Frederick Ratsch and Chicago Sporting Goods

[mikesglove]

Frederick Ratsch was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He began his leather working trade with Ortmayer & Son Saddlery. In 1895 He headed out on his own and founded Chicago Sporting Goods Mfg. as a maker of all types of sporting equipment and uniforms including "Ratch's Peerless" line of baseball gloves. He sold his equipment through various wholesale suppliers, one being Falwell, Ozmun-Kirk Hardware of Minnesota. At the turn of the century, the FOK catalog was 10" thick. FOK marketed the Ratsch gloves under the "Peerless Hiawatha" brand and used the "Hiawatha" trademark for many of their other hardware products such as saws, guns and oils. Wilson Sporting Goods bought Chicago Sporting Goods in 1919 mainly because of their expertise in making uniforms.

Here is a great looking postcard advertising "Ratsch-Peerless" and Chicago Sporting Goods Mfg. in 1908

A couple of trade paper ads for Ratsch-Peerless

1905

1910

Here is a letter head for the FOK Harware Co.in 1899

An Ad for the "Hiawatha" baseball equipment which was the FOK house brand at the turn of the century

Another product from FOK using the Hiawatha brand

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[mikesglove]

Some pages from the 1904 FOK catalog illustrating "Ratsch's Peerless" gloves and mitts. Note the testimonial in the box at right for the Peerless Hiawatha brand. A way to integrate the Ratsch gloves into the family of FOK Hiawatha products

Here is a great looking Ratsch Peerless mitt from this time period

[mikesglove]

Frederick Ratsch went on in 1911 to patent the "DukFut" glove which didn't have a long life span but made it highly collectible today.

Interesting to note the "Patd. Jan. 3rd. 1911" stamp on each of the webs. This glove and box from a 2002 auction

[deebro041]

That is some awesome and very interesting information. Thanks for sharing, you guys never cease to amaze me with your vast knowledge of baseball gloves and makers.

[peterb69]

Wow, very informative & nice read.

Thanks

[vintagebrett]

There was a great Ratsch advertising piece that sold at the National. Carlton, the gentleman who runs www.sportsantiques.com, was the buyer so I'm sure they'll be photos when he does his annual write up about the show.

[mikesglove]

Here is the Ratsch-Peerless advertising piece from the 2011 National

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The logo in the ad is identical to this Ratsch glove cloth patch

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[peterb69]

Thanks Mike, very informative. Good job.

[vintagebrett]

Here is a photo of Frederick Ratsch, founder of the company.

[mikesglove]

Here are some images from the Lajoie Baseball Guide circa 1905-06. Cool Ratsch/Peerless items plus other vintage gear. The patented buckle web and laced heel possibly licensed from Victor Sporting Goods. The reinforcing leather piece on the front between the thumb and body was called a "quirk" back in the day.

[mikesglove]

An early Ratsch Peerless base mitt in close to near mint condition. You just don't find them like that. The Ratsch logo on the front is still visible and the cloth patch is a blazer!

[mikesglove]

Here are a couple of ads circa 1905 featuring Ratsch/Peerless gloves and mitts.

Nice examples on these pages. The glove top right has a written endorsement from James Ryan, a local player with the Chicago White Stockings and later the Washington club.

[Yanks23]

I was curious as to who the manufacturer of this webless glove might be, so I started to dig in a bit.

The thought was that with the unique stitching pattern by the thumb and across the crescent pad, there might be an easy answer. Thanks to assistance from Mike Tinney and some digging on my own through the catalogues in the library of JD’s site, this webless appears to be a Ratsch! Check out the picture on the left from this 1903 catalogue:

[ebbets55]

How cool is that! I dig it when people research and sleuth gloves. That's a big part of the fun in the hobby for me. Nice job Tim. Gallery pics proudly updated.

That being said, if anyone sees anything that needs updating or changed in the galleries, please don't hesitate to drop me a note and I'll fix it right away.

JD

[mikesglove]

I like the fat pinky on the glove illustration below. Seems unique especially on a webless model.


The glove below seems to fit the bill.