by BretMan » August 24th, 2007, 10:17 pm
That is a good, possible explanation of the "extra H" in the HFGH model number. It wouldn't be the first example of Rawlings labeling a glove made for a specific retail chain with a special model number.
I had always guessed that the KM series of gloves were produced for K-Mart, since none of them appear in the catalogs, but didn't know for sure. Thanks for confirming my guess!
Another example is the KM6 model, endorsed by Davey Concepcion. That one is in my "Big Red Machine" collection, along with a Rose, Morgan, Bench, Perez and Foster. Still trying to find a nice Don Gullet, Bobby Tolan and a Ken Griffey senior!
Somewhere buried in one of the huge plastic tubs I use for storage, I have a 70's era Rawlings glove with a cloth label from (if I'm remembering correctly) a "Heck's Drugstore" chain. I'll have to dig that one out!
One more "special model number" Rawlings I have is a CHAXLB 14" softball glove. It is identical to the better-known RSGXLB (Rawlings Softball Glove, Extra Large, Black) with the "Sup-R-Size" logo in the palm.
I contacted Rawlings back a few years ago to I.D. that one. The "CHA" in the model number indicated that the glove was produced for sale through the "Champs" sporting goods chain.