c. 1950s 'Top-of-the-Line' Gloves

[jpop43]

Given the dry spell in relation to my pursuit of 19th C. equipment and imagery, I thought I might loop around to my other collecting interest...high-grade baseball gloves from the 1950s.

After discussing several such items with fellow board members over the last couple of weeks, I decided to open up a thread on the topic and see what might be out there in everyone's collections.

So, the topic is high(er)-grade/top of the line baseball gloves dating from 1950-1959. If you can find a sporting goods catalog listing or commercial advertisement reflecting the glove, please feel free to post that along with the pics of the glove itself.

Looking forward to seeing some really great gloves from some of your incredible collections.

Best,
Jonathan

www.dugouttreasures.com

[jpop43]

This is a recent pickup...a c. 1956-1957, Willie Mays, MacGregor Model G105, Personal Model fielders glove. I didn't find an actual MacGregor catalog from 1956 or 1957, but I did find an advertisement from 1957 that shows the G105. Given that the Mays personal model was designated as a G101 in 1958 and 1959, I am pretty confident in the two year date range for this particular glove.

[jpop43]

This is a c.1959, Mickey Mantle, Personal Model MMP

[jpop43]

This one is a Phil Rizzuto, Model 2123 that is shown very near the top-of-the-line in the Reach 1953 Catalog. Its the somewhat rarer twin to the Spalding Model 1123 from that same year.

[jpop43]

This Rizzuto was not quite Spalding's top-of-the-line glove in 1955, and wasn't even their highest grade Rizzuto model, that being the 1121. That said, this Model 1023 is a very, very well made, large, high quality glove for the period.

[bgar3]

Jon, those are beauties. My 1959’s gloves are not high end models, but several are unused in the original box. These are all Ashburn models as he is the only modern player I collect. My Mays glove is my first real glove from childhood and is a “WM” model, not a number model.

[Deertick]

For 1954 Spaulding. My dad used this from age 14 to 43. Sandlot, Legion, HS, Men's, Softball, and finally catching tens of thousands of balls thrown by me in the back yard. I'd call it NRMT for it's usage, LOL.