Vintage Baseball Glove Forum

All the gloves with leather backs that I have worked on have really held up as well.

I just always assumed that the back of the glove holds up well because the impact of the baseball does not occur there, but that's just me.

Alas, my game is not refined enough to know an 1.5 oz. difference on the back of my hand. I am either going to get that smoked grounder, or I am not.

Gawd I hate smoked grounders! Especially with top spin!

GloveGypsy wrote:All the gloves with leather backs that I have worked on have really held up as well.

I just always assumed that the back of the glove holds up well because the impact of the baseball does not occur there, but that's just me.

I am no Wilson expert but the glove that I worked on the leather finger tips on the thumb and index finger looked terrible. The leather looked like the kid had taken sand paper to the finger tips to remove the top grain while the Superskin still looked pretty good.

I agree that the main function for the back of the glove is to provide structural integrity but astatically the Superskin looked much better after a couple years of hard use.

Of course one glove is a small sample size!

GloveGypsy wrote:All the gloves with leather backs that I have worked on have really held up as well.

I just always assumed that the back of the glove holds up well because the impact of the baseball does not occur there, but that's just me.

At the risk of sounding sarcastic (which I honestly don't mean to be) that's kind of the point. They use it in an area that doesn't have contact with the ball to save weight and also helps break in the glove easier. I'm not saying its the greatest thing ever to gloves. Some people don't like it but for others its another tool for them to use.

I have a TPX Clemens that I got cheaply WHILE he was still playing. I'm quite sure Louisville lost considerable money on these because what started-off as an expensive glove was a giveaway even during his career and certainly prior to any hearings.

The glove itself was rather flimsy and certainly not appealing to purists. About all it's good for now is Bar-B-Que starter. Though NEVER used, I doubt if I could get 50 bucks for it.

But you're right in thinking that companies will try to market these using big names to promote sales. But- to my way of thinking, there's no way a mesh-backed glove should cost as much as full leather.

So far as A-Rod endorsing these- I think he'd also peddle his used jocks on eBay if he felt he could make a buck. Signed ones will ofcourse cost you more. There's no end to the greed and chicanery.

Cheers,

Glovenut 1

Glovenut 1 wrote:So far as A-Rod endorsing these- I think he'd also peddle his used jocks on eBay if he felt he could make a buck. Signed ones will ofcourse cost you more. There's no end to the greed and chicanery.

Of course an ARod knock was coming eventually for using the glove. Maybe he actually prefers the glove, just as Clemens preferred to use his. That doesnt have anything to do with making a buck for Arod. He can make a buck using a winter mitten with a red "R" patch.

Paulypal wrote:

Glovenut 1 wrote:So far as A-Rod endorsing these- I think he'd also peddle his used jocks on eBay if he felt he could make a buck. Signed ones will ofcourse cost you more. There's no end to the greed and chicanery.

Of course an ARod knock was coming eventually for using the glove. Maybe he actually prefers the glove, just as Clemens preferred to use his. That doesnt have anything to do with making a buck for Arod. He can make a buck using a winter mitten with a red "R" patch.

Well put...

Also noticed all the new Wilson A2000 gloves are now made in Vietnam instead of Japan.

http://cgi.ebay.com/WILSON-A2000-PRO-STOCK-1788-RH-BASEBALL-GLOVE_W0QQitemZ250336436985QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item250336436985&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
if you look at the glove...the parts made with superskin still looks brand new while the leather looks pretty shot