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