Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year, Y'all!

[Cowboy7130]

Glove collecting is a lot of fun and very rewarding, and all that, but one of the biggest things I have noticed and benefitted from is the character of the men who are involved in this hobby. Each of you has shown yourself to be a true gentleman, honorable and honest, forthright and generous. Your insights, not just into gloves but into history and human nature, have given me good things to think about and reflect upon. Your response to the American Baseball Society's Mission to France and the way you helped out Moonlight and his kids was overwhelming (and still is).

Recently, one of our number let me know that he had a glove that he wanted to give me. He knew of my interest in a certain type of glove; he had one he didn't want to keep; he didn't want me to pay him for it. It arrived on Wednesday, and it was not alone. He had come across a catcher's mitt from the same maker that he thought might be interesting for me. So he sent BOTH of them, pristine condition, NO CHARGE, just because he knew I would like them .... WOW!!!! .... what generosity and spirit! I want to be like him when I grow up!!! *and you know who you are, and the big Umpire in the Sky knows who you are, and He is smiling on you today!*

So I have learned a ton about gloves and makers and leather and collecting, and I have a ton more to learn, but for me the "simple pleasure of glove collecting" has grown into a much more rewarding experience than just collecting the gloves. I feel like you gentlemen have helped to show me the breadth and the depth of quality human character. Thank you, all.

Merry Christmas to you, All. I hope Santa will bring you a vintage A2000, a mint Rawlings Doak, a Ken-Wel Vance, and a rare but beautiful Sonnett fielder's glove. May your hearts be full of love, peace, joy and hope. May you get to play catch with your favorite glove during the holidays with your sons and daughters. May your team pump you full of excitement during spring training next year and not let you down during the season. May 2008 be a year of blessings for each of us and our loved ones.

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

[stockbuddy]

Hi Cowboy, Very nicely said and I agree with you!!

Merry Christmas to all the Glovers and their families.

Dave

[crackofthebat]

Very well said, Cowboy. I have been in this hobby since the late 80's and I truly believe this hobby has the nicest people associated with it. A special holiday greeting to my friend, Joe Phillips, who got this hobby up and running almost 20 years ago. THANK YOU!

May you all find that extra special piece of leather under the Christmas tree. Merry Christmas and happy glove hunting in 2008!!!!

Crack of the Bat
Fred Lowman

[softball66]

This is my favorite time of the year because I enjoy the so many wonderful new friends I've met... and many of them in this wonderful hobby. I"m just part of it now but what a truly great bunch of gals and guys! I love ya all.
Thanks Fred. You're another that kept the true spirit of giving alive!
Joe P TGC

[vintagebrett]

I'd like to wish the best to everyone out there this holiday season. Since this day last year we've had almost 200 more people sign up for the forum - that is great. Hopefully we can continue to grow with all the great people who post here and learn more information as we go along.

I'd like to thank Joe for his continued great newsletters - this year marked the 100th one - that is quite an accomplishment. I look forward to the next 100!

Thanks to JD also for his great site. It's super cool to be able to look at other people's gloves and I hope more collectors share their pictures over the coming year.

Happy Holidays!

[stockbuddy]

Hi Brett, Thanks to you for hosting a great forum.

Merry Christmas

Dave

[Moonlight Graham]

You're right Cowboy! This is a great place. The only flaw of this forum is that we can't actually shake hands.

As far as I'm concerned, Christmas took place some 6 weeks ago when I received these two huge packages from all of you. Since then I have received 5 more gloves, the right tools to relace those that needed to be relaced, I also got more documents and even more messages of encouragement. You've all shown so much unsolicited generosity, I'm at a loss for words to describe what I feel, it is far beyond any expressions I know of either in French or English.

You know most people are either amazed or doubtful when I tell them our story. I understand why, this is a modern baseball fairy tale, and fairy tales are not so common these days.

My team, called the Dodgers, now has 12 players, all very excited about the game, well aware that they're very lucky and very thankful for what you've done. I've hung a map of the United States on one of the walls in my classroom, and they all spend a lot of time locating Dallas, San Francisco, and all the cities you're all from. And there is more to come. This whole baseball thing will soon become a great class project, and an exchange scheme will hopefully take place next year between my team and Tom Locker's in California.

Whatever happens, this wonderful episode with the fabulous members of the Vintage Baseball Glove Forum will always prove in my mind that human nature can actually be trusted. There is good in this world. Whenever passion and love are involved, anything is possible. At this time of the year, this is something to remember.

Thanks again and a very merry Christmas to you all!