Vintage Baseball Glove Forum

Something really sweet is happening to me. My first son will be born in early July (I already have two daughters), a couple of weeks before my birthday. So I've decided that these two great events were a great occasion for daddy to have a real ball glove for once. If you don't see the connection, well, don't think too much, there probably isn't any, but never mind that. Let's say I just deserve a brand new ball glove. I mean a real NEW one.

And I thought you guys were the best to ask about what to buy. Every glove I see on the Internet seems so nice and everything. I'm not quite sure to know how to choose the right one for me. For instance I don't know how much money a real good ball glove is worth. I don't necessarily want the best on the market. But how much is a good ball glove? I still don't know, and yet I can tell you I spend most of my free time searching the web about baseball and baseball equipment and other baseball stuff.

What I'm looking for is a fielder's glove (right-hand throw). I really like Nokona gloves but I'm ready to consider any other brand actually.

What do I need to know to make the right choice in the end? What would be your own choice if Father Christmas let you choose freely? Do you have any suggestions?

First, Congrats!! (c:
Second, Oh we see the connection, we can even help draft a valid argument for "she who must be obeyed" for you as well.
I absolutley love the Nokona Buffalo/Kangaroo gloves, its like slipping your hand through a mink coat when you put them on.
That being said, If docglove can get the powers that be at Rawlings to allow a Custom Tan, wingtip, conventional back, I'm going that route.
Clint

Nothing prettier than a wingtip back glove!

I'm going to be devil's advocate here for a moment. Buy the style glove that best suits your needs and the quality that fits your budget. My only suggestion is to get a glove with a little versatility. 11.5-12 inch with a basket style web if you're looking for a glove to play catch with for the next 10-20 years. I'm still kinda new around here, but high price doesn't necessiarily mean best glove.

Fanboy-ism aside, Nokonas are a great glove. I'm a 80's/90's Rawlings guy personally, but Nokona knows leather. Don't be fooled by "fast break-in" gloves. Breaking in a glove is my favorite part about owning a glove.

Modified T-webs are cool, Trap-eze six fingers are cool, wingtips are nice looking, but get a glove that suits your needs.

This forum is addictive. I've bought three gloves in the last 3 weeks. I'd like to add a "FINDING SELF CONTROL" section to the forum please!

offsidewing wrote: I'd like to add a "FINDING SELF CONTROL" section to the forum please!

Seconded! I'm having a hard time hiding the boxes from UPS and USPS from the wife

Hi Guys, my name is John and I haven't bought a glove in three days...

Congratulations! My best wishes and prayers go to you and your family!

Now about a glove ... My suggestion is a Rawlings Gold Glove !2" Fastback with a Basket Web, conventional tan. And here are the reasons why:

1. The Gold Glove series is great quality at an affordable price in my opinion. The leather is good without being too heavy or stiff, and so it will be a bit easier to break in playing catch with Les Dodgers. Playing catch is the best and only way to break in a glove, and you may not have a catch partner that can throw hard enough to break in a Nokona or a HOH. (an alternative - get a glove mallet and do it by yourself!)
2. The 12" pattern is the most versatile pattern. Pitchers, outfielders and some third basemen use the 12" pattern, plus it is big enough to catch a softball if you start a French softball program at your school! (-; Plus, the bigger pocket will be more comfortable if you play lots of catch.
3. The Basket Web is the most versatile web, in my opinion. It cradles the ball and displaces most of the shock of catching the ball. It seems to be very strong; I have never seen a Basket Web fail, nor have I seen any of the lacings around it fail. I think that is a function of how the basket weaving displaces the shock. However, you might also consider a modified Trap-Eze web. It seems to have the same shock-absorbing capacity, and durability, though if you did bust a lace, it would be more difficult to re-lace in a short time frame (it would take me forever! )
4. The Fastback, closed-back gloves to me seem to stay on my hand better. Perhaps it is because there is more leather against the back of my hand, helping to hold the glove in place more firmly. Plus, the Fastback just looks right with the Basket Web (my Rawlings OR 520, or the Wilson A2124 George Brett). However, with the modified Trap, I would choose an open back, conventional back, with thumb and pinky loops (like my GGP200-4). Some players say that it makes the glove lighter and more comfortable. The open back allows the glove to close more easily over the back of your knuckles as you catch.
5. I would choose the traditional, classic Rawlings tan. To me, that is just the color of a baseball glove. Sure, some people like black, but I think black gloves, as the years go by, show their age more. Black gloves when scuffed and scraped show scuffs and scrapes; classic tan gloves have added character with scuffs and scrapes! Just my opinion. I would stay away from blue, red, green, or other custom colors. Just too faddish!

Well, Moonlight, there you have my long-winded thesis on glove selection. But remember, the best glove is the one you choose for you, for your reasons, and the one you enjoy playing with!

Hi John! I know you must be in a lot of pain right now, it is certainly not that easy to quit buying gloves just like that, but hold on, I know you'll make it. Keep breathing, relax...

Every time UPS boxes are in the mail, I see my wife turns into some kind of calculator robot. I'm pretty sure she knows precisely how much I have spent since I first started buying baseball stuff, not only gloves, but also books, one bat, an enormous team bag to take stuff to my players every week, more books, etc.

Now I come to think of it, I see maybe the addiction itself has more to do with the coming of the postman, some kind of adult maybe more acceptable version of Santa Claus. There's no harm to believe in The Postman, is there? Maybe what we need are presents. That's right, I need presents!

Dear Postman, ...

Moonlight Graham wrote:Now I come to think of it, I see maybe the addiction itself has more to do with the coming of the postman, some kind of adult maybe more acceptable version of Santa Claus. There's no harm to believe in The Postman, is there? Maybe what we need are presents. That's right, I need presents!

Dear Postman, ...

ROFL

(c:

have them sent to your office or parents house.

you didn't hear that from me