Baseball Catcher Blanket: Better Than Yesterday

Baseball Catcher Blanket shows a dark, moody photo of a batting helmet, a catcher's mask, a bat, a ball and a glove, with the printed words “IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING BETTER THAN SOMEONE ELSE, IT'S ABOUT BEING BETTER THAN YOU WERE THE DAY BEFORE.” The line tells you that progress is measured against yourself, not the player next to you. That idea is easy to carry from the dugout to the living room, and anyone who has ever chased a slightly better swing or a cleaner throw down to second will feel it was made for them.

Note: the pillow shown in the photo are for styling only and not included.

What the design shows

The main subject is a catcher's gear arranged on a dark, textured surface. A metal batting helmet sits to one side, and a black catcher's mask rests behind a wooden-looking bat that runs diagonally across the frame. A white baseball and a worn leather glove sit low in the bottom corner, with laces and stitching visible in the grayscale shading. The photo is black and white, which gives the whole picture a serious, focused feel. Above the gear, the words are set in tall, bold capitals on the dark background. The lines break in a natural rhythm, so the quote reads like a sentence you would say out loud. The arrangement feels like the moments just before a game, when the gear is laid out and the work is about to begin.

Who it was made for

Catchers will notice the mask and shin-guard style gear first, and they will know exactly where the glove and helmet belong in a game. Coaches who run practice drills can keep the quote in view while they talk about small improvements from one session to the next. Parents who drive players to early-morning workouts may see their own kid in the message, working toward a personal best. Players who are chasing a starting spot or a higher level of play will find the line easy to connect with, because it talks about effort they control. The design is also a fit for softball fans who appreciate the same kind of gear and the same mindset.

As a gift and every day

This blanket works well as a gift after a season ends, at a team banquet, or when a player signs on to play in college or moves up a level. It is also a good pick for a coach who has built a team around steady growth, or for a grandparent who wants to celebrate a young athlete's first full year in the game. Once it arrives, you can wrap up on the couch while watching a game on television, or keep it folded at the foot of the bed for quiet evenings after practice. The available styles include a fleece throw, a sherpa throw, a fleece blanket and a sherpa blanket, so you can choose the feel that suits the way you like to relax.