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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

MLB: Gloveless hitters buck the trend

A look at the beginning of batting gloves…and the beginning (?) of Hawk Harrelson’s memory being shot.

The arrival of the golf glove in baseball came in 1963 and was credited to Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, then a rookie with the Kansas City Athletics. After playing 27 holes of golf one afternoon with teammates Ted Bowsfield, Gino Cimoli and Sammy Esposito, Harrelson found himself in that night’s starting lineup after the New York Yankees had made a pitching change to left-hander Whitey Ford.

“I was taking BP and had a blister on my left hand from all that golf,” recalled Harrelson, now a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox. “I remembered I had my golf glove up in my pants, so I ran upstairs and got it just before the game started. I put it on. The first time I go to the plate, Whitey hung me a curve ball, and I hit it over the left-center-field wall about 450 [feet]. I hit another one later on in the game. I was really getting some catcalls from the Yankee dugout. Back in those days, they had bench jockeys. You can’t believe some of the names they were calling me.”

More here on the Nehruddy-faced Harrelson and his batting glove.

Repoz Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:24 PM | 61 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:41 PM (#2493608)

Perhaps he's thinking of this game: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196309201.shtml

It was a double, not a homer. Close enough after 40+ years, though.

2. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:46 PM (#2493612)

more likely this game from 1964

2 dingers; one off Whitey

3. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:48 PM (#2493614)

Interesting. I didn't realize that literally nobody wore them until 1963, since they're so ubiquitous now.

It seems like there are more players without them now than there were 10 years ago. I remember people making a big deal out of how John Vander Wal didn't wear batting gloves and he was almost a dying breed.

On other glove-related news, not to turn this into UniWatchBlog.com, but I noticed this weekend that when he's running the bases Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

4. Rich Rifkin I Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:50 PM (#2493618)

Yeah, September 4, 1964. First home run off Whitey Ford; second one off of Pete Mikkelson.

5. kthejoker Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:52 PM (#2493620)

-Deleted- (just another post pointing out it was in 64.)

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:53 PM (#2493621)

I never liked the feel of hitting gloves and never hit with them all throughout high school. Plus I grew up watching George Brett, who never wore them, as well as Wally Joyner, who never hit with them.

Among those who prefer the bare necessities when taking bat in hand are Angels right fielder Vlad Guerrero, Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Mets left fielder Moises Alou, Cubs catcher Jason Kendall and Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Add Doug Eyechart to that list.

7. villainx Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:56 PM (#2493624)

Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

I was under the impression some base runners like to hold on to their batting gloves. I'm not sure why, but I remember some players without remembering their names that do that. Maybe protect the fingers or something, but not sure.

8. vortex of dissipation Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:56 PM (#2493625)

On other glove-related news, not to turn this into UniWatchBlog.com, but I noticed this weekend that when he's running the bases Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

This is a guess, but perhaps he does it so that he'll have to hold his hand in a ball, and won't jam any outstretched fingers when sliding headfirst?

9. Delorians Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:56 PM (#2493626)

I saw the headline and thought the article was going to be about guys like Pete Browning/Greg Luzinski/Edgar Martinez/David Ortiz

10. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:57 PM (#2493627)

Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

I think that some baserunners hold their gloves so that they will keep that fist closed when sliding, reducing the risk of a finger injury.

11. Howie B. Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:57 PM (#2493628)

when he's running the bases Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

My understanding is that some players will hold the gloves in their hand to ensure that their hand stays balled up in a fist, to avoid broken/sprained fingers from jamming into bases, or getting stepped on, etc.

12. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:59 PM (#2493629)

I think we are reaching a consensus on the old glove-holding here.

13. NJ is feeling better Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:03 PM (#2493632)

Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

From what I can tell it's to keep his fists balled so that he doesn't do any damage to his fingers on a slide.

14. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:03 PM (#2493631)

But it wasn't long before Roger Maris was wearing one regularly.

Maris hit .263 and slugged .502 with 240 HR and 681 RBIs through 1964 (he turned 30 a few days after the batting glove's invention) and .249/.395 with 35 and 170 afterward. I blame Hawk Harrelson not only for Maris's decline, but also for the decline of offense MLB-wide. Vietnam also escalated around that time.

15. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:03 PM (#2493633)

I think we are reaching a consensus on the old glove-holding here.

Small sample size.

I don't know what Kendall's doing with the Cubs, but IIRC he started wearing batting gloves sometime last year when he was with Oakland.

16. villainx Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:04 PM (#2493634)

I think there is a consensus on the glove holding thing.

17. Weeks T. Olive Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:05 PM (#2493635)

Among those who prefer the bare necessities when taking bat in hand are Angels right fielder Vlad Guerrero, Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Mets left fielder Moises Alou, Cubs catcher Jason Kendall and Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Jason Kendall wears batting gloves now (or at least one, anyway). I don't know how recently he started, though.

18. jim in providence Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:06 PM (#2493637)

Add Doug Eyechart to that list.

Mirabelli, too.

19. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:06 PM (#2493638)

when he's running the bases Tadahito Iguchi holds his gloves in his hand instead of putting them in his pocket or continuing to wear them. This struck me as odd, but is it?

