About two months ago at one of my son's tournaments the third baseman's glove broke, right in the web. As you already know, tournaments have lots of games so these guys don't want to lose a glove for a week while also paying to get it repaired. Anyway, I took the glove and fixed it in between two games. I just went back into the hotel room, turned on The Weather Channel and restrung the lower part of the web. It took about fifteen minutes and the glove looked great. It lasted the rest of the season with no problems.
Now, if he had sent the glove away to get repaired, a fix like this would probably cost him anywhere from $15.00 to $35.00. This would be higher if he wanted the glove back sooner. He would also probably lose the glove for a week. If he got the glove back and didn't like the results, he'd probably just live with it. It wouldn't be worth sending it back out again.
If his mom, dad or someone else repaired it, (in this case I did it) the lacing required for this would cost anywhere from $2.00 to $5.00. He'd only lose the glove for about fifteen or twenty minutes...no real downtime! Any more adjustments would probably be done by whoever fixed it.
If more laces are broken, it gets more expensive. Whole glove relacing is around $50.00. You also have shipping to pay on top of that. Plus, you'll lose your glove for a week. It really is a huge benefit to know how to do most, if not all of the lacing repairs yourself. If you have young kids playing ball and you see a good number of years ahead of you, or you are a coach, learning how to do general restoration, conditioning and relacing of gloves is a great thing.
I'm not saying glove repair places are bad. They're great! Most do good work and will save your glove for more years to come. I've even recently come across a site on the Internet that offers a really good deal, with one to two day turnaround. Of course, if they had 75 gloves come in, that's a tough guarantee. Basically, you just have to decide on your time and money budget. For nearly all of the gloves I have repaired overnight or in ten or fifteen minutes, time was the big concern for the kids and parents, not the money. They wanted their gloves for the next day.
So if you have the time, find a few old baseball gloves or buy a couple at a yard sale and just try to restring them. It's really not that hard. And most of the breaks are very similar, especially with today's baseball gloves. Once you do two or three, you'll be on your way to being a "Doctor" yourself. You'll be able to do glove repairs in one inning and the kid will be able to use the glove that same game! That's the cool part. You make a lot of kids and parents happy.
There is also another part of having this skill. You can make a little money for yourself doing this. In fact, you don't have to be a coach or even have a kid playing. Once word gets out that there is someone locally that can repair a glove overnight or in a day, people will find you. Believe me.
They found me…and still find me throughout the summer five years after I figured I'd just repair this one glove for a young softball player.
by Chico Reese
Thursday, August 24, 2006
baseball glove : Fix Your Own Glove (1)
As I sat there watching the pitcher and infielders warm up in between innings, out of the corner of my eye I noticed one of the coaches just outside the dugout trying to get someone's attention. When I realized it was my attention he was trying to get, I gave a nod. He then barked out, "Got another one!" and proceeded to throw a fielder's glove at me. I caught it, gave it a quick inspection and knew what I'd being doing a little later that evening.
Well that's how it has gone the last four or five years now when I'm in the dugout or around local baseball or softball fields. I've repaired gloves for a number of players and hence I've been labeled as "The Doctor". Word has gotten out over the years and I've fixed many gloves for small kids, big kids, adults, you name it. I never realized how much people liked their gloves and I also never realized that people didn't fix their own gloves when they broke, even the simplest repairs.
That's how this all started for me. One day I repaired an older Wilson A2000 from the late 70's or early 80's. It was being used by a younger girl playing softball. It was her dad's glove in college. It needed a lot of lace work but was in surprisingly good shape other than that. It looked great when I was done.
Since then, I've repaired gloves for a lot of kids. Never charged anything, which was probably a small mistake. I was just glad to get the glove back to them the next day or so. I didn't think much about until I was looking around on the Internet about a year ago and saw what repairing baseball gloves costs both in money and time. Only then did it occur to me how much money I saved kids and parents and more importantly, the glove was lost for one game at the most.
This is what I'm getting at. If you have young kids active in baseball/softball or are a member of a team or teams yourself, you should really look into trying to repair a few gloves yourself, in your spare time. Believe me, it will come in handy more times than you think and you can save yourself and other people some money.
