Talking to the Master of Gloves
I have been with Rawlings for over 30 years now. I was first hired to manage the baseball glove manufacturing factory. In that position I worked very closely with the current glove designer at that time, Mr Rollie Latina, who was only the second designer in Rawlings history. When he retired in the early 80's, I became the third. Over the years I have started a plant in Haiti, have worked for Rawlings-Japan, and spent 3 years on the Rawlings Sports Caravan with which I visited every state and many All-Star and World series games. During this time, I also went to Spring Training where I worked with pro players and gained a lot of knowledge as to what was really needed at that level.
My favorite part of the job now is working with young kids; from helping parents pick the right glove to showing the kids how to use and take care of their new gloves. I also enjoy handling calls concerning the history of Rawlings gloves and sometimes restoring a really old glove for some persuasive Rawlings fan.
My favorite gloves are any of the old style Heart of the Hide gloves which I hope to offer again on our web site in the future. My favorite player to work with was probably Ozzie Smith who was always a classy player, but I really enjoyed A-Rod when I would break in his gloves for him. Craig Biggio was also a favorite of mine. I could keep on listing them so I will have to stop there.
If anyone has any questions/comments for me, let me know.
Bob Clevenhagen
Rawlings Master Glove Craftsman
My favorite part of the job now is working with young kids; from helping parents pick the right glove to showing the kids how to use and take care of their new gloves. I also enjoy handling calls concerning the history of Rawlings gloves and sometimes restoring a really old glove for some persuasive Rawlings fan.
My favorite gloves are any of the old style Heart of the Hide gloves which I hope to offer again on our web site in the future. My favorite player to work with was probably Ozzie Smith who was always a classy player, but I really enjoyed A-Rod when I would break in his gloves for him. Craig Biggio was also a favorite of mine. I could keep on listing them so I will have to stop there.
If anyone has any questions/comments for me, let me know.
Bob Clevenhagen
Rawlings Master Glove Craftsman
posted by Rawlings at 9/05/2007 12:36:00 PM
24 Comments:
I have been using a Rawlings glove all my life. My first glove (RBG36) was given to me in my youth by a great gentleman who organized a baseball league for kids in my community each year. The glove was well used when I got it, but it had many years of catches left in it.
What is the "best selling" Rawlings glove of all time? The RBG36 must be very popular even today, because I see them being used at the local ball field all the time.
Thanks for making a quality, affordable glove for kids and grown ups alike.
The RBG36 has always been a big seller. There was another top seller from the 70's and 80's, called the XFG 12 which was very similar in style and features to the RBG36.
Bob Clevenhagen
Rawlings Master Glove Craftsman
I have enjoyed baseball for over 30 years, but never so much as when I was able to watch my sons, Connor and Trevor. I had the good fortune of starting my playing days with a Rawlings, so I knew there was no other choice for my sons.
I was lucky enough to be introduced to Bob, who provided tremendous insight into the design, manufacture, and care of my son Connor’s Pro Preferred and Trevor’s HOH. Now I know about the “Black Horse” and the unique serial numbers on the gloves. The gloves are “Built to Last” and with continued care I expect they will be using these gloves to play catch with their kids someday.
Thanks for all the great stories Bob!
Sincerely
Sean Brown, Shrewsbury MA USA
Bob can you tell me what model gloves you made for Mike Schmidt during his career. I know they where wingtip back gloves. Did he use a HPG 3-H XPG 3-H or PRO 6X HC?I had read you did all of his gloves. I collect many of the old Horween or 01 leather gloves.They where the best ever made. And I am also a big Schmidt fan.Thanks Bob. Any information would be great.
Good question! As I recall, Mike was wearing the wingtip XPG-6-H early in his career then we changed the model number in the 80's to The PRO 6XTC which is the same number. This he continued use until his last year when he changed to another company.
Bob Clevenhagen
I love rawlings gloves and I am looking to get a new one so I was wandering if the same leather used by the major leaguers is offered in one of the rawlings lines available?
The Pros are wearing the same leathers that are in our Pro Preferred and Heart of the Hide lines. Some pros were the exact same model that we offer to customers.
Bob Clevenhagen
Hi Bob,
I work for Public Radio International and I'd like to do a story about you and your experiences designing gloves. Is there a way I could contact you to talk about a possible interview? I realize this is tricky to do on a public comment board, but thought I'd try. Thanks.
Benjamin Conniff
WNYC
Hi Ben,
Can you provide your email address and we can get in touch with you?
Thanks,
Bob Clevenhagen
Bob: I collect modern Rawlings baseball gloves. I own all the Rawlings Primo gloves, most of the Pro Preferred and HOH gloves from the last 5 years. The Wing Tip models are my favorite...Just picked up a few HOH Wing Tips from Don Morton Sports who custom ordered some new styles. Is there any way to have a Rawlings Pro Preferred/ or HOH Regular Trapeze Wing Tip made size 11.5" - 11.75" All Black..and/or a Pro Preferred/HOH 2 piece solid web WING TIP size 11.5"-11.75" All Black...I know Scott Schieneweis used a similar model. Keep up the great work! I also love some of the models Rawlings sell to the Japanese market via Rawlings/Asics. thanks, Matt
Hi Bob,
I am sort of a Rawlings glove collector .Today - I found a vintage Rawlings XFG model ,American made fielders glove .Fastback patent # 3.576.036.Can you tell me when this glove started production? Thank You ,Jerry Springville,Alabama
Bob Clevenhagen: I note with interest when you say "I really enjoyed A-Rod when I would break in his gloves for him".
