Although the majority of catchers throw right handed, there are still a significant number of left handed catchers that are passionate about the position.
This post explores the marketplace for left handed catchers mitts and identifies the top picks for adult and youth catchers playing both Baseball and Fastpitch Softball.
Continue scrolling to learn more!
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Best Left Handed Catchers Mitt
Quick Background on Left Handed (LHT) Catchers
Left handed throwing (also referred to as LHT) catchers are a rarity at elite levels of Baseball and Fastpitch Softball.
Across Baseball history there have been just a few lefty backstops at the major league level.
The best left handed catcher of all time was arguably Jack Clements, a 19th century catcher that played professionally for 17 years. He caught for over 9,000 innings, collected 1,231 career hits, maintained a .287 batting average and a 26.8 bWAR.
The lefty catcher to play in the major leagues most recently was Benny Distefano of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who caught three games for the Pirates back in 1989.
The main question people have is why… Why are there hardly any left handed catchers at elite levels of the game?
The answer is not black and white. In general, there are (at least) two reasons why there are few LHT catchers at advanced levels. We previously addressed this question in our FAQ post, so we are sharing those reasons here:
“The first is that left handed catchers are generally not able to field bunts down the third base line and throw as quickly and efficiently as those that throw right handed.
The second, and arguably most important, has to do with plays at the plate.
Very accurate relay throws to home caught by a left hander would have to be caught backhanded. While throws coming in from the first base line would leave the throwing side of the body completely open to the player running to the plate.”
At advanced levels of the game, every little advantage counts. Therefore, it has become a rule of thumb for coaches to typically use catchers that are right-handed.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for talented left handed catchers to rise through the ranks and play at competitive levels. There are numerous examples of LHT catchers doing just that, such as this left handed catcher playing D1 Softball, and another currently playing for the University of Rochester’s Baseball team.
In short, if you or your child is a left handed catcher and you or they are passionate about catching, then by all means continue playing the position!
Today’s Marketplace for LHT Catcher's Mitts
Since LHT catchers are rare at advanced levels, catcher’s mitts made for adult level LHT Baseball and Fastpitch Softball catchers are not very common.
If you do a search for left handed catchers mitts, you are likely to find a number available for youth catchers. Yet, hardly any for catchers above the youth level.
This doesn’t mean they’re non-existent, though.
In fact, there are a few very good catcher’s mitts for left handers playing at advanced levels of Baseball and Fastpitch Softball.
To help parents and players interested in picking up a LHT catcher’s mitt, we embarked on a search to see what was available.
Top Left Handed Catchers Mitts
After finishing our research, we identified a number of quality catcher’s mitts to share with our readers.
Our top picks of left handed catchers mitts are as follows:
- Shoeless Joe Professional Series (top Baseball pick)
- Shoeless Joe Diamond Ready (runner-up Baseball pick)
- Rawlings Renegade (best for youth Baseball catchers)
- Akadema AEA65 (top Fastpitch pick)
- Shoeless Jane Fastpitch Catcher's Mitt (runner-up Fastpitch pick)
- Louisville Slugger Xeno Pro (best for youth Fastpitch catchers)
Continue scrolling to learn more about each pick!
Top Pick for Baseball: Shoeless Joe Professional Series
Shoeless Joe's Professional Series catcher's mitt is our top pick for left handed Baseball catchers. (Note: The picture above shows the right hand version of the mitt).
The shell of the mitt is built using "tobacco tanned" steer hide leather. It is an open back and closed web mitt, it comes with a leather wrist protector, and each is individually laced and stitched by hand in North America.
In addition to the care that each catcher's mitt receives when it's being put together, a major selling point is that Shoeless Joe catcher's mitts are almost entirely broken in out of the box. This means that as soon as you get the mitt, you should be able to use it right away.
We also like the vintage look and feel that these catcher's mitts have. Though it has a bit of that "worn" look to it, rest assured that these mitts were made with high-quality, durable materials and should last a while.
Shoeless Joe makes two sizes of its Professional Series catcher's mitt: a 32 inch model and a 34 inch model. We recommend the 34 inch model for most adult Baseball catchers.
Pros
Made with high-quality steerhide leather
Comes nearly 100% broken in out of the box
Has that old-timey, vintage look
Durable - it should last a very long time
Available in two sizes (32 in and 34 in)
Cons
The available stock of left-handed mitts can be limited
Pocket of the Shoeless Joe Professional Series Mitt
Runner Up for Best LHT Baseball Catcher’s Mitt: Shoeless Joe Diamond Ready (34 inches)
Top Pick for Youth Baseball: Rawlings Renegade
The Rawlings Renegade is our top pick for youth catchers who are left handed. It measures 32.5 inches. (Note: The picture above shows the right hand version of the mitt).
