Images(2)

Glove, Baseball

Object number2017.26.1

Manufacturer Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc.

Date1944

MediumLeather; Brass(?); Unknown

Credit LineHeinz History Center Collection

DescriptionLeather left-hand baseball glove.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 9.25 × 9.125 × 2.25 in. (23.5 × 23.2 × 5.7 cm)
MarksImprinted maker text on interior of thumb "HAND FORMED / READY BROKE PAD / LICENSED UNDER / U.S. PATENT NO. / 2,231,204", on palm "Deep Well / Model / Improved Shine / Bill Doak / Rawlings", and on interior of pinky finger near base "PROFESSIONAL / Model / Floating Heel / PAT. NO. 1,426,824".
Historical NotesA 1940s Rawlings Bill Doak (1891-1954) store model (5BD) right hander’s baseball glove. Bill Doak, a Pittsburgh native (born in Knoxville, Pennsylvania) went on to star as a pitcher, primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals, during a 16 year major league career (1912-1929). In 1919-1920 he approached Rawlings with an idea to create a glove modification - to elongate the thumb and later to string the thumb and forefinger together. This innovation is credited as the beginning of the creation of glove webbing, which drastically improved fielding. Doak’s signature appeared on future models for several decades. One of two patent numbers imprinted on the glove seems to indicate the glove was made in 1944 or later. Doak later retired to Bradenton, Florida (the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training home) where he coached Bradenton High School’s baseball team.

Related person William Leopold Doak (1891 - 1954)

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