Wambsganss Triple Play Glove

[softball66]

I recently pulled up Lelands latest auction seeing where they had the purported glove Bill Wambsganss used to pull off the triple play in the 1920 World Series.
I was a bit surprised to learn that it was a Worth glove. I had not known Worth to make baseball gloves at that time as the company was not listed as a glove manufacturer in the sporting goods publications that I researched of that date. But it could well have been. Another surprising thing I uncovered was that according to the Lannom Company (using Worth name for its baseball products) didn't start using the Worth name until 1921. That would have made it a little difficult for Wambsganss to be using a Worth glove in 1920. According to the description in Lelands, the
plant the glove was sent back to was in Iowa. The history of Worth shows that it began in Tullahoma where it still resides. It may have had a plant also in Iowa that made gloves. It may have also missed on its 1921 beginning date of marking its gloves. This might be the glove being auction. But questions arise. It is also not very comforting to see that whoever wrote the Wambsganss glove description spelled Lannom three ways (Lannon, Lannin) including two incorrectly and Mr. McDonald (or MacDonald), the glove's owner, spelled two ways with one of those having to be incorrect. Lelands needs to hire a proof reader. Here's the descirption from the Leland's web site:

"Update
The glove was a gift from Mr. Lannon to Mr MacDonald and Mr. Lannin did not leave it at Mr. McDonald’s house by accident as stated in the printed catalog.

One of the most famous events in World Series history took place in 1920 during game 5. In this game Cleveland's Bill Wambsganss completed the only unassisted triple play ever in the Fall Classic. Wambsganss, playing second base, caught a line drive off the bat of Clarence Mitchell stepped on second base to put out Pete Kilduff, and tagged Otto Miller coming from first base. The Indians went on to win the game, and eventually the series in seven games. Worth Professional model glove shows the type of use you expect to see back in the day when a glove would have been worn for an entire season or longer. The 3'' web between the thumb and forefinger is partially separated along the stitches to the forefinger. There is a hole in the palm between the forefinger and middle finger. The Worth label has major fraying and the glove has a vertical tear through the wrist band. There is also some oxidation to the metal grommets that hold the original string laces. The glove, however, is still soft and supple. The provenance is supported by two original letters and an 8 x 10'' photo that accompany the glove. The photo was taken just after the game and pictures Wamby wearing this very glove most evident by the placement of the patch on the wrist band and button on band. One letter, dated 1945, on Minneapolis Star Journal and Tribune letterhead, tells the owner that he should write to J Taylor Spink if he would like to place the glove in the Hall of Fame. The second letter, dated 1948, is more specific about the how the original owner, George McDonald, acquired the piece. It seems that following the 1920s World Series, Wamby sent the glove to Lannom Mfg Co (Worth Sporting Goods) in Iowa requesting that a duplicate of the glove me made. While they did make a new glove for him, they neglected to return this original. Mr. Lannom and Mr. McDonald were friends and the glove was a gift from Mr. Lannon to Mr MacDonald. As both of these letters show, Mr. McDonald had every intention of giving the glove to the Hall of Fame, but never did, giving today’s collecting community the opportunity to acquire this historically significant piece.
Reserve: $25,000
1912
George Sharp Lannom, Jr. purchases tannery in Tullahoma, TN and establishes Lannom Manufacturing Company.

1913
Major products: horse collars and harnesses.

1919
Company begins production of footballs & basketballs.

1920
Company begins production of baseballs.

1921
"Worth" adopted as baseball trademark.
Now Wambsganss is definitely wearing a glove the back of which does resemble the auctioned glove but it's shot at a great distance and patches were normally sewn onto many gloves the way it's pictured. Not quite sure what the description meant about the button. This is what virtually all glove companies used to fasten writst straps at this time. I've written to Worth Company to see if the company was making gloves by 1920.
I'd be interested in seeing what some of our forum member can come up with on this glove or what they think.

[ebbets55]

Hi Joe,

I really enjoyed your post. I didn't see that glove in Leland's so I don't know what it looks like. Two things to add to your comments. I know Worth was making gloves as far back as the 20's but can't pinpoint it to pre 1920. I have a high quality Worth 1" web with a great white & black Worth tag. It could be mid 20's for all I know. I can't date it more specifically, sorry.

I find it interesting that Wambsganns would use a Worth glove. The only Wambsganns endorsed glove I have ever seen was on a King Patent type 1" web, most likely by Spalding (although King Patent lacing designs show up often on other manufacturers). Wouldn't there be a better chance that Wambsganns would have probably used a Spalding or other high quality 1" web in 1920 and possibly even one similar to the kind he endorsed, at least the same manufacturer?

Interesting. Could you supply the lot # or what Leland's auction it was in so I can take a closer look. I'm curious. Thanks Joe.

