Glove Info

[robin_buckeye]

What can anyone tell me about a Rawlings XPG-12? My folks got this for me for high school graduation in the 60's. It's in great shape and I wonder what its quality/history is? Another glove I have that I'm curious about is a Rawlings GJ57. I've had this one since I got it in the mid 70's for playing softball.
Thanks,

[spedrunr]

hi RB,

does it happen to be endorsed by curt blefary? according to rawlings' catalogs, it was made in USA from 1967-69. During 1967, it was the 6th most expensive glove at $31.95, during '68 and '69, it was in 5th place. It was a decent upper middle of the line glove just below the heart of the hide professional models. the last one sold on ebay for about $40

150167036937

send a few pix if you get a chance.

[robin_buckeye]

Yes, the Rawlings XPG-12 is endorsed by Blefary. They must be fairly rare as I've been watching ebay for a while and hadn't seen one. The last one I saw (three or four months ago) was in lousy shape and had the owner's name in big, bright marker all over it.
Thanks for the info.
BTW the Rawlings GJ57 is endorsed by Davey Concepcion.

[BretMan]

The Rawlings GJ57, with Concepcion endorsement, apparently sold for only one year in 1975. The only other reference to this model I'm finding is a GJ57 sold in 1974 which the Rawlings catalog described as a "two-tone" glove endorsed by Steve Carlton.

It was about a mid-priced glove, retailing for about $30 when top-of-the-line-gloves were selling for $70. I believe that the "GJ" designation identifies this as an imported (Japan) glove.

I have a couple of Concepcion gloves, along with my collection of "Big Red Machine" gloves from the '70's- Bench, Rose, Morgan, Foster, Perez.

[robin_buckeye]

My Concepcion is a two-tone, and 1975 is about the right time frame. I'll have to look at it and see if it is made in Japan.
I joined a softball team in 1977 and got the glove for that purpose (my other gloves were still at my folks' house and I was a long way from there). The glove must have sat on the shelf a couple of years.
I remember that day very well. It was a big Oshman's Sports store on Blackstone in Fresno, CA. There had many gloves and I tried just about every one of them. The Concepcion fit great and felt ready to use.

[robin_buckeye]

I thought I'd post this list of my collection to see if anyone had any comments. I have collected these totally randomly, not following any "theme", just things I've had for years (or from my Dad), or seen at second-hand stores, yard sales and a few items turned in at our Little League Swap Meet.

Manufacturer Model Endorser
Spalding 42-197 Vada Pinson
Rawlings MJ57 Johnny Bench
Spalding TFC-100
Regent CM 116
Goldsmith Frank McCormick
Rawlings Whitey Lockman
MacGregor BM3P Tony Perez
Spalding 42-3925 Dave Kingman
Rawlings GJ57 Davey Concepcion
MacGregor M14T Joe Morgan
Wilson A2225 AS11 Barry Larkin
MacGregor 360 Pete Rose
Rawlings GJ70 Eddie Kasko
Rawlings PP105P Alex Rodriguez
Rawlings XPG-12 Curt Blefary
MacGregor G29 Robin Roberts
Hutch Ival Goodman
Rawlings RBG9PR Ken Griffey Jr.
MacGregor 244 Bill Mazeroski

[BretMan]

Just a couple of comments.

Collect whatever interests you- and that seems to be exactly what you're doing!

While there are many niche areas of glove collecting- concentrating on antique, vintage or the modern era, or certain player endorsements, teams or brands- I personally fall into a broader camp.

If it's a glove...I collect it!

The other comment- I notice that your gloves have a definite Cincinnati Reds slant to the endorsers. That's a good thing!

I've posted here before about the Big Red Machine glove display (shrine?) in my family room. There's a Rose, Morgan, Bench, Perez, Concepcion and even a Foster. I'm still looking for a Griffey (senior) and a Gullett, as I've seen those on eBay and let them slip away. I'm pretty sure there is even a Geronimo out there somewhere and pretty sure they never made a Driesen or Armbruster model!

It's too bad that most all of the gloves endosed by Reds players are cheaper or mid-priced import gloves. Some exceptions are my HOH Bench catcher's mitt and the elusive R4000 Concepcion.

And I have that same Barry Larkin model you have. Too bad that one of the greatest Reds players ever only has his endorsement on that lone bargain basement excuse for a glove.

But it's a glove and he's a Red and I have it!

[softball66]

Bretman and I love our Reds gloves and you've evidently headed in that direction if you're looking for Redleg leather. Like Bret, at one time I had a lot of the Red machine gloves, except for Geronimo. I might have had a Gullett. So team glove collecting can be fun and there's always an elusive name.
Bret is right about getting a focus. Examine your gloves and potential gloves and develop a feel and eye for what appeals to you. You don't have to restrict it to a team glove collectibles and you will spot other areas of appeal as you go along.
Get information that's available on the internet on gloves.