Let me define what I mean by baseball glove repair. I don't mean repairing major tears in the leather and the little runs of stitching in the glove. That stuff requires more tools, leather and time. I'm talking about repairing the most common types of lacing breaks that occur throughout a season and just relacing these breaks or retightening lace runs to keep the glove in its original shape and form.
By Chico Reese
Well that's how it has gone the last four or five years now when I'm in the dugout or around local baseball or softball fields. I've repaired gloves for a number of players and hence I've been labeled as "The Doctor". Word has gotten out over the years and I've fixed many gloves for small kids, big kids, adults, you name it. I never realized how much people liked their gloves and I also never realized that people didn't fix their own gloves when they broke, even the simplest repairs.
That's how this all started for me. One day I repaired an older Wilson A2000 from the late 70's or early 80's. It was being used by a younger girl playing softball. It was her dad's glove in college. It needed a lot of lace work but was in surprisingly good shape other than that. It looked great when I was done.
Since then, I've repaired gloves for a lot of kids. Never charged anything, which was probably a small mistake. I was just glad to get the glove back to them the next day or so. I didn't think much about until I was looking around on the Internet about a year ago and saw what repairing baseball gloves costs both in money and time. Only then did it occur to me how much money I saved kids and parents and more importantly, the glove was lost for one game at the most.
This is what I'm getting at. If you have young kids active in baseball/softball or are a member of a team or teams yourself, you should really look into trying to repair a few gloves yourself, in your spare time. Believe me, it will come in handy more times than you think and you can save yourself and other people some money.
Let me define what I mean by baseball glove repair. I don't mean repairing major tears in the leather and the little runs of stitching in the glove. That stuff requires more tools, leather and time. I'm talking about repairing the most common types of lacing breaks that occur throughout a season and just relacing these breaks or retightening lace runs to keep the glove in its original shape and form.
By Chico Reese
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
baseball glove : Movie to be shown at Stumptown Park
The final Saturday Night Live event of the summer in Matthews will be on, um, Friday with the showing of the PG-rated movie "Nanny McPhee." Friday's program will be at Stumptown Park on South Trade Street in downtown Matthews. The movie begins about 8:30 p.m.Vendors will sell food and drinks. Pets are not permitted.
Demos and music at farmers market
Bruce Moffett, the chef and owner of Barrington's restaurant in Charlotte, will give a cooking demonstration Saturday at the Matthews Community Farmers Market.
Customers can watch his technique, sample his recipes and get new ideas on how to cook with fresh summer produce.
Also Saturday, Carol and Pat Raedy will provide old-time string band music on the fiddle and guitar, and Jim Williams of Charlotte will demonstrate bookbinding.
All events begin at 8:30 a.m.
All produce at the market is grown within 50 miles of Matthews and sold by the farmer who grew it. Details: www.matthewsfarmersmarket.com.
Carolina Wildcats baseball tryouts
Carolina Wildcats U-11 fall baseball tryouts will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Grand Slam USA, 10715 Independence Pointe Parkway, Matthews. Sign-ups are open to children 11 and younger. Bring sneakers (no cleats, as play is indoors) and a baseball glove, bat and helmet.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/mecklenburg/15283440.htm
Demos and music at farmers market
Bruce Moffett, the chef and owner of Barrington's restaurant in Charlotte, will give a cooking demonstration Saturday at the Matthews Community Farmers Market.
Customers can watch his technique, sample his recipes and get new ideas on how to cook with fresh summer produce.
Also Saturday, Carol and Pat Raedy will provide old-time string band music on the fiddle and guitar, and Jim Williams of Charlotte will demonstrate bookbinding.
All events begin at 8:30 a.m.
All produce at the market is grown within 50 miles of Matthews and sold by the farmer who grew it. Details: www.matthewsfarmersmarket.com.
Carolina Wildcats baseball tryouts
Carolina Wildcats U-11 fall baseball tryouts will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Grand Slam USA, 10715 Independence Pointe Parkway, Matthews. Sign-ups are open to children 11 and younger. Bring sneakers (no cleats, as play is indoors) and a baseball glove, bat and helmet.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/mecklenburg/15283440.htm
baseball glove : maker burns in Nocona
NOCONA, Texas — A North Texas athletic products company burned on Tuesday, putting about 80 people out of work in the small town of Nocona.
