Glove/Player Indentification mystery ??Pics added

[doubleplay64]

Hi All,

I have not been on the forum for awhile(2009) kind of got out of the glove thing sorry to say. Today I came across one I forgot that I even had and to be honest I have no idea how I got it or when. So what better place to come for help then here? It's a Wilson c.1930's model 2642(buckle back,tunnel loop) endorsed by HOF player Charles "Red" Ruffing. The mystrey is there is a second name or signature stamped just below the Ruffing stamping. The name is "Frank Albanese". Never heard the name so I looked it up online. baseball-reference.com lists a Frank Albanees who pitched in the minors around 1919-1923 for the Brandenton Growers(FL) & the Sapulpa Yanks(OK). To enhance this mystery the initials F.A. are scratched into the right buckle strap. Possible this glove was used by him? But the timeframe doesn't exactly fit the age of the glove?? Maybe I'm incorrect. There is another stamping of Frank Albanese on the upper back of the thumb only it's in block type lettering and not a signature as the one in front. I have pics avaible through email: dweb1@cox.net

Anyone who wants to take a look at it is more than welcomed. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time. It's good to be on here again.
Don

[vintagebrett]

Maybe he continued to play in industrial leagues and got his name stamped on the glove? Could have friends with connections too?

[ScottWNJ]

Don sent me photos of the glove in question. It looks to me like Frank Albanese added his own name to this glove, perhaps with a wood burning tool. Nicely done. However the name on the back of the thumb looks crude and amatureish. The glove is clearly a Charles Ruffing trademark. I can't see Wilson or a number. According to the source book, Wilson didn't use 4 digit numbers until 1949. This glove is much earlier, so I don't think it could be a 2462. Whether or not this glove belonged to the minor leaguer, Frank Albanese, may never be know, but I'm thinking not. It's a fairly common name. In any case, feel free to add your opinions.





Scott

[deebro041]

This is just my two cents...i would think that if it was done in the minor leaugues then maybe more players would have done it as well, on the same team...you know "hey Frank that's pretty fab, how did you do that? Can you do mine?" or vice versa.
Dan

[MELLY9E@AOL.COM]

LOOKING FOR THE 2 PICTURES OF MY HUSBANDS GRANDFATHER ...FRANK ALBANESE. HE PLAYED FOR THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS IN THE 20'S,HE WAS A PITCHER WHO INJURED HIS ARM. HE TOLD STORIES OF PLAYING IN A GAME WITH BABE RUTH.ALSO MANAGING A GIRLS TEAM..I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR YEARS FOR ANYTHING ON HIM AND SAW NOTHING.WOULD LOVE FOR SOMEONE TO SEE THE PICTURES AND TRY TO IDENTIFY THE PLAYERS.HE WAS CALLED ALBANESEE OR ALBANEES DEPENDING ON THE ITALIAN ACCENTS.

[softball66]

Interesting glove. My thoughts:
1. The webbing is typical of late 1920s, early 1930s
2. Ruffing was a Wilson endorser, first retail glove 1927, a 628 model.
3. I think we can no concern ourselves with the model number on this glove too much. Odd ball number for this era.
4. I like the theory that Albanese may have had a connection with Wilson and had them stamp his signature on the glove as a favor if he was pitching or coaching in the minors at this time.
If it's hand burned on, it is a wonderfully artistic job.
5. Is the glove of professional quality? Leather, etc.
My guess is that Frank got the glove from Wilson to use and had the stamping done.Custom job maybe. Guess the hand fit is right for Frank?