Is it a hobby or a sickness?

[B17surf]

Is it a hobby or a sickness?

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been corresponding with "Bretman" and Joe Phillips. In the course of these two weeks, it has really sparked my interest in finding out about the gloves I've collected over the years. I am not the serious collector where I know what I want and/or seek out particular models. I just collect. My wife thinks that I have a sickness. Whenever we go to garage sales, or any type of estate auction, if I see a glove that is in good shape (or a wooden softball bat), I buy it and put it in a plastic tub I have in my garage. Of course, there are several gloves (A2000's and HOH's) that I know has value and are kept in my house. Anyway, I didn't realize how many gloves I had aquired in that tub. I'd say a third of them are kids gloves that will more than likely get donated to the local little league (or sent overseas for the troops to give to the local kids as goodwill), the other two thirds are gloves that are in mint shape and intend on researching once my Vintage Baseball Glove Catalog Source Book‏ arrives. They aren't as old as most of the ones I've seen on here nor do they have much value (I think), but to me they are very cool pieces of history, none-the-less.

See . . . the thing is, there is something about an older glove that just catches my eye when I see it laying in a corner, on a sale table, or at the bottom of a box full of sports equipment. I'm not talking about todays junk made of plastic or nylon, but the glimpse of actual leather that has been weathered from use or non-use for that matter. I know a lot of you know what I am talking about. It is the flash of quality leather that even the mid range gloves had back in the day that catches your eye. When you pick that glove out from under all of the footballs and soccer balls piled on top of it, you know that it didn't belong to the kids there. It was once used by who is now a parent or grandparent. As I look at the creases and wear marks on these gloves, I wonder how these came to be. I see it as marks of time. These were made during a time where someone was breaking league records, making lifetime friends, or most of all . . . made while having the best time of their lives playing baseball whether it was competitive or recreational.

The other aspect to these gloves are the subtle differences and changes in design of the glove. It intrigues me to see the different styles of webbing and lacing patterns . . . what was popular back then . . . or a weird concept all together. Although not much has changed in the basic design and function of the glove over the past 100 years, the changes in concepts and aesthetics over time is what interests me the most.

To tell you the truth, I don't even know why I keep buying these gloves nor do I know what I will end up doing with them. All I know is that there is something about it where I have to pick it up . . . try it on . . . look at it from time to time . . . and say to myself, "this is a cool glove".

So I ask you . . . is this a sickness or hobby?

What is your story?

[ebbets55]

Sounds like you are one of us. You're screwed. Welcome to the hobby. Make sure you get everything you can from Joe. His guides and books are the foundation of our hobby and are mandatory reading in my opinion. You should stay tight on this Forum, ask lots of questions and read as much as you can. Also, don't forget to go to the Glove Collector's Library for lots more information.

What's your name? Where ya from?

JD
http://www.baseballglovecollector.com

[Deacon]

I prefer to use terms like: passion, obsession, infatuation, zeal & enthusiasm. There seems to be a never ending wealth of information from this forum and it's members. You've already tapped two great sources in BretMan & Joe. Joe's books are great & JD's site is a tremendous asset to the hobby, you can spend hours. You might also enjoy a book by forum member "stockbuddy" featuring web styles and designs.
Welcome and enjoy.

[stockbuddy]

Hi B17,

Well it sounds like you have been bitten by the glove bug and got it pretty bad. As JD, mentioned join the crowd on this thread. People could spend their money in much worse ways than on an old ball glove. You captured the essence of what many of us feel about the old timer gloves.

Deacon thanks for the mention of my glove book, but I have sold out of that one. Joe Phillips has a few of them now on ebay. His header is A Visual History of Ball Gloves.

B17 happy glove hunting!!!

Dave (stockbuddy)

[B17surf]

My Vintage Baseball Glove Catalog Source Book‏ came in yesterday. Man, it is addicting trying to date every glove that I have. I've also gone to Ebay to just look at some gloves and date them.

I wonder why I didn't buy this book a long time ago.

I also bought Stockbuddy's book too. I can't wait for that one to arrive as well.