Your First Glove
We want to hear all about your first glove you ever received. What model was it? What about it made it so unique? Do you still have it? Tell us your glove story...
posted by Rawlings at 4/08/2008 01:13:00 PM
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
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Previous Posts
- Rawlings' own Bob Clevenhagen featured in the Wall...
- 2007 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winners Announced
- Talking to the Master of Gloves
- Introducing the 08 Line
- Learning the Craft of Glove Design
- The difference between a flat and deep pocket
- Newest Addition to the Rawlings Team
- What's with the webs?
- Glove Story
- Breaking in your glove the RIGHT way
12 Comments:
My name is Brad Cantor, and I am just short of my 51st birthday. Back in 1972, as a high school sophomore, my father bought me a new baseball glove. But, this was not just any glove; this was a Rawlings XPG 3. At the time, it was the top of the line glove.
My 2 brothers and I grew up in a very low middle class family. We had to make many sacrifices. But, if my brothers or I needed anything to do with our sports activities, my father would find some way to get us the best. So, some 36 years ago, my dad probably spent close to a week’s salary to buy me a Rawlings glove. That’s the kind of father I had.
36 years later, I am still using the same glove. Granted, there’s not a lot of padding left, but it still works as good as it did when it was new. The company I work for sponsors a softball team. I am the elder statesman on the team as the average age is probably around 25 years old. They all kid me that I need to buy a new glove, but they don’t understand the sentimental value this glove has for me. My dad passed away some 7 years ago, and my 10 year old grandson was named after the very same person who “signed” my Rawlings: Brooks Robinson.
How many times do you say, or hear someone say, “They just don’t make things like they used to”? Well, I’m here to say that the folks at Rawlings still make it like they used to. I will never get rid of my Rawlings XPG 3; don’t even try to make me. I cherish it as much as I cherish my father.
My first "real" glove was a Reggie Jackson Red/White/Blue Model, it had a Wing Tip, and was really cool at the time... My dog ripped it apart one day, and I remember being devastated... We tried to get a replacement from Smithtown Sporting Goods (Long Island, NY) but they didn't have any more... I had to resort to using my old glove for a few weeks, and then I I came home from school to find a new HFCB 17 Tom Seaver model on my bed! Not only did this model have a Wing Tip, but it also had Fastback & a Post-Web, which was even cooler! The only "problem" with the glove was that it was a Tom Seaver model, and I was a Yankee-Fan! I learned to respect Tom-Terrific and used this glove into High School, until I started playing Centerfield, and needed something a little bigger... I still have the HFCB 17, and it's still VERY usable... In fact so much that my 10-year-old All-Star/Travel-Baller wants to try it out in a game once... But I won't let him, as he's got 2 PRO2278JB's..!
Rawlings SG Spin Stopper still one of my favorites when i catch with my son... It's like i'm on the ball field again as a 13 year old...
My dad bought me a Heart of the Hide Model PM Stan Musial in 1958. I used it for many years and still have it although it's quite worn. I called Kenney Jenkins today and am going to send it to him tomorrow to see if he can restore it. I'd like to use it to play catch with my grandson next spring. I think this was the first year they made the Heart of the Hide gloves. It really brings back some good memories.
My first glove was a Rawlings PM9 leftie model. I bought it in 1953 at the age of 13. It saw a lot of sandlot use.
I am 45 and my first real glove was a gift from my wife's grandmother. It is an RBG36 Dale Murphy model and I have played with this glove for 28 years. Like many of the stories, my glove has virtually no padding in it and I had it re-laced last year. It's hurting but I have compared gloves with it for the last 5 seasons and I cannot find anything that matches up with it. I am considering a pro preferred but I can't pull the trigger on the change. Chalk it up to nostalgia, I guess. No matter what I decide, my RBG36 will always be in my bag! Rawlings gloves are awesome quality.
My first glove was a left handed Fastback autographed by Brooks Robinson. I got the glove for Christmas in 1969 and used it all through Little League, Babe Ruth, and High School. When I left for the service my sister loaned it to a girl on her softball team and it was never returned. That glove meant alot to me and last year for Christmas a friend found an exact glove like i had on ebay and bought it. I had so many great childhood memories playing catch in the backyard with my dad and brother. It was like my best friend
I think I'm going to be sorry I found this blog. I am 50, and my "first" glove was chewed up by a dog when I was 7. My parents took me to a Kmart that was about 20 miles away(we lived in a small town). There we found a Don Demeter authographed model (GJ50), which if I remember cost roughly $25.00. I was then read the riot act and was told this was the last glove and it was way too expensive for me to have. Well, I still have this glove, it is still in great shape besides the lining on the inside a little ripped and torn (which has been that way since I was around 13). I have probably restrung this glove around 4-5 times. I also have a can of glovolium that I got at the same time of glove purchase. I can say that Rawlings has cheapened glovolium, imo. The original can is much like a lighter fluid can. I got my first softball glove in 1986 while I was stationed in Hawaii in the USMC. It is a "Big R", probably about a 13" glove (in other words, HUGE). Model XPG-RC, made in US. I had to restring the fingers and around the webbing a couple of years ago. I also picked up another Rawlings glove while I was in South Korea in Taegu. It's a Fastback model, Dale Murphy signature, RBG 36. I can definately tell a difference between this glove and my others, (paid $10 for it, probably a knockoff, but has US patent number on it). Palm leather has discolored from glovolium,but it is still a great glove to use. I use it in my youngest son's (9) bball catch and practices.
I'm looking forward to buying my youngest a pro line glove this spring/summer, and will definately show him a rawlings glove......
i got the prodj2 in summer of 07, and it was great! i actually play outfield, but when i figured out that this was an infield glove, i still used it bcuz i new that it was the same glove that derek jeter uses.
My first Rawlings is a Micky Mantle MM3, purchased about 1962. No padding left, but i still use it for softball.
I am 66 and just receive an old Rawlings glove from my children for fathers day. The glove is a Rawlings G-45 Professional Model Series. It is signed by Emmett Mueller who happens to have been my godfather. He was my father's brother and died in the 80's. He played for the Phillies in 1937-40. I have several of his baseball cards but had no idea Rawlings put out a glove with his signature on it. Has anyone heard of this model or series and would anyone have any information about the glove?
That glove was a popular model in 1939-1940 and cost just $7.50 back then!
Bob Clevenhagen
Rawlings Master Glove Craftsman
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