| Game Ready Baseball Gloves? Hey Dad! You | | | | through junior high and well into high |
| know what's best, don't let your | | | | school. Emotional attachments to these |
| children make the decision Soft and not | | | | lumps of leather sewn together with |
| durable leathers, pigskin being the most | | | | thread and cowhide laces go deep. Our |
| popular. Offerings from the Big 3 | | | | current culture has moved substantially |
| (Rawlings, Wilson, Mizuno) compete with | | | | from those of the inventors of the game. |
| style, flair and the all important | | | | At that period of American History, the |
| impulse selection by children. These are | | | | only time something was not in active |
| superb for toddlers through first year | | | | use by its owner was when the worms were |
| t-ball where the only time these players | | | | turning it back into the soil (and you |
| take the mitt out is at their limited | | | | thought recycling is a new thing). Even |
| practices and games. Collateral | | | | well into the 80's, on rosters of |
| consequences of the game ready glove is | | | | continuing teams, everyone knew which |
| the all important two handed catch. | | | | glove belongs to whom at the get go of |
| Better known as the alligator catch. As | | | | the season. This level of instant |
| a species, we humans will do what ever | | | | recognition is diminishing as more and |
| we can to minimize the energy we put | | | | more players arrive each year with a new |
| into anything. We are hard-wired to | | | | glove. Sadly the process is pressing the |
| conserve energy, motions and emotions. | | | | once prideful ownership to a comparative |
| So using a superior catching machine | | | | of new seasons offerings and yet another |
| diminishes the value of using the second | | | | trip to the store for the children to |
| hand with the subordinate result of not | | | | make another selection. Game ready are |
| using it. Yes, there is success in | | | | soft with good tact that will last a |
| catching the ball, but for youngsters | | | | normal recreational season. Even for |
| the culmination of repetitive tasks is | | | | adults' that plan to play in 4 or 5 |
| what gets them to the next step, Little | | | | games a year, these will go the distance |
| League. You bet, all these little people | | | | for a couple of seasons. But if you are |
| want to make the plays like the Big Boys | | | | going to lay out $50 or $60 to get a |
| in the Show, but after thousands of | | | | year or two of service, why not step up |
| hours of perfect practice and hundreds | | | | to the $120's and get a real glove that |
| of hours in game situation play those | | | | will go the distance. They catch better, |
| pro's have earned the right to get | | | | feel better, last longer and you will be |
| outside of the box with their movements. | | | | proud of what you posses. Even when the |
| Not to mention they are paid big bucks | | | | new models arrive, yours will still be |
| to WIN and make the jaw dropping | | | | preferred. What was that? There is no |
| catches. Don't get me wrong, what these | | | | difference until you spend nearly $200. |
| guys can do is nothing short of amazing. | | | | Well, it takes a bit of looking but you |
| But when you do this for a living, you | | | | can get steerhide gloves from Kelley |
| spend you days chasing the tough catch. | | | | Athletics starting at $99. Custom gloves |
| Different level of the game, greater | | | | with heavier Premium cowhide are |
| degree of difficulty at practice. | | | | available from, from Valle $150 or NV |
| Stiffer gloves serve multiple purposes. | | | | Baseball $160. Even a Swensons at $135 |
| First, you are not going to field a | | | | What I am trying to point out is, if you |
| grounder with one hand. It takes two | | | | have a limited budget, spend your time |
| until the glove is broken in and by then | | | | freely finding as many opportunities as |
| is pretty much second nature to use two. | | | | you can. Better to have the money in |
| Second, you don't need to replace these | | | | your pocket than giving away for no good |
| gloves every year (or after a week | | | | reason. Oh Dad, bye the way, 10 minutes |
| hiding on the floor in the back of the | | | | on Saturday during the off season, you |
| family grocery getter). Third, heavier | | | | know between finishing breakfast and |
| leather gloves tend to stay open with | | | | reading the paper but before the game |
| the effort being applied in the closing | | | | starts, is all it takes to get your |
| process. Game readies tend to stay | | | | little leaguers glove ready, gives you |
| closed where the back of the fingers are | | | | the time to help instill good habits |
| used to open the pocket, exactly | | | | (butt down - hands out - watch the ball |
| backwards of how the hand wants to work. | | | | into the glove - two hands) and the time |
| Our little leagues play to win with | | | | spent together, well..... priceless..... |
| their hearts. Of all the people I played | | | | Copyright 2007; reprinted in whole with |
| with we all remember our first non-vinyl | | | | permission |
| glove. Many used these same gloves all | | | | Mr. |