What Do Little League Baseball Parents Need to Buy? A Complete Uniform Guide
Are you a little league organizer? Check out our blog on what you should be doing as a little league for your parents.
A fitted cap and jersey with custom name and number is common as little leagues kids gain skill and progress over the years.
If you’re signing your child up for Little League baseball, one of the first questions you probably have is simple: what do I need to buy, and what does the league provide?
The good news is that Little League uniforms are designed to be affordable and straightforward, especially for younger players. Most leagues include the core uniform pieces in your registration fee and only ask parents to purchase a few personal items. It’s an introduction to baseball, that’s why little league is so great. The accessibility and affordability to all.
This guide walks through what Little League parents should expect to buy, what’s usually included, and how those expectations change as kids move up in age. We also add a few unique ideas how to use custom apparel to cheer on your kid!
What Little Leagues Usually Provide
While every little league is slightly different, most provide the same core uniform pieces because teams must look consistent and comply with Little League rules. These uniform pieces are often used year to year as a high school sports team re uses uniforms each year, it’s pretty common practice.
In most cases, parents can expect the league to provide:
A numbered game jersey for older kids or screen-print tee.
A team hat or cap.
Baseball pants, depending on the league.
These items are controlled by the league so that all players match in color, style, and numbering. Some leagues also include socks or belts, but those pieces tend to vary by division.
What Little League Parents Usually Buy
Teams can get custom jerseys, pants, and team socks to really stand out.
Parents are typically responsible for personal-fit items that kids grow out of quickly. This usually includes cleats and a glove, and occasionally socks or a belt if the league specifies a particular color or style.
Most parents will need to purchase:
Molded cleats
A baseball glove or mitt
Bats and batting gloves are optional. Many teams have shared bats available, especially at younger levels, so there’s no need to rush out and buy one unless you want to.
Tee Ball & Coach Pitch (Ages 4–8)
At this age, the focus is on learning the basics and having fun, not uniform details.
Leagues almost always provide a jersey and hat, and sometimes pants or socks. Jerseys are often screen-print t-shirts with numbers, but Little League programs can take steps up. Most players in this age group keep their jerseys and socks at the end of the season. Hats may be reused by the league or kept by the player, depending on local policy.
Parents are usually only responsible for cleats and a glove. Molded rubber cleats are standard, and comfort matters far more than brand or appearance. Simple gear is more than enough at this level.
Minors & Majors (Ages 9–12)
Sublimated jerseys are a way for Little League programs to:
Highlight sponsors in a way screen-print jerseys/shirts cannot.
Have custom numbers and even custom names, often highly costly in screen-printing.
Get kids excited to play baseball with high level uniforms.
As kids get older, the game becomes more structured and uniforms start to look more polished.
Leagues still provide the core uniform pieces, but jerseys are often higher quality and more customized. Some leagues allow players to keep jerseys, while others reuse them year to year to manage costs.
Parents can expect to purchase cleats and, in some cases, socks or belts if specific colors are required. Pants are often standardized and may need to be returned at the end of the season. Socks become more visible at this level, especially if teams wear knickers, but they are almost always kept by families.
Do Parents Keep the Jersey?
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer depends on the league.
In younger divisions, players almost always keep their jerseys. In older divisions, policies vary. Some leagues let players keep them, while others reuse higher-quality uniforms. Socks are almost always kept, while pants are more commonly returned.
Clear communication from the league is the most important factor here.
How Much Should Parents Expect to Spend?
For most families, out-of-pocket costs are reasonable. Cleats and a glove are the main purchases, and both can usually be reused for multiple seasons. Any additional items like socks or belts are relatively low-cost.
Compared to travel baseball, Little League is intentionally designed to keep costs lower and expectations simpler.
For most Little League families, out-of-pocket costs typically fall between $60 and $120 for the season.
That usually breaks down to:
Cleats: $30–$60
Glove: $30–$60 (often reused for multiple seasons)
Optional items like socks or a belt, if needed, usually add $10–$20. If you have to pay for jerseys, expect between $20 and $100 depending on your level, how many jerseys, and the style.
Little League parents can get spirit wear in addition to uniforms to cheer their kids on!
What About Spirit Wear?
Your kid’s baseball uniform is set, but now you want to support your little leagues. You have two great options:
Custom Little League Stores
Our custom team stores are perfect for little league stores. They’re free to use, you can add sublimated and screen-print products, and we take of everything from design to shipping.
Custom Fan Jerseys
Sublimated fan jerseys are one of the biggest trends in the 2020’s. A high quality jersey with your kids name and number? Sign us up. There is a minimum of five per sublimated order, so get a few parents together and put an order in.
