Pre-War Hall of Fame Basemitts

[Centerfield]

Killed a few rainy hours yesterday talking gloves with some friends and an interesting topic came up… rarity of basemitts endorsed by pre-war (WWII, not Gulf War) first sackers. We came to the conclusion that despite having the longest (perhaps second to only Ted Williams) glove endorsing career, George Sisler is one of the toughest names to acquire.

Let’s discount Chance, we all have better odds of finding a Cap Anson mitt! Gehrig is tough, but they’re out there and pop up a few times a year. Terry, Mize and Greenberg are pretty common. Foxx is more plentiful than people want to admit to compared with a few years ago. Kelly’s difficult, and Bottomley is even more problematic to locate, but Sisler had us baffled.

Among four long time collectors, guys who’ve been rummaging for gloves longer than we’d like to admit to, only one Sisler between us. Perplexing given his tenure as a Rawlings endorser. Yes, basemitts are specialized equipment that weren’t produced in the same quantity as fielder’s gloves. It’s very likely that few were sold because less than 10% of kids actually played that position, and a regular glove does the job fine. He endorsed through a depression where people couldn’t spend money on something so position specific. He also endorsed through a war where recreation wasn’t a top priority for the masses. Still, nearly four decades of production and few Sislers survive. Why is this?

Fred, would love to hear your take on it. As the premier basemitt collector in the hobby, you jumped at the opportunity to grab my pre-war Sisler years ago. How many others have crossed your path and how would you rank the rarity of these guys?

[BretMan]

I wonder if wear and tear might be a factor. Next to the catcher's mitt, which glove on the field sees the most action?

We've all seen plenty of catcher's mitts that look absolutely destroyed and that is to be expected. They take a pounding a hundred times a game. How many hard hits does the typical fielder's glove see in a game? Three or four, maybe?

Compare that with the number of putouts at first base, along with pickoff plays and I would guess that first base mitts are subject to much more wear and tear than any other position, except catcher. Combine that with their already reduced numbers from being a "specialty" glove and the population goes way down.

[ebbets55]

Jerry, I don't believe they are as rare as you do. I have seen a lot. I currently have one and sold one. Rob has a couple and so does Fred and Mark I believe. They are super high quality mitts and are very nice in the 30's variety. Maybe the ones that are known are locked up in collections for awhile so they don't come out very often. You are right about that but I believe there are a bunch out there and more of the 40's Trapper types than the 30's types.

You are right about Chance. John has the only one known. Super tough mitt.

JD

Oh yeah, and why didn't you call me

[vintagebrett]

I'd agree with JD that they are more plentiful than one might think. In the last two months on eBay, I've seen 2 or 3 sold and I've personally sold a couple in the past years. The early ones are difficult - they don't pop up with regularity - but the later models come around more often than Gehrigs do. I'll let crackofthebat speak for himself but I think he has at least 4 different Sisler models, including Centerfield's old beauty.

My question about the Sislers has always been, why the block printing endorsement? His bats all had script signature, why not the gloves?

[BigD-Moonlight]

In my experience, I've seen a bunch of 1940's Sisler Rawlings, the D&M models and 1930's are more rare. My favotite was a 1940's Heche en Mexico (just like the Rawlings) from the war years that I found in St Louis years ago but I let it get away.
Babe Ruth 1st base mitts are pretty rare also.

[Centerfield]

Cool... thanks for the responses. I guess I never really paid attention to Sislers, so I let them unknowingly pass by. I did see a D&M years ago, can't for the life of me remember where, though.

Jim, you should have taken the red eye over!

[swalt1234]

Hi Guys, I have 3 of the early Sisler Mitt models with the small white tag and buckle back, and I would sell or trade one if anyone needs one; just email me. It seems JD and Rob throw one in on every one of their trades! To me the early Bottomley mitt with the sewn web is much tougher to get.
Mark, Cleveland
swalt1234@aol.com

[crackofthebat]

Sorry I haven't responded sooner (Brett has me to busy painting his dining room ). I have at least 6 different Sisler 1B mitts. All are Rawlings except for an Alex Taylor. The Alex Taylor is an early one and is very similar to the one I bought from Jerry. The gloves seemed to change as the years went by, always with the "Improved Geo. Sisler Model" stamp. They were always top of the line gloves - nothing cheap! I think Brett has pictures on JD's site of all the different models I have. There is one with two straps riveted to the thumb and index finger area that is absolutely beautiful. This is the only one I have ever seen that has this type of web. I would guess from the late 30's or early 40's. I've run across quite a few of the later models, but the early ones are very rare. The Alex Taylor I got off eBay at a very reasonable price because it wasn't advertised as a Geoge Sisler model. It seems to me that more and more collectors have taken an interest in the old 1B mitts over the last few years and have driven up the prices. The nice ones that show up on ebay go for big bucks - way out of my price range. I'm glad I acquired most of my mitts years ago when they were affordable.

[Centerfield]

See, this is why there are so few Sislers out there... Fred has them all ! ! !