Arthur Irwin and the Draper-Maynard Co.

[atabats]

Fascinating article on the double life of Arthur Irwin. Even his great-great-grandson Todd left a comment so you know it ain’t guff!
https://torontoist.com/2014/03/historic ... the-field/

[mikesglove]

An interesting D&M mitt on ebay. I think the period would be circa 1910-13. The wrist strap is a unique feature. Also the leather face of the mitt is sewn using a french seam. The french seam is common on upholstery to hide the raw fabric edge. That is something I've never seen before on a mitt.

[Number9]

Good eye, Mike. Looks pretty, too.

[mikesglove]

Here's an ad for the Irwin glove sold through Keefe & Becannon. You can just make out the diverted thumb seam and pull tab for the lace wrist opening.

[mikesglove]

TOC ball player atop a horse.

The glove looks to be a D&M Irwin catchers glove by the extra long wrist protector.

[mikesglove]

A one year only glove, the Wes Ferrell model G14. It was brought out in 1936 and features the "Crowder" one piece web. This web was attributed to Alvin Crowder, a teammate of Walter Johnson and later with Detroit. This glove is now on ebay and is super rare.


below is a photo of Crowder circa 1935-36.

[mikesglove]

I found this while looking through different auction site results. It looks to be a near mint Hughie Critz model glove. Pretty nice!

[okdoak]

Hack Wilson's 1933 endorsement contract with D&M. I had assumed that the player got a couple of free gloves at least. Hack's life and career had nosedived after the 1930 season when he was the NL MVP, with 56 homers, 191 RBI's, and a .356 BA. He was traded twice and would be out of baseball after 1934. Pretty sad.