by : Mitchell Dowdy

In the mid 70's growing up in East Tacoma, not the best neighborhood and not quite the worst, there was little to do for a boy whose lot in life was to stay at home with his older sister and younger brother while mom was at work. There were no such things as 'after school activities' or 'select leagues'. We had the Boys Club. A mere 8 blocks from home (if you knew the short-cuts, 13 if you followed the streets). The grumpy old man that ran our boys club, Jim, was actually a monument to commitment. He was still the grumpy old man that ran it when I was in college. Games were on Saturday and the turnout was usually light. Some Dads, some Moms, some Grand-pa's. There was always 2 or more Dads with new shiners they received the night before. Proud of how they mixed it up. Moms were a little more quiet. Covered with scarf's and over-sized sunglasses or just a little extra make-up if the swelling wasn't so bad. Grand-pa's were always the regulars. Chewing on smoldering stogies and arguing about something from the moment the left the parking lot. If they weren't arguing with each other they stood shoulder to shoulder nagging the umpire about his vision. Which I thought was funny as I could only imagine what these seniors could actually see through the pop bottle bottoms they wore for glasses. Morning games always had lighter attendance. Afternoon ones a few more. Standing at the end of the fence were the Dad's sipping out of a paper bag. The Club provided the shirts, hats, bats, catchers gear and the standard GI issue duffle bag to lug it all around in. We provided our own gloves. Pants and shoes were the run what ya brung variety. Gear was predominately purchased at the B&I. With its own celebrity, Ivan the Gorilla, we all went there, we all wore the $4 jeans, we all sported various versions of what was offered, but we never talked about it.

For myself, Rawlings was the brand. 12" glove, genuine leather with a deep well pocket. I used this glove from 1972 to 1983. At a team practice or game. I could identify, on the run, every glove on our team; who it belonged to, what position they played. The balance of the team could do so as well. We didn't have much, be there was a lot of pride in our gloves. How they helped us make the impossible plays. Catch the un-catchable ball. Just like the pro's whose named adorned them. Even after moving to rural Puyallup in 77, players were the same, gloves of greater variety but still everyone know who's was who's.

Not so with current start up players. Gloves are designed to last 1 season. $50 - $75 of annual frustration. The love of the glove is not the same. Disposable tool for a generation proclaiming recycling.

Its just beyond my consideration.