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