Thursday, January 3, 2008

Question of the Week

Jeffrey, Boise, ID
Subj: I’ve got to hand it to you
Hey Ryan, who was the first professional baseball player to wear a glove?

Cincinnati Red Stockings catcher Doug Allison became the first player to opt for protective gear in 1869 when he donned a pair of homemade buckskin mittens. Despite the obvious dangers of his position, Allison was largely ridiculed by fans and players alike, and the modern glove didn’t take its rightful place until the 1880’s. These days gloves come equipped with closed webbing, special finger linings and, in the case of Gaylord Perry, a handy dandy tube of Vaseline, a nail file and a three-speed Black & Decker power sander.