Vintage Baseball Glove Forum

Hello,

I’m doing research on Jackie Robinson and I was wondering if someone could tell me what model and style of glove he used in his historic April 15, 1947 MLB debut game.

Thanks

Jackie Robinson is one of my favorite players and I've found quite a few good pictures of him and the gloves he used at 2nd base. So I was surprised to find out that he started at 1st base from his debut and thru all of 1947. I don't know who made it but he used a Trapper style basemitt. Rawlings held the patent on this style, which replaced the "oven mitt" style of basemitt, but whether he used a Rawlings or different brand is beyond me. Joe P. knows a lot more about the early Rawlings Trappers and the arrangement they had to supply them to other glove makers. Hopefully he'll add his insight to this topic.
Jackie with his Trapper mitt in 1947:


With the same type mitt after being called up to the Dodgers from Montreal:




The Rawlings patent:

Thank you very very much for your post. Since Jackie spent most of his time at second; I had been unable to find any images of him actually at first. I have requested this information from his museum and foundation but as of yet I have not received a response. If I hear something I will keep you posted.

Once again thank you.

Steve

You're welcome, Steve, and definitely post if you get some information from his museum. I've looked thru photos that people have taken at the HOF in Cooperstown, but haven't found one of his basemitt. Then again, players sometimes gave their gloves away after they retired and who knows where it may have ended up. I found this photo of Jackie holding a basemitt late in his career. The odd thing is the Giants pennant behind him. Maybe he was still undecided whether to play for them or retire after being traded by the Dodgers.

OK Greg is absolutely right about Jackie, first ML mitt and position. The Dodgers installed him at first base and he used the Rawlings Trapper, probably the Rawlings T70RY (a wider version of the earlier T70).
He then moved to second base for another player. converted from catcher and who turned out not to be so bad at the initial bag, Gil Hodges, was brought up in 1948. Jackie then moved to second and it's almost a cinch that he used a Rawlings there, probably a LF model. Oddly I was asked to authenticate a glove Jackie used in the Negro League in 1945 (Monarchs) then given away to a fellow Negro Leaguer after Jackie signed with Brooklyn and took on the trapper base mitt. That "gamer" was really beaten up but I think I had it pegged to an early 1940s BH, Billy Herman model, though there were no stampings visible, partial Rawlings tag I think.
Another side note, 10 years or so ago, I was asked by the production people for a movie "Spike" Lee was planning on Jackie. I think I bought and sold to them a Trapper mitt for them to have.
My curiosity was aroused years ago when I pondered as to why Jackie, with his great speed, was not sent to the outfield. Talking to a few people who knew about the Dodgers in those days, said that Jackie had a weak arm, hence the assignments to first and second base.
Hope this helps.