It's so he can fling them in the eyes of the defender covering second base.

20. jim in providence Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:07 PM (#2493641)

Mets left fielder Moises Alou

I think we all know why Moises has no worries about blisters.

21. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:09 PM (#2493647)

Iguchi holds his gloves because that's where he keeps Tim Raines's cocaine.

22. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:10 PM (#2493651)

From what I can tell it's to keep his fists balled so that he doesn't do any damage to his fingers on a slide.

Christ--are youse guys too young to remember that, before batting gloves, baserunners would hold fistfuls of dirt for the same purpose

23. Slapinions Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:13 PM (#2493655)

On the Home Run Derby DVD (of episodes circa 1960) Mickey Mantle wears a golf glove while batting. Did he ever do so in an actual game?

24. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:14 PM (#2493657)

Which guy didn't wear gloves on his hands but stuffed them in his pocket so he could wave byebye to the defense during his homerun trot? Was it Mel Hall or Joe Carter?

25. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:21 PM (#2493665)

Chad Finn says Mel Hall. On an unrelated note, how come baseball library no longer lists books and articles that mention a baseball player?

26. The Buddy Biancalana Hit Counter Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:22 PM (#2493668)

Mel Hall

27. Rich Rifkin I Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:22 PM (#2493669)

What about batting helmets? Who was the first hitter to wear one? And was Jose Canseco the first guy required to wear a helmet in right field?

28. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:37 PM (#2493686)

As a kid I loved the look of a batting glove but was never comfortable using them to bat. Of course I was also about the only kid who preferred a wooden bat to an aluminum one (even though I owned about 7 aluminums and only one 'Ted Simmons' wooden bat) It's funny I would get my dad to buy me the gloves and the bats and never used them, just thought they made me look more like a player but I had much better control of where the ball went using wood and no gloves.

29. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:43 PM (#2493693)

Which guy didn't wear gloves on his hands but stuffed them in his pocket so he could wave byebye to the defense during his homerun trot? Was it Mel Hall or Joe Carter?

If they'd used them to wave to Rick Sutcliffe on their way to Cleveland, would he have wanted to kill them?

30. Rich Rifkin I Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:44 PM (#2493696)

It's funny I would get my dad to buy me the rubbers and never used them, just thought they made me look more like a player but I had much better control of where my balls went using wood and no gloves.

31. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:44 PM (#2493698)

Interesting, I didn't know that about the fists-balled-up strategy. Maybe if I had played baseball past age 11 I would have picked up things like that.

Iguchi had both gloves in one hand, though. Maybe he slides with just one arm forward as well.

32. SoSH U at work Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:49 PM (#2493705)

What about batting helmets? Who was the first hitter to wear one?

Don't know the first, but I'll point out that Bob Montgomery was the last to eschew wearing one.

33. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:54 PM (#2493713)

What about the one-flap batting helmets? I like that Willie Harris still wears 2 flaps even though he only bats left-handed.

34. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:56 PM (#2493716)

What about batting helmets? Who was the first hitter to wear one? And was Jose Canseco the first guy required to wear a helmet in right field?

I know that George Scott wore a helmet at first base in the Bucky F&*#ing Dent game.

35. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:57 PM (#2493720)

I like that Willie Harris still wears 2 flaps even though he only bats left-handed.

I'm surprised more players don't do this. Back when I played I got annoyed by having to wear an asymmetrical thing on my head.

36. Zach Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:15 PM (#2493744)

Plus I grew up watching George Brett, who never wore them

I remember him taping his fingers, which was much cooler.

37. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:30 PM (#2493760)

And was Jose Canseco the first guy required to wear a helmet in right field?

The best part is where Rickey! went up to him and told him that he used to play with a guy who wore one in RF.

38. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:33 PM (#2493764)

What about batting helmets? Who was the first hitter to wear one? And was Jose Canseco the first guy required to wear a helmet in right field?

I can tell you that Bob Mongomery was the last player who didn't have to wear a helmet; he was grandfathered in when they started requiring it. He wore a cap insert instead.

Anyone know who was the first catcher to wear a helmet behind the plate?

The one-flap helmet was named after Jeffrey Leonard.

39. Loren F.'s well-anchored glenoid Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:35 PM (#2493769)

And was Jose Canseco the first guy required to wear a helmet in right field?

The best part is where Rickey! went up to him and told him that he used to play with a guy who wore one in RF.

RDF.

40. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:35 PM (#2493770)

No, I don't knoiw who the first catcher was.

Back when I played I got annoyed by having to wear an asymmetrical thing on my head.

I always thought that would be a bugger. OTOH, the alternative makes the batter look like he's in Little League.

41. a bebop a rebop Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:37 PM (#2493773)

Back when I played I got annoyed by having to wear an asymmetrical thing on my head.

That's probably because it didn't fit. If it was sized correctly, it would be fine, but big asymmetrical helmets used to roll all over my head, get in the way of my sightlines.