Given that 'breaking in' is a major issue for players who don't use a glove every day - I'm wondering how you go about this?
If Rawlings would consider this as an extra-cost option (Game Ready Gloves) I think it would be a major success. Thanks.
Well Dave thanks for writing. I agree it would be nice to get a glove ready to go, but the issue is everyone breaks in their glove differently. We do break them in to a great extent but have to stop before putting a permanent break. We have come up with a great new addition to some of our gloves with the dual core palm lining this really aids your break in as you would select the one that best fits your position and it helps you tremendously
Bob Clevenhagen
Hey Dave-in-Burmuda! Bob wanted to know if he could chat with you on the phone about a few things. Can you send me your email address so I can put you in touch with him? Email me at lnaber@rawlings.com.
Lindsey Naber
Rawlings Brand Manager
hi, i have a few questions, my son has a pro preferred "grey eagle" model #PROSNP4G it is a cool glove that every one likes, but it drew a great amount of intrest this week at the wide world of sports. when was this glove sold? is it rare? is it the only model with the eagle on the palm? my sports store still has 5 grey eagles in 11 3/4. thx chris
This glove, PROSNP4G, was a 11 1/4" pattern and was made for the 2004 season only. It was a special model made up for Rawlings Team Dealers only. The other Grey Eagle Pro Preferred model number was PROS237G, 11 3/4". This palm stamp is not used in any other glove at this time.
Best regards,
Denny Whiteside
Project Engineering Manager
I have been using a heart of the hide all my life but i am getting a new pro preferred i want the PROS15BGJAR which is grey and black but i cant find it anywhere and when i do find its out of stock. I am very serius about baseball and i play for my middle school team and play travel ball (aau). Is there another glove similar to the PROS15BGJAR?
Try building on the Rawlings Custom Glove Builder at www.rawlings.com/customglove.
Why is it that I can't find a first base mitt that I like and nobody including Rawlings will custom make one. You only use predetermined patterns. What ever happened to a conventional back and h-web for first. My opinion the best design ever. And is Rawlings still using horween in their HOH series cause it is almost to soft for me. I like gloves how they used to be. Breaking in a mitt, forming the pocket, and molding it to your hand is like marriage. Now the gloves don't mold to your hand as well. They break down as fast as they break in, and they are design to open and close how a pro says you should. I personally think I'm a good player but I'm now A-Rod or Jeter and I want a glove for me not them. I used to love it when your HOH series was rock hard and almost had a powdery substance on it in the store. You picked it up put it on and couldn't close it. It had some uncomfortable spots maybe but it was o.k. cause you saw potential in it and you new it was going to end up perfect... Bottom line they used to take half a season to break in and last 8-10 years. Now they're game ready after one practice and last you 2-3 years if your lucky.
A lot of our decisions on what we do at our high end is built around what the pros are doing. This also has a direct relation to what the end consumers are wanting. It is true, that there are probably a few players who still want a very stiff glove that will take considerable time to break in the glove, but at this time, they are definitely in the minority. We are challenged to put the best product on the shelf we can that will have good sell through based on the types of gloves the majority of players are looking for. Buyers also play a role in what gloves from what manufacturers they are going to bring in.
My suggestion would be to look at the PROSTX23. The Pro Preferred models are going to be firmer than most of the HOH gloves. This model does have the Pro H web, but it does have a Fastback design, not a conventional back. It would be impossible for us to stock all of the different variations on back designs and web designs to accommodate all of the players preferences. Again, we are known for our relationship and feedback we get from the Pro Players and offer this same designs to the end consumers.
Hope that helps a little.
Best regards,
Denny Whiteside
Rawlings Glove Engineer
Hi Bob,
I have recently stumbled across a Trap-Eze model Pro-T, HOH, LEKO1, Gold Glove Series. I was wondering about the history of this specific glove/model as I can't find any info online.
Thanks in advance.
It's Trapeze built in a year ending in a 2, most likely 1992. I would have to see it to know for sure. Could have been 82 but I doubt it. Also was built in May and from HORWEEN leather. It was and still is a very popular outfielders model. Paul O'Neil of the Yankees was probably the most remembered user. Today Ken Griffey, Torii Hunter and many more still use it except in black.
Bob Clevenhagen
Rawlings Master Glove Craftsman
I haven't played ball for a little over 10 yrs now, and I just got some gloves out and see the '90's HOH gloves are appreciated. I have a dark tan PRO201BC, Left-Handed Thrower, that's very nice, but I can't find anything on it that might be a date code. It's made in USA, has Rawlings script sewn in back of thumb, Gold Glove series w/ 4 dots under that branded on outside of pinkie. Inside of pinkie just has model and "for the professional player". iirc, I got it in mid-90s.
At the time this glove was made, we were not using the BLACK HORSE code yet. We were using what we refer to as the “dot system” If a glove had one dot, it was either a year ending in 1 or 5. Two dots was either 2 or 6, etc. The problem with this type of date coding was it was not exact enough and rotated every 5 years so we switched to the black horse coding system. According to the code, this glove was made in 1994.
Bob Clevenhagen
Rawlings Master Glove Craftsman
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