Multi-Sport Athletes: How to Store and Preserve Gear During the Off-Season
When the fall baseball season ends, many multi-sport athletes head straight into football, soccer, or basketball. Too often, expensive bats and leather gloves are tossed into a gear bag and left sitting in a cold garage or damp basement until spring training starts.
Learning how to clean and store baseball gear off season takes just 15 minutes and prevents hundreds of dollars in equipment damage.
5-Step Off-Season Care Checklist
Follow this routine before putting gear away for the winter:
- Clean and Dry the Leather: Wipe down leather gloves with a damp cloth to remove dirt and sweat salts. Allow the glove to air-dry naturally at room temperature—never near a heater.
- Apply Leather Conditioner: Apply a light layer of pH-balanced glove conditioner to prevent the hide from drying out and cracking during cold winter months.
- Store Bats Indoors: Keep composite bats inside a climate-controlled room (60°F to 75°F). Never store composite bats in garages, outdoor sheds, or vehicle trunks where freezing temperatures cause epoxy resin to become brittle.
- Shape the Glove Pocket: Place a softball or baseball inside the glove pocket and wrap it loosely with a glove wrap or rubber band to preserve its custom shape over the winter.
- Inspect Hardware and Grips: Check bat grip tape for wear and inspect glove laces for fraying so repairs can be handled before spring training begins.
Proper maintenance guarantees that when spring arrives, your gear is hydrated, structured, and ready to perform from day one.
Give your glove a complete refresh before next season. Send it in for our comprehensive Glove Conditioning & Re-Lacing Service.
