Good glove photos are tough to find

[okdoak]

Bob Feller with the Wilson triple tunnel in 1939. For whatever reasons he only had one near top of the line Wilson, his 900 PM, in 1939 and 1940. For spring training in 1940 he sported a very similar looking glove with a wide Rainey trap web. Don't think they carried that one at your local sports shop back then.

[mikesglove]

The wide Rainey web glove is super cool.

Jerry Koosman circa 1966 with a MacGregor KC3 Kangaroo hide glove. Listed in the catalog as a pitchers model. It's a glove you don't see around these days.

[okdoak]

I was surprised at how popular the Rainey trap gloves were back then. Can't remember the last time I saw one up for sale.
Goldsmith's Red Lucas model was a popular one, too. That's Red himself in the bottom photo and the catalog listing is from 1935.

[okdoak]

Left hander Pete Naktenis with a Reach Lefty Grove in 1936. Unfortunately it appears that the Rainey webs have been snipped off.






While I was looking for a better photo of his glove, I found an article about Pete and another pitching phenom from the same area of Hartford CT, a right hander named Johnny "Jackson" Taylor. Pete only pitched one season for the A's, but hung on in the minors and semi-pro teams until 1945. Johnny pitched in the Negro Leagues and in Cuba and Mexico into the 1950's.

[okdoak]

Unfair as the color barrier was back then, Johnny Taylor made the best of it. He pitched against Satchel Paige and Dizzy Dean's barnstorming teams and had Martin DiHigo and Josh Gibson for teammates.








From what you can see of his glove, it looks like either a Wilson like the one Roy Hughes used in 1937 or a Spalding like this Lloyd Waner model from JD's glove gallery. It's possible that Wilson was making gloves for Spalding back then. They definitely did a few years later.

[okdoak]

Gene Moore and Al Blanche in 1936. If not for the label I wouldn't have guessed Al's glove was a Ken-Wel. It's pretty nondescript for their line. Gene's glove is a Spalding or Reach with the unique trap web. The 1936 catalog image is Reach's Wm Knickerbocker model.

[mikesglove]

The Johnny Taylor glove has the "It's a Wilson" trademark on the wrist strap.

[okdoak]

I was using that Wilson glove photo to compare it to what you can see of Taylor's glove. Just realized it would have been less confusing if I would have used the full photo of Roy Hughes wearing it.

[okdoak]

Tommy Bridges with an interesting one. The catalog listing is from Great Western in 1936.

[okdoak]

Lonny Frey with the Rainey trap web. Probably a Reach or Spalding model but the tag doesn't look it. Maybe from a sports shop or other retailer.

[mikesglove]

Another one of Carl Hubbell with a Rainey web glove during a 1936 All Star game.

[okdoak]

I've lost track of how many players used Rainey web gloves. That was a really popular glove. Here are three more, Lefty Gomez, Travis Jackson, and Mel Ott.

[mikesglove]

And now for a moment, going back, way back:
This TOC photo is a testament to the photographers skill. The mitt in the photo is okay, but the Spalding bat is as crisp an image as you will find.

A super photo of TOC catchers gear.

[okdoak]

I have to admit that TOC baseball sure didn't lack for style. That bat is a beauty too.
Here's Pinky Higgins with a brand new glove. The catalog listing is from 1936.

[mikesglove]

1931 World Series Game. Chick Hafey and George Watkins on the left appear to be using The Rawlings Bill Doak gloves. Wally Roettger on the right appears to be using a Reach model with the wide wrist strap.