Theoretical Glove Question: If You Were A MLB Player

[sixpointone]

Hi All,

Here is a theoretical question I thought of that might get many and varied answers.

My question is as follows. If you were a Major League Baseball Player, throughout your Career, what kind of Glove person would you be? I'll clarify the question further.

1) Would you be the type of Player to use one or a few Gloves throughout your Career?
2) Would you be the type of Player to use a New Glove each Season?
3) Would you be the type of Player who would Stockpile the exact Model of your Glove for Future use?
4) Would you perhaps do something else entirely different that I have not mentioned or thought of?

As far as me, I think I could categorize the following as being accurate.

I think I would Stockpile a Bunch of Gloves of the same exact Make, Model and Cosmetic. And from there I would rotate them in every few Series, which should at least in theory make them all Play similar, and also be able to last my Entire Career through.

If you have any questions as to why, they are always Welcome. And even more so than that I am interested to read what could potentially be quite varied answers.

All My Best,
John

[vintagebrett]

I'd be in the one using a vintage Sonnett glove.

Actually, I would probably use the same glove as long as I could.

[fuzzydogg22]

I would have to be a new glove every season guy... gotta love that new leather feel and smell!

[mrh64]

I don't know what you all think but I will try on two of the exact same model gloves in a store all the time and they will feel very different. So it seems to me that once you had one broken in just perfect it would be awfully hard to get rid of it until you absolutely had to.

[GloveGypsy]

If I was a hot shot major leaguer.....

I would make friends with the glove reps and then hoard all the freebies that I could.......no matter how much $$$$$$$$$$ I made.

I would then stockpile them in a special, fire-proof, subterranean, nuke blast proof bunker 30 feet below my house with floors covered with HOH leather from Rawlings.

When impressing the ladies, I will invite them over after the game so they can look at my glove collection, and maybe even "oil" them....if they are good!


Hey..... as long as I am in fantasy land about being a big Leaguer, I may as well go the full monty!

[jwoody]

its not the glove....but I WOULD HAVE TWO THEY COULD BE DIFFERENT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME AS LONG AS THE WERE BROKEN THE WAY I WANTED

[softball66]

This topic brings us to an interesting investigation. How long do most major leaguers stay with their favorite glove? Some may switch out during the season, some may go years with the glove they've become to rely on. We've read stories from Dwight Evans to Brooks Robinson how they got, found and treated their gloves. How many gloves did Willie Mays use during his career, how many types, brands?
Most of them kept their last glove. Some thinking that it fit in the early part of their career but couldn't have. Some players don't even remember what gloves they used, especially the pitchers. I asked Lew Burdette one time, all he said was, "A Rawlings." Roy McMillan was little miffed at Wilson for not putting his name on a higher quality glove.
As for me, I've been playing organized ball now for nearly 60 years (Little League 1950) my last glove, a Nokona AMG400K I've had since the early 1990s. And I played over 60 games last year. Docglove relaced it for me last year.
What I would have done if in the show with my glove(s) hard to say
with the possibility of getting what I wanted and when I wanted from
the glove rep. Might have experimented but you know the old expression,
if it works don't fix it."

[Cusser]

I'd have Rawlings PRO TB-24 made with a conventional back, in tan, of course. And use the same glove each season, but have a couple in the closet to be breaking in, just in case.

[MTGLOVEGUY]

Hi there all, My answer is simple one glove as long as it doesn't fall apart. If a guy has a glove that he takes care of and it is the one he prefers, then why need to go through the hassles of breaking another one in or trying something new. I have used the only glove that I purchased with my money "for game and practice use" since 1979 (at the ripe old age of , I came upon this glove in a catalog and complained to my folks that the gloves they were buying were to "cheap" and that if they were to buy the better one it would save them money in the long run... their response was thanks for saving us money from here on out you can use your allowance money to buy your own glove or gloves, so needless to say the days of going to 7-11 and splurging on Icees and candy came to a screaching hault. Funny thing however this past winter they "splurged" and bought both of my sons brand new gloves to the tune of 230.00..... I learned my lesson however and kept my mouth shut this time around. And yes I do still have and use the glove I bought.

[mittmutt]

I think I'd be a same glove as long as possible kind of guy. Maybe I'd have a practice glove and a game glove. For sure I'd have a "broken in" glove ready as a resrve. I remember a few years ago when Jorge Posada of the Yankees had his catchers mitt blow up in the middle of the world series. He really had some struggles behind the plate for the rest of the series. It was obvious that the replacement he had in resrve wasn't ready to be a gamer.

[offsidewing]

Hmmm. I'd be an new glove as needed kind of guy. I'd be particular about the glove, but would replace it as needed. Always have a back up, and always keep a pitcher's glove. My dad always used to joke around, "you never know, the game could go 31 innings and your number could get called to take the mound." Even playing hockey my dad always joked about protecting my pitching arm, even though I NEVER pitched.

[Mike**Mize]

Before I was a glove collector, I was a glove collector! I used to play three or four different positions and on three of four differnt teams. Granted, this was fast pitch softball for the last several years that I played, but these were serious leagues. So, I had my Rawlings PRO T for pitching, playing third and the rare outfield stint, a Wilson 2800 for playing first, and a stubby black TPX basemitt that worked great for catching. I didn't have these gloves in duplicate, but I always had other gloves around for back up. I used to break in a new glove while watching the post-season games every fall just for the fun of it. I suspect I if were a pro, I would use the same gloves as needed. Of course, if I were lucky enough to be a catcher, I'd have to use something other than that old black TPX. Still, I'm sure I'd have several other gloves around just for the sheer joy of breaking them in and then gifting them to all my pals outside the game.

[oldreliable]

If I were in the show, I'd have a supply of around ten late-'60s to early-'70s Wilson A2000 and A2001 gloves. I'd hire one of you guys to help me care for the herd. I'd pay you handsomely to keep the nine back-ups exactly as I like them, which means a very firm thumb and a nice wide and deep pocket. I need my gloves to be broken-in but yet still firm. I don't like floppy gloves. I'd pay you at least $10,000 a year. And then if I were stinking rich, I'd buy Wilson Sporting Goods and move production of the A2000 back to Ohio where it belongs. Man, I can fantasize, can't I!?! And then I'd give you a big raise.

When I was playing Senior Legion ball, I had a very floppy Louisville Slugger glove which dumped out some diving catches. Never again. That glove was like trying to catch a ball with a hand-towel. That's when I got the Rawlings HOH Pro TF-B. Horween, baby!

At any rate, I'd be one well-equipped outfielder.

This is a great question.

John,
Ithaca