Willie Mays Kangaroo glove on ebay

[softball66]

There is a current listing on ebay for a MacGregor "Kangaroo"?? KWM personal model where the seller is claiming-- "an expert" -- who happens to be TGC --as saying this was a Kangaroo glove and making claims that I told him this was a Kangaroo glove plus some other misleading misrepresentations. At the time he contacted me, which was months ago, and I DID NOT see any pictures of this glove as he is now claiming-- he was uncertain whether there was an "X" in front of the WM and I may have said it might be a "K" and this might be a Kangaroo personal model. At the time I indicated that it would be rare if so. After looking at the eBay photos on this glove on the ebay auction, it does not have the Kangaroo logo nor does not look like Kangaroo leather. Though I've not found any kind of "WM" personal model Kangaroos, this one obviously is. I cannot find any WM May personal models in the catalogs I have. So, from that point, it does seem rare. The glove is made in Japan. It is very similar to the GC12 Mays MacGregor.
Wanted to clear the air on my involvement with this glove. My mistake was kindly offering an opinion that has been, at best, misconstrued.

[BretMan]

I've seen a few of these over the years and they definitely are not made from kangaroo leather.

They're probably a "K-MART Willie Mays" model made for sale through their chain of stores, like the Rawlings "KM" series of gloves were.

[softball66]

Brett, you're on the right track. Should never have discussed the glove without seeing it. It is a personal model and on GC12 pattern basically.
I'd not seen the WMs or KWMs so I was just guessing on what the fellow had. Didn't know he was going to put it on ebay six months later and
claim I had told him for certain that it was Kangaroo. He doesn't even know how to measure the height of the glove.
He's pulled it from auction and blaming me through PM emails for misleading him. Even got angry when I told him it would have been a good
idea to run it by me before he listed it.
Another lesson learned. I've been down that road before. Trying to be helpful.

[kvzbs9]

I also noticed the Macgregor glove that was listed at Kangaroo. I was just wondering if it is possible that Macgregor failed to do the proper stamping which indicates that it is a Kangaroo glove? I wanted to share something unusual with regards to Macgregor gloves from that era. I have 2 model 990 Roberto Clemente Personal Model gloves, both made in Japan. On one of the gloves the lacing runs from the pinky to the thumb, just like some of the Nokona gloves RE: BM76K. The 2nd glove the lacing only go around the palm area. Same glove, same model, but yet the lacing is different. I am fairly new to some of this stuff but I find it definitely strange.

I have posted a pic!

KV

[softball66]

To my knowledge MacGregor didn't make any Kangaroo gloves in Japan. Possible yes, but remote. Is it possible MacGregor left the Kangaroo logo off its Kangaroo gloves? Yes, it is possible but very remote.
From checking with the "Glove Catalog Source book" I see MacGregor started producing its lower line gloves in Japan in 1967 with the Clemente 990 heading the import list. The 990 Roberto Clemente shows to be an "Autograph Model" and not a "Personal Model" from the catalog book and suggested retail was $21.75.(You might want to check your palm stamping, you could be right) The lowest priced USA made glove that same year was the Jim Maloney personal model at $26.50. MacGregor was making Kangaroo gloves in the USA and these ranged from $46 to $56. I see the Roberto Clement Japan made gloves 990 being made from 1967 to 1971, and out of the line in 1972 as Clemente had died in Dec., 1971. Looks like MacGregor continued its Kangaroo line through 1977 like the KCPX "Pitchers Choice" -- "Professional Model" and I would assume made in the U.S. in those years. Nocona got back in the Kangaroo Leather gloves in 1985 but I believe the company didn't have the BM76K until 1995.
I believe you are talking about the outside lacing perimeter around your 990 glove, continuing from top of pinkie to top of thumb, which was a characteristic of of the Nocona BM models beginning with the BMAC of the early '70s. The BM76 also had a characteristic "cupped" lace palm and not a hinged palm. Could be that MacGregor altered its 990 in its five years of production for economic or other reasons on the two different styles that you have.
I think this overall information will be useful to us all. I began work with Nocona in 1976 and the BM76 kicked off that bicentennial year, being changed over from the BMAC. I used the glove for softball but personally didn't like it.

[kvzbs9]

Softball66,

I appreciate all the information about the Macgregor kangaroo leather and additional details about the Roberto Clemente glove(s). After you provided all the details, I can completely understand on the difference on the lacing of the 990s. I do have to say that the 990 web lacing has to be one of the most extensive lace jobs. Sounds like a great price back then because it seems like a quality glove.

I need to pick up one of those glove price books!

KV

[softball66]

That's a curious pattern and yes, lots of lacing goes into that glove. I would think labor intensive on the lacing side. Here's the link on our Glove Catalog Source book on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 500wt_1154
We also have a glove pocket price guide. It's on our ebay store which you can link to from the above.
thanks
joe

[kvzbs9]

Joe,

Thanks for the info regarding the glove price book. Ordered the pocket size off of eBay yesterday.

kim

[mhwolf]

Hi All:

Late in getting back to you. No, the Willie Mays glove is not Kangaroo. I should know. I bought one in 1968 (and just outbid for a winning KC1 on Ebay). They are elegant gloves, chocolate brown in color, and have a distinct pic of a kangaroo with a Joey in the pouch. They were only made for pros, and were exclusive, made in the USA. There were no names placed in any of the gloves. They were not sold openly, you had to call a professional sporting goods supplier and order one directly from Macgregor. They started making them in 1965 (11 inch) and went up to the KC1 (12.5). Willie Mays actually used one for about 4-5 years, and he made the great chain link fence catch over Bobby Bonds hit by Bobby Tolan in 1970 with this glove.

[mikesglove]

I believe you are talking about the outside lacing perimeter around your 990 glove, continuing from top of pinkie to top of thumb, which was a characteristic of of the Nocona BM models beginning with the BMAC of the early '70s. The BM76 also had a characteristic "cupped" lace palm and not a hinged palm. Could be that MacGregor altered its 990 in its five years of production for economic or other reasons on the two different styles that you have.
I think this overall information will be useful to us all. I began work with Nocona in 1976 and the BM76 kicked off that bicentennial year, being changed over from the BMAC. I used the glove for softball but personally didn't like it.

Joe, that is interesting info. I had no idea about that style of glove. Here is a pic of the BM76

nokona-bm-76-k-kangaroo-baseball-glove-made-in-usa_140503827004.jpg (29.46 KiB) Viewed 14225 times

Here is the MacGregor 990 "Roberto Clemente" model

[BretMan]

I think that MacGregor liked to use as much lace as possible in their gloves, just for the heck of it!