The fire destroyed the Nocona Athletic Goods Company, which is known for its Nokona brand baseball gloves.
Mayor Paul Gibbs said the loss isn't just financial—but historical and personal.
The company's Web site says the firm—which also makes baseball bats and protective gear for football players—has been in business since the 1930s.
Nocona is located 75 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
© 2006 WFAA-TV
The fire destroyed the Nocona Athletic Goods Company, which is known for its Nokona brand baseball gloves.
Mayor Paul Gibbs said the loss isn't just financial—but historical and personal.
The company's Web site says the firm—which also makes baseball bats and protective gear for football players—has been in business since the 1930s.
Nocona is located 75 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
© 2006 WFAA-TV
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
baseball glove : Buying a Discount Baseball Glove
Baseball gloves can be pricey additions to the game. For beginners, cheaper gloves available at discount retail stores are probably the best. For those who wish to advance their game, or for those who already play pro-or-semi-pro baseball, they certainly want the higher- end models. For anyone who wants to buy a baseball glove, it is usually the case that they want discount baseball gloves.
You can find discount baseball gloves in a variety of places. The Internet is certainly one of the best avenues to find discount baseball gloves. With the growing worldwide marketplace, there is, without a doubt, no shortage of discount baseball glove suppliers. A simple Internet search for "discount baseball gloves" will produce more results than you can sift through in a day.
One of the best ways to find discount baseball gloves is by looking for outdated or discontinued models. Many stores will have regular clearance sales to eliminate excess or overstocked merchandise as well. You will likely find excellent deals on baseball gloves by being at the right place at the right time. You can also email companies to ask about any upcoming specials or sales; most will be happy to tell you.
Another wonderful tool in finding discount baseball gloves is Ebay. Ebay is the largest online marketplace with millions of users and hundreds of thousands of sellers. Sporting goods is one of the most popular categories, by far. You can find great deals on baseball gloves, even custom baseball gloves, on the Ebay Web site. If you find a really great seller with really great deals, you can expect to save 50% and sometimes more on high quality baseball gloves. A little research can certainly yield tremendous savings.
If you’re just starting out in your baseball career it is probably best to look for discounted or used baseball gloves. Doing so will allow you to get a feel for what style and size fits you best and save you the time of breaking in a brand new glove.
By Jason Gluckman
You can find discount baseball gloves in a variety of places. The Internet is certainly one of the best avenues to find discount baseball gloves. With the growing worldwide marketplace, there is, without a doubt, no shortage of discount baseball glove suppliers. A simple Internet search for "discount baseball gloves" will produce more results than you can sift through in a day.
One of the best ways to find discount baseball gloves is by looking for outdated or discontinued models. Many stores will have regular clearance sales to eliminate excess or overstocked merchandise as well. You will likely find excellent deals on baseball gloves by being at the right place at the right time. You can also email companies to ask about any upcoming specials or sales; most will be happy to tell you.
Another wonderful tool in finding discount baseball gloves is Ebay. Ebay is the largest online marketplace with millions of users and hundreds of thousands of sellers. Sporting goods is one of the most popular categories, by far. You can find great deals on baseball gloves, even custom baseball gloves, on the Ebay Web site. If you find a really great seller with really great deals, you can expect to save 50% and sometimes more on high quality baseball gloves. A little research can certainly yield tremendous savings.
If you’re just starting out in your baseball career it is probably best to look for discounted or used baseball gloves. Doing so will allow you to get a feel for what style and size fits you best and save you the time of breaking in a brand new glove.
By Jason Gluckman
baseball glove : A Look at Baseball Batting Gloves
The first baseball gloves to hit the field were created sometime in the late 1800s. These gloves were simplistic compared to today’s models. Early gloves were usually made of thin pieces of leather and were precursors to the advanced baseball gloves of today. An item that was not generally used, even during the time of the first baseball glove, was the baseball batting glove.