42. Charlie O Posted: August 21, 2007 at 09:01 PM (#2493856)

My coach had us hold our batting gloves to ensure we wouldn't put our hands down to the ground when we slid. This served two purposes. It kept us from creating additional drag during the slide and it reduced the risk of our hands being stepped on. We were absolutely forbidden from sliding head-first, also to avoid injuries to the hands and wrists.

43. AJM Posted: August 21, 2007 at 09:08 PM (#2493860)

The other day Luis Castillo was running with his gloves in his hands, but just as he was about to slide into home he opened his hand and dropped it.

44. Al Kaline Trio Posted: August 21, 2007 at 09:19 PM (#2493864)

I think he wears the gloves so he can keep track of his stolen bases by stapling them to a wall in his house.

45. ColonelTom Posted: August 21, 2007 at 09:46 PM (#2493885)

It's so {Iguchi} can fling them in the eyes of the defender covering second base.

Actually, it's so he can fling the gloves to distract the umpire, then spray green mist into the eyes of the defender covering second base.

46. Jeff K. Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:20 PM (#2494076)

This thread actually only has 15 posts, just three of each one.

47. Eraser-X is emphatically dominating teh site!!! Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:38 PM (#2494118)

Has anyone else noticed that this thread only has about 16 posts, but it has about three of each one?

48. jim in providence Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:40 PM (#2494129)

I think he wears the gloves so he can keep track of his stolen bases by stapling them to a wall in his house.

His apartment, I'm sure. No way Willie Mays Hayes was a home owner in his rookie year.

49. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:43 PM (#2494142)

Your hat was probably too big.

50. DCW3 Posted: August 22, 2007 at 05:00 AM (#2494757)

I'm surprised more players don't do this. Back when I played I got annoyed by having to wear an asymmetrical thing on my head.

Wow, I'm the exact opposite. If my team had had one-flap helmets, I probably would have stuck with Little League a lot longer. My biggest source of dissatisfaction with the game, even more so than my team's lifetime .143 winning percentage, was the pain those dual-flap helmets caused by compressing my giant ears.

51. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: August 22, 2007 at 05:12 AM (#2494762)

I think he wears the gloves so he can keep track of his stolen bases by stapling them to a wall in his house.

RDF.

52. McLovin Posted: August 22, 2007 at 05:28 AM (#2494766)

This is a guess, but perhaps he does it so that he'll have to hold his hand in a ball, and won't jam any outstretched fingers when sliding headfirst?

A lot of people say that, but it's probably so he can fling his gloves to distract the umpire, then spray green mist into the eyes of the defender covering second base.

53. Flynn Posted: August 22, 2007 at 06:49 AM (#2494774)

Gloveless hitters are way cooler than gloved hitters. Gloveless hitters who pull their pant legs up and show sock are way cooler than gloved hitters with their pant legs down.

And if anybody shows stirrup, they're cooler than everybody else.

54. Teheran's Uranium Enriched Missiles Posted: August 22, 2007 at 07:29 AM (#2494779)

with hitters fearing finger injuries so much, why not wear batting gloves like cricketers do?

55. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: August 22, 2007 at 10:04 AM (#2494793)

It's so {Iguchi} can fling them in the eyes of the defender covering second base.

Actually, it's so he can fling the gloves to distract the umpire, then spray green mist into the eyes of the defender covering second base.

Wrestling Primey

56. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: August 22, 2007 at 12:34 PM (#2494847)

I never liked the feel of hitting gloves and never hit with them all throughout high school. Plus I grew up watching George Brett, who never wore them, as well as Wally Joyner, who never hit with them.

Among those who prefer the bare necessities when taking bat in hand are Angels right fielder Vlad Guerrero, Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, Mets left fielder Moises Alou, Cubs catcher Jason Kendall and Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Add Doug Eyechart to that list.

Pretty sure Gregg Zaun (or somebody on the Jays roster) hits without gloves. I'll check this aft.

Which guy didn't wear gloves on his hands but stuffed them in his pocket so he could wave byebye to the defense during his homerun trot? Was it Mel Hall or Joe Carter?

Gotta be Hall--never saw Joe do this. I can't even imagine Joe doing it.

Best Regards

John

57. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: August 22, 2007 at 12:54 PM (#2494860)

why not wear batting gloves like cricketers do?

Could you link a photo?

58. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: August 22, 2007 at 12:58 PM (#2494868)

Cricket gloves

I think the motivation behind not wearing cricket gloves is similar to the bare handed hitters... it's the old-school tough guy appearance.

59. Torn_cuff Posted: August 22, 2007 at 03:44 PM (#2495069)

Hall went to the senior prom with his "girlfriend" during his Yankee tenure...maybe he was just waving to her.

60. Los Angeles ALBERT F. PUJOLS of Anaheim

Posted: August 22, 2007 at 04:18 PM (#2495123)

His apartment, I'm sure. No way Willie Mays Hayes was a home owner in his rookie year.

It's not impossible that he owned half of a really nice house. After all, he had half of a really nice car.

61. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: August 22, 2007 at 04:49 PM (#2495168)

He might have saved up some money becuase "not sure where Hayes played last year, but I'm sure he did a heckuva job"

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MLB: Gloveless hitters buck the trend

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