Ebay Observation

[ebbets55]

Is it just me or are softball gloves & mitts on fire right now? Does this mean they are getting popular or that there is a handful of new collectors joining the hobby? Either way, that's good (as long as people aren't getting burned).

Another observation - non-glove collector sellers always do better than knowledgable regular glove collector sellers who tell it like it is. Anybody else notice this?

JD

[Number9]

I haven't really noticed the ebay upturn for softball gloves, but I was thinking the other day that there seems to be a lot more (though still minimal) discussion here regarding softball gloves. My feeling is that these numbers are based on people thinking they are buying early baseball gloves at depression prices.

Glove collectors tend to be very forthcoming with their descriptions and photography when selling on ebay. The key to high prices seems to be a combination of vague descriptions, fuzzy photos, and a dash of intrigue. I've bid up many auctions hoping for the rare model/maker/endorsement. Some of my best finds have come this way, though I've usually ended up paying fair value. As a seller, I've been 50/50.

[Rickybulldog]

JD,
I would have to agree with you on this that the past Ebay auctions I've been watching that contained softball gloves have all gone a lot higher than expected. I think Joe sent a link about the recent one sacker mitt.
I thought this one was an interesting one. I've seen these in years past and was assuming that these are/were the earliest of the softball gloves. Correct?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300306124034

Odd looking glove with nice white leather.

As for the glove collector ebay sales, I would have to agree with you again on that one. I don't think it's a recent trend though. I think a lot of us get haircuts (JD you gotta put that in the glove terms) or take a hit when we sell. I think by being so accurate in our descriptions and not be so vague, we tend to downplay the glove which in turn may drive people away. Thoughts?

[vintagebrett]

I think glove collectors have a voice in the back of their head saying "If this glove collector didn't want it for his collection, why would I want it for mine!" I've gotten some great deals from other collectors because the item was well described and no one else seemed interested in it.

Gloves with vague descriptions have always done better because it's so tempting to try and find a steal this way. A lot of times you may get burned but once in a while you luck into something good - that makes it fun and intriguing to try again and again.

[vintagebrett]

Ricky, my understading on those gloves was that they were used for training purposes in the 1930's or so - supposedly they were used to help fielders improve their catching skills.

[Rickybulldog]

Interesting. Baseball?

[ebbets55]

I'm not referring to gloves with vague descriptions so much as I'm saying that vintagebrett or ebbets55jd could never get away with saying these gloves are turn of the century gloves or baseball gloves and not referring to the fact they are softball. To be silent on these coming from a veteran would be horrible. I'm not mad about the fact that I would get $25 for a softball glove by being honest about it and the unknowledgable non-collector would get $225 for the same glove by saying it's turn of the century. I have seen four or five softball gloves in the past two or three weeks that went for way higher than they normally do. Joe just posted one on another thread as well. Just an observation they have been trending up and I'm trying to figure out why.

I get the fact that softball gloves aren't baseball gloves and they lose a little luster but I think there are some pretty cool and unique ones. I have owned some with crescent moon pads (like the baseball ones), with square pads, with pads all the way around the perimeter, mitts, gloves, etc. The recent white one and others like that sure have a neat look and I don't think people give them their due. Remember Jeneli's white Ken Wel. That's a pretty glove.

Brett, I don't believe those are practice type gloves used for baseball skills and aren't in the same category as those pita type mitts used today for honing fielding skills. I could be wrong though. Who knows. You are right that they are at least 30's vintage if not later. Note to the new guys, any glove with metal eyelets around the web and gloves with tunnel webs are not turn of the century. Just don't want anyone to get hurt. Been there and it's not fun.

JD

[Rickybulldog]

Totally understand JD. I too in the early days bought a softball glove thinking it was a baseball glove. When I went home to clean it the words softball came out. Doh!

[vintagebrett]

Training for baseball or softball not sure which but I think that was their purpose. I'd lean more toward softball on them - I think I had seen one at some point that had softball stamped on it.

[softball66]

In reference to that softball mitt I called attention to on the earlier thread, I emailed the seller about three hours before his auction closed and he emailed back with a thank you and I think he put his own reserve on there to cancel the sale, I think.
Yes, I wonder if we can find a catalog reference to a practice mitt like Brett suggests in a catalog. JD is right whatever it is, it's an attractive and unusual mitt. Not sure of all of its functionality the way the back was done.
Softball gloves and mitts are an anathema to some collectors for sure. Others don't mind so much.
I can't complain about softball gloves, I've been using softball gloves now for 30 plus years, the bigguns.

[stockbuddy]

Hi Guys, I actually think I used to own this softball glove. LOL I bought it or one just like it a few years ago. What did this one bring?? I agree with the consensus of the thread that it was likely a 1930's glove. I can't quite recall what the glove said on the leather, but maybe I can find an old picture of my old glove and see it I can read anything on it. It strikes me as a novelty softball glove, not sure about it being a training mitt. It does have that pita look to it, but my best recollection was mine used to say softball on the leather.

Dave

[crackofthebat]

I have one of these gloves that I picked up on eBay a number of years ago. Mine is tan with white padding and is definitely stamped "Softball". The lining is nonexistent, but it is an interesting mitt. After seeing what the other one went for I will be listing mine on eBay unless one of you fellow collectors would like it. Drop me an email if interested