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