Cowhide is among the common materials that make flexible and functional baseball gloves. These pairs are popular for having a short break-in time, conforming to the player’s hand contour pretty fast. That’s why they are deemed comfortable leather for pitchers’ gloves.
So, many might be prompted to ask “How many baseball gloves can be made from one cow?” To give a ballpark figure, it would be 12 gloves, varying according to different manufacturers.
Table of Contents
Cowhide Sizes and Shapes
Typically, a matured cow has a whole hide of 50 to 55 square feet (4.65 to 5.1 square meters), depending on its size. The average length from its neck to butt is about 6 feet long, and its average width is 4 feet.
Here’s the average amount of hide taken from one cow, with a rough measurement for each different part:
- Full hide: 50 to 55 square feet (4.65 to 5.1 square meters)
- Side: 22 square feet (2 square meters)
- Shoulder: 18 to 20 square feet (1.7 to 1.85 square meters)
- Butts: 18 to 20 square feet (1.7 to 1.85 square meters)
How Many Baseball Gloves Can Be Made From a Cow?
Many well-established brands use cowhide to produce their premium-quality gloves, including Rawlings Sporting Goods, Wilson Sporting Goods, Mizuno, Easton Diamond Sports, and Nokona.
On average, they can make 12 baseball gloves from one cow’s full hide. Indeed, there are other fabrics used to make a baseball glove, including its webbing and stitches. So, cowhide is not the only material.
Cowhide Used in Producing Sports Equipment
For an average of 50 feet of leather produced from cowhide, manufacturers can make about 144 standard baseball balls measuring 9 to 9.25 inches in circumference.
Furthermore, the same full cowhide can be used to produce about 20 footballs, each measuring 27 to 28 inches in circumference.
For basketballs with measurements varying from 22 inches to 29.5 inches in circumference, we can make about 12 to 22 balls.
Why Use Cowhide Leather?
For baseball gloves, cowhide is the standard leather fabric that offers players a medium to heavy feel.
They are comfortable and functional, offering a good performance that meets professional standards. Furthermore, since they are quick to be broken in, these gloves are ideal for sudden gear replacement for the nearest next game.
According to most manufacturers, cowhide gloves are the perfect pick for youth baseball players.
However, it is important to know that they can wear out sooner than other materials, especially when compared with premium steer hide.
Conclusion
So, how many baseball gloves can be made from one cow? There is no exact number, but a rough calculation based on the area of a mature cowhide and the dimension of the gloves offer a ballpark figure of 12.
Indeed, the size of different cows, their qualities, and the glove designs will greatly affect the end result.
Does this fact fascinate you? If yes, feel free to visit our site to find out more interesting things about baseball.
Rogers is a hardcore baseball enthusiast. He joined Nations Baseball as a writer to share his knowledge and help others realize their passions for the sport. Roger is striving towards becoming a coach at his local baseball club.
