| Lets Talk about Leather | | | | A simple analogy is to think of shoes. A $6 pair of |
| Wilson Pro Stock, Rawlings Heart of the Hide, | | | | discount shoes feel nice, look great and serve the |
| Kelley Ixosteer. The preceding are all genuine | | | | purpose. Now a $200 pair of work boots are stiff, |
| leather. Each processed at the discretion of the | | | | hurt your feet till they break in and have all the |
| manufacturer to produce a fit and feel they think | | | | style and flair of dirt. Consider now, which will |
| will win over customer opinion. | | | | wear for years to come? At the task of |
| But what really makes a good baseball glove? Old | | | | protecting your feet, boots win without contest. |
| time ecologically rough tannin? Sophisticated | | | | This same theme holds true for baseball gloves as |
| chrome or right out of the garden vegetable. Each | | | | well. Heavier, stiffer gloves will perform longer at |
| process serves the purpose of converting the | | | | the optimum level. Baseball gloves sever double |
| hide of the animal into a durable, malleable product | | | | duty. First, they are taught to 'catch' the ball. |
| that is used all over the planet. What separates | | | | Stopping the ball in mid flight or skipping along the |
| the leathers is the final purpose. Say you need a | | | | ground. Second, they protect the user from this |
| Bentley with a suede interior without flaws, then | | | | same ball defenders are trying to catch. How |
| you need hide from Switzerland or other location | | | | many times have you seen a ball driven through a |
| that does not use hard fencing or barbs to keep | | | | broken down glove. There is just not enough |
| the roaming lawn mowers in. In the Bentley case | | | | stiffness left in it to re-direct the ball back into the |
| you need soft, scar free hide sources. | | | | pocket. |
| Baseball gloves on the other hand (well, the | | | | Leather in and of itself is a natural, aspirating |
| catching hand) need to fit the purpose of the | | | | product. It absorbs and releases moisture. It can |
| user. Intensity of game play, skill level, interest, all | | | | dry, crack or become brittle. Similar to your |
| must be considered in the acquisition of the | | | | boots, if the baseball glove gets dirty you clean it. |
| perfect glove. Perfect is as individual as | | | | Gets wet, you set it out to dry. Give your glove |
| fingerprints. Everyone has their idea of perfection | | | | what it needs. Don't apply so much oil that it clogs |
| and the manufacturers do a good job of providing | | | | all the pours and can no longer breathe. Don't fold |
| a wide enough selection for all us Joe's to pick one | | | | it in half like an omelet and expect the ball not to |
| out and shape it to our will. | | | | jump out of the pocket. |
| Do heavier, more expensive gloves improve your | | | | As mentioned previously, Steer Hide, Cow Hide, |
| game? The mechanics of baseball gloves are all | | | | Pig Skin, Deer Hide, Kangaroo etc., each will have |
| very similar. There is a period of time where any | | | | their time to perform as a flawless baseball glove. |
| glove will perform flawlessly. It's the duration of | | | | The duration of this flawless performance does |
| this time where the quality of the glove comes | | | | change drastically. |
| into play. Game ready glove leather is just that, | | | | So, consider your level of play; how often you |
| ready for "a" game. They are designed to be | | | | want to buy and break in a new glove then make |
| comfortable and easy to close. How many games | | | | your selection, get the best deal |
| you actually get out of your $30 to $80 | | | | then…………… |
| investment varies. | | | | GET OUT AND PLAY! |