The pocket on the Renegade has been shaped and it's noticeably deep and flexible.
It has added palm padding and the leather has been pre-softened, which makes break in a simpler and quicker job.
This mitt has a classic black leather build, and Rawlings' red logo pops against the black giving the Renegade an attractive look.
Lastly, this mitt is incredibly affordable - a very appealing consideration since it's a quality youth catcher's mitt.
Pros
Cheap and affordable
Made with real leather
Has extra palm padding
Excellent break in time
Cons
Some users have reported issues with longer term durability
Additional Image of the Rawlings Renegade
Top Pick for Fastpitch Softball: Akadema AEA65
Our top catcher’s mitt pick for left handed Fastpitch Softball catchers is the Akadema AEA65. (Note: The above picture shows the right hand version of the mitt).
This 34 inch mitt is primarily made with US steerhide leather. It also has a special lightweight leather on the back of the mitt which has the effect of giving it a much lighter feel overall.
We like its look, with the tan and brown leather blend and the white A logo for Akadema.
Another aspect to consider is that this mitt has some break-in out of the box, which should speed up the time to get it fully game ready.
The Akadema AEA65 catcher’s mitt is an H-web, like most Fastpitch varieties. The finger stalls are designed to fit a female hand, and it’s a great choice for those playing at more advanced levels of the game.
Pros
Solid padding and protection
Built using quality and attractive looking brown and tan leather
Designed to closely fit a female's hand
Durable; should keep its shape for many seasons
Has some break-in out of the box
Cons
Though it has some break-in, it will still require some effort to get it fully game ready
Pocket View of the Akadema AEA65 Mitt
Runner Up for Best LHT Fastpitch Softball Catcher’s Mitt: Shoeless Jane Fastpitch Catcher's Mitt (34 inches)
Top Pick for Youth Fastpitch Softball: Louisville Slugger Xeno Pro
Louisville Slugger's Xeno Pro catcher's mitt is our top pick for left handed youth Fastpitch Softball catchers. (Note: The picture above shows the right hand version of the mitt).
The Xeno is a closed back, H web Fastpitch mitt an opening and a hood for the index finger. It measures 33 inches and has a leather shell with a nice brown and white design.
Louisville Slugger's Xeno mitt has an adjustable, velcro-based wrist strap that allows you to make the mitt looser, or more snug, based on preference.
Lastly, this catcher's mitt has a good fit as it was designed specifically for a female's hand.
Pros
Soft leather shell
Very affordable left hand throw catchers mitt
Velcro wrist strap for custom tightness
Cons
Padding is adequate, but not exceptional. Keep this in mind if you’re planning to catch faster pitching.
Additional Image of the Louisville Slugger Xeno Pro mitt
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What should I do if I want more padding in my left handed catchers mitt to help prevent palm pain?
Answer: New catcher's mitts typically have sufficient leather padding built into them, especially if you buy a more "premium" mitt.
Still, over time, repeated use can slowly wear down the padding and lead to palm or finger pain in your catching hand.
One of the simplest and most cost effective solutions in this scenario is to get a padded inner glove.
They're super affordable, have a good amount of palm padding and they fit easily inside gloves. Check out our article on them for much more detail.
Question: Who are all of the left-handed catchers to play at least one game in the MLB?
Answer: Across the history of the major leagues, there have been approximately 30 left handed catchers that have appeared in at least one big league game behind the plate.
Those catchers are listed below, in alphabetical order by first name.
- Art Twineham
- Benny Distefano
- Bill Harbidge
- Billy Redmond
- Charlie Eden
- Charlie Householder
- Charlie Krehmeyer
- Dale Long
- Dave Oldfield
- Elmer Foster
- Fergy Malone
- Fred Tenney
- Homer Hillebrand
- Jack Clements
- Jack McMahon
- Jiggs Donahue
- Jim Egan
- Joe Wall
- Joe Wright
- John Cassidy
- John Humphries
- John Mullen
- Lefty Marr
- Martin Powell
- Mike Hines
- Mike Squires
- Phil Baker
- Pop Tate
- Sam Trott
- Sy Sutcliffe
Thanks for Reading!
Thank you for taking the time to read this lefty catchers mitt article - especially if you made it this far! We hope that you found this post to be informative and helpful.
If we can answer any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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