newspapers into 6-inch squares. Roll a square into a loose cylinder and poke it into the thumb of the glove. Repeat for all of the fingers. Wad up several squares and stuff them inside the glove under the palm. This will help absorb moisture from the inside of the glove.

Check the newspaper every 30 minutes over the next few hours and replace it when it becomes wet. Stop using the paper when it is no longer soggy when you pull it out of the glove.

Set the glove in a dry spot with good air circulation at room temperature and out of direct sunlight until the leather is completely dry inside and out. This process may take several days, depending upon the humidity in the room and how badly soaked the glove was to begin with.

Apply leather conditioner to the glove and allow it to dry according to the packaging instructions. Pay particular attention to the palm area inside the glove. Conditioner will help preserve and maintain the strength and flexibility of the leather and serve to restore its resiliency. It will also prevent the glove from stiffening up from being soaked.

Put a baseball in the pocket of your glove and wrap the fingers around the ball. Squeeze it shut and secure it with a rubber band.

Store your baseball glove in a cool, dry location.

Tips

Try wearing a batting glove under your fielding glove, unless you’re a pitcher. It will absorb sweat and keep it from soaking into the lining of your leather baseball glove. Change the batting glove when it gets wet.

Warnings

Don’t try to dry your baseball glove out with artificial heat sources such as the oven, a clothes dryer, hair dryer or microwave. All of these methods will damage or even ruin the glove.

Don’t leave your glove where it could be exposed to extreme heat, such as your car trunk.