When you go shopping for baseball pants, you want to stick with companies that are known for selling a quality product. Two of the major players in this market are Russell and Southland. Both pants are very good, but there may be some features you like in one that the other doesn’t.
Russell baseball pants are very popular due to the style in which they are made. Instead of the traditional elastic band at the bottom, they’re tapered so kids can emulate the look of baseball players like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. Some people like Southland baseball pants better because they don’t have to worry about the pants riding up when they slide on. It is strictly a matter of preference.
When it comes to color variety, Russell baseball pants lag a bit behind the Southland brand. If you’re looking for something other than the traditional white or gray, it’s going to have to be Southland baseball pants because Russell only offers those two colors.
The main difference between these two types of pants is in the material used in their construction. Southland prefers to use a 50/50 cotton blend while Russell sticks to a heavier polyester blend. The Russell pants will hold up a little better to more physical play, but the Southland baseball pants may be a little more comfortable to wear on those hot summer afternoons.
As you can see, there’s enough of a difference in these two styles of pants to give you a few distinct options. Base your decision on the aspects of the pants that are going to be relevant to your style of play and you’ll be fine. If you’re used to diving for balls and taking out second basemen, go with Russell. If you’re playing in a 40-plus league without a slide rule, the cotton blend of the Southland Baseball Pants will put a smile on your face on those dog days of summer.