Catching in baseball is fraught with hazards, but there's one danger that stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of sheer dread. It's not the backswing to the head or even 90 mph fastballs to your forearms that you should be most wary of. Brace yourself, because the absolute worst...

You got your new Allstar, Rawlings, or A2000 catchers mitt, and are anxious to break it in. “But how do I break it in?” you’re thinking?

Do I wrap it? Heat it up? Sleep on it? The options are endless.

Well pay attention - because a poorly broken in catchers mitt can ruin your...