JD

[softball66]

Lelands Winter Catalog
Lot 575. Wamby Triple Play Game Used Glove 2 LOA's
J. D. that's helpful on the fact/proof that Worth was making gloves during this time period. They, of course, were baseball then softball making specialization company from the 1930s forward until today. They may have had a glove factory in Iowa. But one can't dispute that the Worth history said that it didn't use the Worth name in baseball until 1921.
And yes it does seem a bit odd that Wambsganss is using a small, and probably at that time, obscure company's glove. Also odd that he had to send his glove in like players used to do at H&B to get similar new bats made when they ordered their new lumber.
I think a case could be made that Worth (Lannom) may have had a few Worth label gloves in 1920. What discrepencies turn up is the plant in Iowa and the somewhat sloppy writeup. It's like Lelands is taking the provenance literally instead of doing any investigation that is obviously available on the internet.
Again all of this Wambsganss glove scenario may be real. Just some facts don't add up.
Nocona made some USA Worth gloves back in the 1980s and got a great idea from the hinge web from Worth.

[ebbets55]

Joe, I looked up the glove and was happy to see that it was a King Patent type glove as I know Wamby at least endorsed a glove that happened to be a King Patent. You are right that the timeline is just a bit off. Who knows. I always enjoy trying to sleuth a glove like this. It's fun. Great topic. Thanks.

JD

[softball66]

Jim, When you mentioned the King Patent and that he used that it triggered that info was in the Lelands description . I didn't know he'd had an endorsed glove with ______?. And too do we think Spalding was involved with the Worth gloves at this time?
The history and Worth label or just off a year.
Something else I just learned is that the Corporation that owns Worth now also owns Rawlings. Course the big push now is into the metal bat technology and Miken is also part of that family.

[vintagebrett]

here is an article that a friend passed along to me that relates to this glove:

http://www.startribune.com/509/story/871827.html

[MVALZ]

Has a $25k bid. Pretty impressive.

[softball66]

The 1921 for Worth brand on baseball products is the only caveat on this glove. Other pieces seem to fit. The provenance is pretty solid. JD has provided that Worth had some gloves of this period. Interesting to note is how did Wambsganss find Lannom company? And sending the glove in to be duplicated. Wonder if Lannom was making them up custom. Otherwise sloppy writing by Lelands. $250,000 estimate! Whew!

[vintagebrett]

Only got one bid at 25,000. With the after auction rape charges it comes to a little over 29,000. I wish I had 25 grand to spend on gloves!

[mikesglove]

It's funny to be responding to this topic after 4 years. I was searching the different auction houses for some cool gloves and the Bill Wambsganss glove came up but not from Leland's 2006 auction. Heritage Sports Auctions sold it again for $15,535 in 2008. Still expensive but quite a come-down from the $250,000 est. and $25,000 min. at Leland's.

the "Wamby" glove above possibly has a Worth label based on JD's glove below. As you mention, Worth was the sporting goods division of Lannom Mfg. of Tullahoma, TN.

Morrison & Ricker Glove Co. of Grinnell Iowa made hand and work gloves since the later 1800's.

Lannom Mfg. merged with Morrison & Ricker in 1923. The manufacturing of gloves and other leather goods was moved Grinnel because the glove making equipment was there and the manufacturing facility in Tullahoma was to produce baseballs only. It seems that "Wamby" sent his glove to Grinnell because that was where Worth was making their baseball gloves at the time.

[softball66]

Just wonder was Wamby's previous gloves from Worth/Lannom? Sounds sort of like the early players sending their bats (sidewritten bats) back to Hillerich to have them replicated. Could be that Bill was close to the factory geographically and had a connection. Hardest thing to figure is the lack of more munificent bids and a drop in the glove's second "go" in an auction.

"The story goes like this: Wamby sent the glove to Lannom Manufacturing in Iowa to have a duplicate made. The manufacturer sent the replica back but failed to return the original. The World Series glove made its way to northern Minnesota, where it was given as a gift to a man named George McDonald."

[Number9]

If that's the case, sounds like the manufacturer was making templates and hand cutting the patterns for custom gloves. Pretty cool.

[mikesglove]

There is an interesting patented feature of the Wamby 1920 gamer glove that is also present on the Worth store model glove endorsed by "Bill Wambsganss" that came from the collection of Art Kapsapsis. At the heel of Art's glove is stamped "Licensed under Pat. # 1421308. That patent by Ruben Raymond in 1922 refers to the tabs of leather poking out at the crotch of each finger acting as a reinforcement from wear and tear. You can see it pretty clearly on the front of Art's glove below. Picture from http://www.baseballglovecollector.com

Here is the patent drawing for that reinforcement feature.

Below is the Wamby 1920 gamer with the same 1922 patent feature as the Store model glove above.

wammm11.JPG (5.93 KiB) Viewed 9773 times