Innovative Glove & Mitt Designs

[mikesglove]

A 1938 Golsmith "The Snare" model glove. Innovative lacing around the thumb and forefinger to help the glove retain its shape from balls hitting high in the webbing.

The glove below is the same Snare model but missing the tunnel webbing.

[mikesglove]

Below is an ad displaying some characteristics of Rawlings gloves and mitts circa 1970. Outseam finger stalls were around for decades earlier on Rawlings catchers mitts. The revamped outseam design called the "Magic Action Back" on base mitts and gloves was started circa 1963.


Below is a model TN10 base mitt


Below is a Robinson/Boyer model MVP circa 1965

[mikesglove]

From a Wilson 1933 catalog. Wilson made a whole line of zipper heel glove/mitts. I've never heard of a base mitt surfacing.

[mikesglove]

As catchers mitts became more sophisticated, some clever innovations were patented. One such patent was the Charles King (of "King Patent" fame") for a perforated palm in 1913. The theory behind the design was reducing the rebound of a ball striking the pocket due to trapped air in the padding. A perforated palm would expel the air upon ball impact.
Below is the 1913 patent drawing

Below is a Reach ad from 1916. I think I've owned all these at one time. Probably my favorite brand catchers mitts.

Model 9A with perforated palm.

The Spalding model 10-0-P version 1915

Below a well used Spalding model

Below a Reach version. Probably the nicest example in the hobby

[mikesglove]

This one on ebay right now. The "Hugh Critz" model G97X glove.

D&M experimented using the Reuben Raymond patent of 1921 for a diverted seam.

It's a pretty rare glove and top of the line in its day.

Another rarely seen D&M model, The Bill Kamm model G88. There are a number of U and V notch buckle back models out there but very few open back/buckle back models like the G88. I wondered if there were any that surfaced in the hobby. I checked http://www.baseballglovecollector.com. Rob has all the good stuff!

[mikesglove]

I came across a 1916 Stall & Dean catalog yesterday. It was only a partial dang it but had some cool images. I sent it along to JD for the glove library. http://www.baseballglovecollector.com. The Bill Carrigan model catchers mitt was especially nice. The S&D fastback design is interesting and features a unique buckle web. The actual example below is stamped 0911. The owner may be interested in a little of its history.

[mikesglove]

From a Wilson 1933 catalog. Wilson made a whole line of zipper heel glove/mitts. I've never heard of a base mitt surfacing.

Ripon Knitting Works came out with a zipper heel glove in 1948. There was a different placement of the zippered opening. Several of these have surfaced. I owned one for awhile. Mine is shown below. I always thought it was model 107. It's actually model 10Z. They were well built gloves.

[mikesglove]

Two gloves from a Victor, Wright & Ditson catalog in 1922. Note the laced webbing through eyelets. I think this was the only year for this feature. They may have been riding on the coattails of the Rawlings patented Doak web. Goldsmith did the same thing in that time period. The two laced web models below are undoubtedly rare.

Wilson also joined in briefly on the laced web bandwagon in 1922.

[mikesglove]

Here's a cool one, a D&M G40 Walter Johnson model. It's from the mid 30's. Notice it has something called the "Crowder" web. Alvin "General" Crowder was a beloved teammate of Johnson's. Crowder was a pitcher and developed the web design with the Senators.

Below is an example of the G40 with the "Crowder" web.

[mikesglove]

This rare, early glove was on ebay and features a 3 piece leather palm. The glove displays the 1905 Burt Rogers patent to enhance the usefulness of a glove or mitt. The buckle web and overall look of the glove could point to a Victor manufacturer.
The Rogers patent states:

There was another patent in 1907 by Elwin Little that covered similar territory as the Burt Rogers patent for Victor Sporting Goods.

The Elwin Little patented glove design seems to be a recipe for failure by placing the palm seam right through the heart of the pocket. I like the diverted palm seam on the ebay glove below.

[murphusa]

So glad to see you back, Mike
Hope all is well

[cbrandis]

Here is a slightly different Gibson.

[mikesglove]

So glad to see you back, Mike
Hope all is well

thanks, Murph

[mikesglove]

Here's an odd but cool vintage glove from the Rawlings Custom Shop. It is a model HT76 and has a modified fastback design eliminating the Holdster slot and adding a velcro wrist strap. The HT76 glove sold on ebay for $227. The wrist strap is the same as the Rawlings prototype ambidextrous glove featured here a number of years ago.

[mikesglove]

One thing I noticed on the HT76 Rawlings glove above was the heel extension past the heel lacing. Reminds me of the heel extension on some TOC gloves and Wm. Read mitts. Apparently the initial auction for $227 fell through and the glove was recently resold for $130. That seems like a bargain for such a unique glove.