Every baseball glove manufacturer in the United States produces baseball batting gloves. You can find them at online retailers, online auction sites, at sports stores and even at discount retailers. Baseball batting gloves are not nearly as costly as traditional baseball gloves. One can usually purchase a pair of gloves for between $10 and $20 at most stores.
The player that is up-to-bat can benefit tremendously from a good pair of baseball batting gloves. These gloves can help to increase the quality of their grip; maintaining a tight and controlled grip is essential to successful hits. Any professional, or non-professional for that matter, will tell you that even the slightest slip or variation in grip can cost the team greatly.
Just as baseball-batting gloves provide protection against slips due to a bad grip or perspiration on the hands, they also serve as a protection device. Batters need to protect their hands when sliding into a base. Baseball-batting gloves serve at least two purposes: to maintain a good grip and to protect the player's hands when sliding.
Some glove manufacturers also have a version of the baseball batting glove available that fits underneath the standard baseball glove. Other players choose to wear the baseball batting glove underneath the traditional glove to add additional comfort. They find that wearing this glove beneath the other will provide a better fit and additional protection against the sting of catching the ball.
By Jason Gluckman
Every baseball glove manufacturer in the United States produces baseball batting gloves. You can find them at online retailers, online auction sites, at sports stores and even at discount retailers. Baseball batting gloves are not nearly as costly as traditional baseball gloves. One can usually purchase a pair of gloves for between $10 and $20 at most stores.
The player that is up-to-bat can benefit tremendously from a good pair of baseball batting gloves. These gloves can help to increase the quality of their grip; maintaining a tight and controlled grip is essential to successful hits. Any professional, or non-professional for that matter, will tell you that even the slightest slip or variation in grip can cost the team greatly.
Just as baseball-batting gloves provide protection against slips due to a bad grip or perspiration on the hands, they also serve as a protection device. Batters need to protect their hands when sliding into a base. Baseball-batting gloves serve at least two purposes: to maintain a good grip and to protect the player's hands when sliding.
Some glove manufacturers also have a version of the baseball batting glove available that fits underneath the standard baseball glove. Other players choose to wear the baseball batting glove underneath the traditional glove to add additional comfort. They find that wearing this glove beneath the other will provide a better fit and additional protection against the sting of catching the ball.
By Jason Gluckman
Thursday, August 03, 2006
baseball glove : What You Need To Know About Baseball Gloves
Baseball gloves have been around for years. The first baseball glove was worn on the field by Al Spalding and others in 1876. In 1920 the first Rawlings baseball glove with a natural pocket was worn on the baseball field.
Baseball gloves have evolved a lot since those times. Did you know that Bill Mazeroski dug an outhouse to come up with the money to buy his first baseball glove? Brooks Robinson kept his glove fingers stiff with tongue depressors. There are many stories about players and their baseball gloves.
Baseball gloves are still an important part of the game and it’s crucial that you find the right one for you. Consider the price, you can find baseball gloves for $15 all the way up to $200 or more. If you plan to use the glove for a long time it might be a good idea to pay a little more and get a good quality glove. If you are buying the glove for a younger player who will need to change baseball gloves as they grow you might want to think about a less expensive baseball glove.
When choosing baseball gloves the feel is important. If it doesn’t feel good you will not be able to play at your peak performance.
You can buy baseball gloves in many different sizes for all ages, positions and games. Baseball gloves as measured by their "pattern size". Youth baseball gloves range from 8" to about 12" and adults are usually in the 12" to 13" range.
Baseball gloves are available according to positions: Catchers, first base, infield and outfield. There are also different types of webs and backs.
There are many brands and hundreds of models to choose from when buying baseball gloves. Players often have their own personal favorites. You can even have a handcrafted, personalized glove made.
Baseball gloves have a history and are still an important part of the equipment when playing today.
By Ken Austin
Baseball gloves have evolved a lot since those times. Did you know that Bill Mazeroski dug an outhouse to come up with the money to buy his first baseball glove? Brooks Robinson kept his glove fingers stiff with tongue depressors. There are many stories about players and their baseball gloves.
