by Cowboy7130 » August 23rd, 2008, 2:35 am
Information from the 2007 Vintage Baseball Glove Catalog Source Book, a scholarly tome of immense importance, and hereinafter referred to as "The Source."
According to "The Source,"
Date Endorsed by List Price
1980 Reggie Jackson $50
1981 Dave Winfield $54
1982 Dave Winfield $56
1983 Dave Winfield $55.50
1984 RSG36 Dale Murphy $58.10
1985 RBG36 again, Dale Murphy, $64.90
AND 1985, RBG36 Cal Ripken Jr, $32.20.
1986, back to RSG36, Dale Murphy, $62.40
1987, no catalog listing for Rawlings in "The Source."
1988, RBG36, Dale Murphy, $70.80
1989 Dale Murphy $91.00
1990 Dale Murphy $84.50
In 1989, there was the RBG-36Y, and the RBG-36JR, both endorsed by Cal Ripken, Jr., and listing at $52.30 and $61.60, respectively. There was also a $31.30 RBG36-JR in 1986. My guess is that the 1985 Ripken and the JR's and the Y's are youth models.
The RSG models were special edition models I believe, with a bit better leather. Not quite HOH, but not the standard RBG, either.
There are no catalog listings in "The Source" for Rawlings gloves after 1990. It is probable that Murphy endorsed the glove in 1991, but soon thereafter Canseco's name appeared in its palm, and followed by its current endorser, Ken Griffey, Jr. I believe there may have been some other endorsers in that era; do I remember seeing a Nolan Ryan RBG36 a few weeks ago on eBay?
If you haven't bought "The Source," I highly recommend it. it's great to take a look at how the manufacturers originally priced the gloves we collect today, and can give you some idea of the comparative worth of the gloves.
Yes, I still have my first glove.