What "Type" of Glove Collector Are You?

[Mr. Mitt]

It's always a blast to see others' collections, but sometimes not possible because of practicalities. The next best thing is to share interests and your collecting focus. Thought it would be fun to create a poll to reveal what we concentrate on. You may select as many categories as you like, as well as expand upon your answers by adding to the thread if you wish. By all means, if your collection has gone in a direction that's not mentioned in the poll, please tell us about it!

[vintagebrett]

My foci are on a specific company (OK MFG/Sonnett) and a geographic location (New England). That's not to say I don't have some gloves that don't fit those two categories, but for the most part that is how I build my collection. For me, the categories are broad enough that I can add new stuff, but narrow enough that I'm not buying every single thing that pops up.

[Mr. Mitt]

I think Brett hit the nail on the head. I have a focus in order to limit myself from buying everything that pops up! Beyond the joy we share for vintage gloves, there's something to be said for the hunt. Face it, the majority of our collecting time is spent on the endeavor... scouring flea markets and garage sales, emailing and calling other collectors about potential trades, as well as searching eBay and auction catalogs. To me, the hunt, as well as the deal, is as much fun as the glove itself. That being said, I believe that most collectors are compelled to collect and that their focus not only ensures a path and provides direction, but ultimately garners a sense of accomplishment. I'm not alone in the love of lists, more specifically, crossing things off of a list. I do it for everyday things as well as in the hobby. There's no greater feeling than compiling a list of glove endorsers, HoFers for example, searching them out, crossing them off the "wanted" page after snatching them from another suitor, and then enjoying the fruits of the hunt by displaying with the rest of the trophies. And it doesn't end there, just when you think it's over and time to move on to another endorser on the list, an upgrade of a glove you already have comes along and the juices begin to flow again! Most importantly, though, you have to enjoy what you're focusing on, otherwise it's futile no matter what direction is taken.

[BigD-Moonlight]

Sure glad there was at least one box that I did not have to mark off.
Endorsed Hall of Famer gloves were my first passion, however over the years I have gown to love a whole lot of the other types. The past several years it has been turn-of-the-century, specialty and rare endorsements. Of course when there is a chance to add a HOFer or a unique box that is really special.
Yep, as a collector, lists are real important and it is always nice to cross off a needed item. Gloves aren't the only list, seems that I have many others such as, Magor League Ball Parks and places wher I have seen "Phantom of the Opera", to name a couple.

[vintagebrett]

I think it's fun to have a list and check things off but it's also just as fun to find something you didn't think/know existed.

BTW, I saw Phantom of the Opera the Kennedy Center in DC when I was in eighth grade. Once was enough for me.

[ScottWNJ]

While I call myself a glove collector, I am neither focused on a particular collector genre nor am I able to afford the high dollar gloves that appear so often on the Glove of the Month page. So I pretty much collect whatever comes along that is affordable and strikes my fancy. I mostly like pre-war, split finger gloves, especially those that are endorsed by players I've never heard of. Of course I would love to have a Ruth and a Gerhig in my collection (who wouldn't), but short of one falling into my lap, they are out of reach for now. The prospect of uncovering one at an estate sale is what fuels the hunt, and makes it so much fun. You never know what will turn up. I have been slowly putting together a subset of Yankee endorsed gloves to match up with the signatures on a 1958 Yankee ball that I received as a child. Not every player on the ball had a glove endorsement, but I add one to the collection every now and then. (Most recently Ryne Duren and Johnny Kucks). I'm not a trader, mostly because the gloves in my collection would probably not be on anyone's want list. I really should learn to be more disciplined and focus on better quality gloves, instead of bidding on Ebay cheapies all the time. So I may not have the greatest collection, but I thoroughly enjoy the hunt and the hobby.

Scott