Gloves and Mitts

OK, I know this one is a bit silly, but it happened today and it was my little bucko who did it.

For some unfathomable reason, my son decided to play 3rd with a catcher's mitt! I know you're thinkin' that's a pretty stupid thing to do. Well, I thought the same thing, but far be it from me to stick my nose into it. So, I just watched the game.

His 1st inning in the field came and went as did the 2nd. Then, in the 3rd, with a runner on and 1 out, a ball was hit to 3rd. He went to his left, got the ball and threw to 2nd for the force, and the bas ump called the runner out. then the HPU called time and asked what the 3rd baseman was using for a glove. When he was shown, he called the glove illegal and told him he had to get a fielder's glove.

To be honest, I had several things going through my mind. One was, why would the umpire care? Normally, umpires keep quiet about such things unless they feel it gives the offending team some kind of advantage or poses a possible safety issue.

In this particular case, if anything if gave the opposing team an advantage! After all, wouldn't all coaches want the opposing defense to play with catcher's mitts? I know I would. But in this case, no opposing coach or player squawked, and my son's coach didn't care, so I fail to see any issue.

Another thing I was thinking was, I sure didn't remember anything in OBR that says a fielder's glove has any real definite description other than measurements.

Although there was really no issue about it, I did ask the umpires for the rule and was told that there was a difference between a "mitt" and a "glove" and that only the catcher and 1st baseman may wear a "mitt" and everyone else needs a "glove". That may well be true, but OBR has no such definition I can find.

When I got home and looked, I noticed something else. 1.14 says, "Each fielder, other than the first baseman or catcher, may use or wear a leather glove." It doesn't say they "MUST" wear a glove or "SHALL NOT" wear a mitt!

Now for the question, and I'm assuming Rich will jump in here with his expertise. Is this something that's in some case book someplace or that depends on what "umpire's school" he went to?

I have no beef with the call, but I am curious!