| Rawlings sporting goods has been tops with me | | | | by George and Alfred Rawlings. They opened a |
| for a long time. As a schoolboy playing baseball in | | | | sporting goods store in St Louis, Missouri. Rawlings |
| a vacant lot, Chancellor Avenue playground or in | | | | sporting goods hit it big when Bill Doak approached |
| Unterman Field in Newark New Jersey I knew I | | | | them in 1920. He suggested to Rawlings that a |
| had the best of the best if I had Rawlings to use. | | | | web should be laced between the first finger and |
| Playing baseball and having Rawlings sporting | | | | thumb. He said it would create a natural pocket. |
| goods went hand and hand with me. If I had | | | | The Bill Doak glove soon replaced all other baseball |
| Rawlings on my left hand I had the best sporting | | | | gloves and is the pattern manufacturing to this |
| goods that I could use. I knew that I would have | | | | day. His most lasting contribution to the sport was |
| an advantage because of my equipment. I felt | | | | for an improved baseball glove. Not his pitching. |
| great. The world was right for me. | | | | Funny how these things happen. I would have |
| Bill Doak, a pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals had | | | | thought that some engineer or glove developer |
| something to say about putting Rawlings on the | | | | would have created the glove. Not a pitcher for |
| baseball map. He created a glove that hoisted | | | | the St Louis Cardinals. Who would have thought |
| Rawlings to the top of sporting goods world. I will | | | | that Rawlings sporting goods found the spotlight |
| get back to Bill in a second. | | | | by a baseball player? I guess you can never sell |
| More of my Rawlings story. | | | | these baseball players short anymore. Now that I |
| If I did not have Rawlings sporting goods to use in | | | | think about it. It's not so far fetched. Who would |
| a game I somehow felt slighted or I was at a | | | | have developed a glove, a bowler? |
| disadvantage. Rawlings gave me confidence when | | | | Rawlings makes other fine sporting goods besides |
| I was a youngster. If I forgot my glove and I had | | | | gloves. Fusion bats, pants and balls are part of the |
| to use someone else's glove and it was not | | | | Rawlings product line. There sporting goods are still |
| Rawlings, I would look for someone to trade | | | | top of the line to this day. Even Albert Pujols uses |
| gloves with. I looked for the red Rawlings image | | | | Rawlings. |
| they had on their sporting goods. I would go on a | | | | When I watch a game and see one of the Major |
| lookout to find the red patch of perfection for a | | | | Leaguers wearing some Rawlings sporting good, I |
| Rawlings sporting goods glove. | | | | always think how smart he is. |
| Back to the Rawlings story | | | | Feel free to pass this article on to anyone you |
| The Rawlings Company was established in 1887 | | | | think would enjoy this article. |