Help with Christmas Angel Tree - baseball related

[maggiew]

I picked up a card from the angel tree at the grocery store. Its for a 9 year old boy. He was asking for a baseball bat, baseball glove and trading cards. It also listed XL coat, hat, gloves.

I thought it would be an easy gift to find, but now I see that bats and gloves come in different sizes!! I have 2 girls who don't play baseball, so I had no clue.

What size bat and ball should I get for a 9 year old. Although the XL coat makes me think he's on the big side???

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[SandrA9810]

On the big and tall side, or something he can grow into. At the same time, some boys like wearing clothes way too big.
I'd go with a slightly larger kid glove. Go for an aluminum bat, they're harder to break, wouldn't want him to break his new bat at a home run.
And trading cards are easy to stock pile up on.

 

[penn19]

For bat size, I would do aluminum, and 30" and about 20 oz. My son is almost 9 and he has a 29/19 but he isn't real big. If the kid is wearing an XL at 9 he is most likely on the big side. Do a 30/20.

For the glove it might be hard with him not there. You have to know if he is a lefty or a righty.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

bats can be expensive-we actually found some decent bats at Ollie's bargain store taht were about $50 less than the bats we usually buy.

 

[StephMK]

Target has a selection of all of those items and would probably be easy to exchange if he had to.

 

[memy26]

My ds is 12 and my dd is 9, I think that both of their gloves are 13 inch. More than likely if it fits on your hand it should work on his.

Can you include a gift receipt in case it doesn't work?

 

[maggiew]

Can you include a gift receipt in case it doesn't work?

I'll include a gift receipt but I'm not sure if he will get it or not??? It was a Salvation Army tree and you are to bring the items unwrapped and drop them off.

I was going to get a wooden bat because I've read alot about how dangerous aluminum bats are. I also heard they might outlaw them in Little League. But as I said, I have NO experience with kids' baseball.

Thanks for all your help.

Maggie

 

[dawson5]

http://www.justbats.com/bat.wizard.aspx

You really need the child height and weight for the sizing of a bat. There are different levels and weights. I would assume if you go the aluminum route, you want to make sure to get little league and get a small barrel bat. They come in a few different levels. Teeball, Little League (2 1/4" diameter bat), Senior League (2 3/4" or 2 5/8" diameter) and Adult. Then there is the - attached to the sizing, this is achieved by taking the length minus the weight. The higher the negative number should be a lighter bat and they should be able to swing it fairly easily. The link for the bat wizard, you can look around their site and there is more information.

As for the glove, even that depends on where they play. Infielders gloves are different that outfielders and catcher's are entirely different altogether. Most have an adjustable strap that you can tighten. I can usually put them on my hand, if they fit me the will fit my youngest two (13 and 12). If you do buy the glove, make sure it is flexible. What you might want to include with it is a bottle of neatsfoot and a ball. If he gets this for Christmas, he can spend the winter breaking it in (neatsfoot conditions and the ball should break it down. You can add a large rubber band to it also. Leave the ball inside the mitt and use the rubberband to close it around it. You don't want a mitt to go flat.)

As for wood vs. aluminum. You need to know the area where he will be playing. Around here, the only place you can use wood is if you are in a travel league and even then it is certain tournaments only. I have not found a wood bat league. A good wood bat can cost the same as a good introductory level bat. They are also heavier and if the child isn't used to swinging it, he might be discouraged.


ETA:

http://www.justballgloves.com/glove.wizard.aspx

There is a wizard for gloves also. I think you are looking at an 11 or 11.25 from his age. Standard, all positions.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I think (?) I read in another post that the Angel Tree tags aren't really for specific kids? That they make tags of various sizes/interests, but then sort the items for the kids needed, after items come in. (So, they are looking for baseball equipment and XL clothing, but it may not necessarily be both for "John Smith".)

If that makes sense? (Trying to say you may be over thinking the sizes needed.)

 

[Cindy B]

I think (?) I read in another post that the Angel Tree tags aren't really for specific kids? That they make tags of various sizes/interests, but then sort the items for the kids needed, after items come in. (So, they are looking for baseball equipment and XL clothing, but it may not necessarily be both for "John Smith".)

If that makes sense? (Trying to say you may be over thinking the sizes needed.)

That is very true. I've worked at one urban Angel Tree gift exchange and many of the requests were fairly generic so if it came in, they could fulfill the need. Some of the items were in a large bin, so we could fill it accordingly.

 

[toystory1130]

I helped sort the last 2 days for the Salvation Army Angel Trees, the gifts that come in are very much for a specific child. If the giver didn't include something on the child's wish list, we do have a large toy room to pull from to add to the bags. Please, please everyone DONATE bike's!! So many ask for them and there are not near enough to go around. If you donate to toy drives, alot of the more popular items asked for are wrestling items, Spiderman, cars and trucks, Baby Alive dolls, educational toys, Thomas the Train, Handy Many and Dora.

 

[memy26]

I helped sort the last 2 days for the Salvation Army Angel Trees, the gifts that come in are very much for a specific child. If the giver didn't include something on the child's wish list, we do have a large toy room to pull from to add to the bags. Please, please everyone DONATE bike's!! So many ask for them and there are not near enough to go around. If you donate to toy drives, alot of the more popular items asked for are wrestling items, Spiderman, cars and trucks, Baby Alive dolls, educational toys, Thomas the Train, Handy Many and Dora.

Question for you. You said that if someone didn't include something on their list you would add it. So my question is does one have to get everything on their list?

I know that the one I just purchased for they suggested that we get 2 of the clothing items and 2 of the toy items (out of 4 each) I did 3 and 3, so do you now have to add the other two items?

 

[toystory1130]

Question for you. You said that if someone didn't include something on their list you would add it. So my question is does one have to get everything on their list?

I know that the one I just purchased for they suggested that we get 2 of the clothing items and 2 of the toy items (out of 4 each) I did 3 and 3, so do you now have to add the other two items?

3 and 3 sound great. We add when things come in and there's only maybe one toy and a small outfit. We try to add something from their wish list if it's not included, if they ask for a Baby Alive AND a bike usually it will be one or the other. We also include a stuffed animal and a book.