Baseball Gloves!
Just imagine a baseball glove that is finger less and a glove that has no web! Just try to think of how bad that hurt every time they caught the ball. Gloves have changed a lot over time and the gloves we use now do not even look like the old ones. When we catch the ball, we have a web so it’s easier and doesn’t hurt that much. I would not want to be a catcher back then but they still had a decent glove. The first baseball glove was used in the 1870’s. People taunted and teased the baseball players calling them sissies and too soft because they didn’t want to catch it with their bare hands. Even tho I said imagine catching a ball, well they were actually made to knock the ball to the ground. This post is about the evolution of baseball gloves.
Pre 1900’s
Gloves had no web and are referred to as “workman” style gloves. Early fingerless gloves were used for better grip. Gloves were hand made or altered from existing gloves before they were manufactured for baseball.
Here’s the finger less glove.
1900-1915’s
Gloves had sewn in webs known as “full webs” These webs were sewn directly to the thumb and forefinger and extended to where the thumb and forefinger meet By 1910 1 inch webs start appearing.
1910’s-1920’s
Most gloves have a sewn in one inch web. Similar to the previous web except that the web was one to one and a half inches wide. Player endorsements now can be used to help date some gloves.
1920’s-1930’s
A vertical tunnel loop web was used. Either two or four elongated loops were sewn in directly to the thumb and forefinger through which passed a simple rawhide lace. The “Bill Doak Era” of baseball Gloves begins.
1930’s-1940’s
The more modern webs began to be used. First the single tunnel, then the double tunnel, then by the early 1940’s triple tunnel and H webs began to be used. These were all separate webs that were laced to the glove. The single tunnel was about a one inch wide web, the double tunnel utilized two of these simple webs.
1940’s-1950’s
The full modern webs began to be used. Until the late 1940’s fielders gloves had no lacing between the fingers. These gloves are referred to as “Spit finger” Gloves. The transition of the split finger to the laced glove are more evident.
1950-1960
Most gloves have lacing between the finger although you will find an occasional split finger. The full web triple tunnel style dominates this era.
1960-1970
The 1950s full web tunnel style still shows up, and with more lacing “weaved” in and out of the web showing on the outside.
1970-1980
Although a 12″ size rule was made in the 1950s outfielder Gloves begin to be made as long as 13 – 14″.
Now
Baseball gloves look awesome now. The people who make them have different types of leather and colors. The two best companys are Wilson and Rawling. They both have some good looking gloves. There are other companys out there that also make some cool gloves. The players back then would’ve liked these gloves we have now.
Go check out my post about the top most valuable Baseball Cards and my tour about the Spring Training stadiums. Counting Baseballs is giving away a free David Wright t-shirt. He gives one away every Sunday. I already won one and it was a Philly one. He also does this cool 24 hour contest which there is a new one coming so keep checking back at his and my blog for cool posts and updates. My next couple of posts will be about the evolution of bats, uniforms, and balls.
Phillies News 
I’m using a glove from the eightys this year.