Baseball gloves are still an important part of the game and it’s crucial that you find the right one for you. Consider the price, you can find baseball gloves for $15 all the way up to $200 or more. If you plan to use the glove for a long time it might be a good idea to pay a little more and get a good quality glove. If you are buying the glove for a younger player who will need to change baseball gloves as they grow you might want to think about a less expensive baseball glove.
When choosing baseball gloves the feel is important. If it doesn’t feel good you will not be able to play at your peak performance.
You can buy baseball gloves in many different sizes for all ages, positions and games. Baseball gloves as measured by their "pattern size". Youth baseball gloves range from 8" to about 12" and adults are usually in the 12" to 13" range.
Baseball gloves are available according to positions: Catchers, first base, infield and outfield. There are also different types of webs and backs.
There are many brands and hundreds of models to choose from when buying baseball gloves. Players often have their own personal favorites. You can even have a handcrafted, personalized glove made.
Baseball gloves have a history and are still an important part of the equipment when playing today.
By Ken Austin
baseball glove : The 411 on Nike Baseball Gloves
Nike baseball gloves are just the latest product put out by the sporting goods and clothing giant. Nike has long been known for its sneakers, its specialty sport cleats, it workout gear, its hats, and its sports equipment. Only recently, however, Nike has endeavored to apply its unique take on sports to the world of baseball gloves.
The result is a bat that in recent years has gained in reputation and popularity. Their gloves comes in two different styles, Pro Gold and SDR. Pro Gold is the higher end product, which sells for usually over one hundred dollars. SDR gloves, on the other hand, price in the range of 60 to 100 dollars.
Both Nike baseball gloves come with special features like the "dri-fit" finger lining. This unique lining is meant to keep your hand cool and dry no matter how hard you run to catch that fly ball, or how many times the batters smack a grounder your way at shortstop. Another feature on both models of gloves is the special tanning process that Nike implements. Nike claims the tanning process makes their gloves ready to be used on the field right off the shelf or out of the shipping package. In other words, you don’t have to worry about long breaking in processes with these gloves.
Still, if you’re investing good money on these good gloves, you will want to take care of them. Caring for your Nike baseball gloves properly can make the difference between a glove that falls apart in a couple seasons, and one that can span years. Your first best bet on care instructions is to check with Nike to see exactly what they recommend to protect the special tanned leather and finger lining.
One thing you definitely can do for your glove is to store it in a cool, dry place when you’re not using it. Heat can affect the leather, as can excess moisture. This makes the trunk of your car the last place you should toss your glove after the game. First, dry it down with a towel and let it air dry somewhere. Consider oiling your glove a couple times each season. Make sure the laces are tight. And then save the glove somewhere dry and cool like your basement.
by Mike Long
The result is a bat that in recent years has gained in reputation and popularity. Their gloves comes in two different styles, Pro Gold and SDR. Pro Gold is the higher end product, which sells for usually over one hundred dollars. SDR gloves, on the other hand, price in the range of 60 to 100 dollars.
Both Nike baseball gloves come with special features like the "dri-fit" finger lining. This unique lining is meant to keep your hand cool and dry no matter how hard you run to catch that fly ball, or how many times the batters smack a grounder your way at shortstop. Another feature on both models of gloves is the special tanning process that Nike implements. Nike claims the tanning process makes their gloves ready to be used on the field right off the shelf or out of the shipping package. In other words, you don’t have to worry about long breaking in processes with these gloves.
Still, if you’re investing good money on these good gloves, you will want to take care of them. Caring for your Nike baseball gloves properly can make the difference between a glove that falls apart in a couple seasons, and one that can span years. Your first best bet on care instructions is to check with Nike to see exactly what they recommend to protect the special tanned leather and finger lining.
One thing you definitely can do for your glove is to store it in a cool, dry place when you’re not using it. Heat can affect the leather, as can excess moisture. This makes the trunk of your car the last place you should toss your glove after the game. First, dry it down with a towel and let it air dry somewhere. Consider oiling your glove a couple times each season. Make sure the laces are tight. And then save the glove somewhere dry and cool like your basement.
by Mike Long
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