Friday Focus: The new reduced price on Nike’s Adult Team Jordan 2011 Batting Gloves

Like all good baseball legends, the story of the batting glove starts with a guy who thought he got the day off.

The guy was Boston’s Ken “Hawk” Harrelson. As the story goes, the Sox were playing a night game and Hawk was expecting not to play.

He spent the day at the golf course. He arrived at the ballpark that evening with blistered hands from playing 27 holes, and he was surprised to find himself in the starting lineup.

He resorted to wearing golf gloves to protect his sore hands… or so the story goes at least.

Nowadays, batting gloves are commonplace, and for good reason. Not only do they give players a better grip on the bat, but they also provide shock absorption and protection while sliding.

And while there’s many gloves out there, there’s not many that live up to the exacting specifications of MLB athletes.

Nike’s Adult Team Jordan 2011 Batting Gloves are worn by 12-time All-Star Derek Jeter. The cabretta leather batting gloves feature pre-curved fingers, designed to easily conform to the shape of your hand.

They include a comfortable, mesh-wrapped adjustable wrist strap and perforated fingers for ventilation and quick drying.

While they usually retail for $59.99, you can now get these gloves for $39.99 at Baseball Express.

Related: Shop our entire selection of baseball batting gloves.

Friday Focus: The new lower price on Rawlings’ Men’s Mesh Dugout Fleece Pullover

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We’re right in the thick of spring, and that means that the weather can do some crazy things.

It’s sunny one day, and it’s snowing the next. That can make things a little tricky if you’re training, warming up or practicing in cool weather.

It’s important to layer up with something warm and comfortable, something like Rawlings’ Men’s Mesh Dugout Fleece Pullover.

The Dugout Fleece Pullover is designed with a baggy oversize cut and rib knit inserts underneath the arms. The inserts provide lots of room for arm movement, allowing players to comfortably wear the pullover during batting or throwing practice.

It’s made with a breathable flatback mesh fleece.

The Rawlings Men’s Mesh Dugout Fleece Pullover is available in a range of color combinations — 26 to be exact (including 12 exclusive colors) — which makes them ideal for teamwear. They’re also great to wear off the diamond too.

These pullovers used to retail for $34.99, but now you can get one starting at $19.98 at Baseball Express.

Related: Browse our selection of baseball performance wear.

Introducing the newest addition to Easton’s Power Brigade, the 2012 Speed S4 BBCOR Baseball Bat

Easton’s Power Brigade lineup of BBCOR certified baseball bats is still relatively new to our shelves, but it’s already making plenty of waves.

Thanks to its series of baseball bats tailored to each player’s specific hitting style — from pure power to contact hitters — the Power Brigade is gaining a following in everything from travel leagues to college baseball. And its newest addition is sure to gain even more fans.

Easton’s 2012 Speed S4 -3 Adult BBCOR Baseball Bat is fine-tuned to have one of the lowest MOIs on the market. It’s constructed with an ultra-light swing weight for more bat speed, allowing players to hit with more power in every at-bat.

The S4 is a one-piece bat made with Easton’s proprietary THT100 Scandium Alloy. That construction has allowed the engineers at Easton to produce a high-performance baseball bat while keeping production costs low.

That means you can get it for $199.99 at Baseball Express.

Related: Browse the rest of the baseball bats in the Easton Power Brigade.

Footwear Friday: Practice makes perfect with Nike’s Air Elite PreGame Training Shoes

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As we’ve said before, you can’t overstate the importance of a good set of cleats.

Proper footwear will not only reduce the risk of injury, but it will also improve your performance on the field. With better traction, less resistance, supported ankles and comfortable feet — you’ll always be at your best on gameday.

And on training days, it’s just as important.

That’s why it’s key to wear baseball-specific training shoes, like Nike’s Air Elite PreGame Training Shoes. These baseball training shoes are designed to handle the stresses that baseball players put on their footwear while in the cages, doing speedwork or in the weightroom.

Nike’s Air Elite PreGame Training Shoes feature a rubber outsole for the right amount of grip on a variety of surfaces, everything from the cages to wet grass.

The Nike air cushioning in the heel makes for a comfortable ride, and the lightweight material (13 ounces per cleat) makes these cleats ideal for running. While the synthetic leather upper provides provides durability, support and a custom fit, tailor-made for baseball players.

While these baseball training shoes are idea for workouts, they’re also great for pregame warm-ups, coach’s shoes and umpire’s shoes. We’d wear them to a wedding, if we could get away with it.

Get a pair for $64.99 at Baseball Express.

Related: Shop our entire selection of baseball training shoes.