Suggestions for Breaking in a baseball glove

[cjclong]

A Spalding Rocky Colavito baseball glove I had for more than 40 years was lost while attending a Rangers game. I take the glove to games partly in self defense in case someone lines the ball into the stands where we sit in the infield area. I purchased both a Rawlings Jeter model and Josh Hamilton model Wilson glove. Does anyone have any suggestions on breaking them in besides playing catch? They are, of course , stiff as a board.

[CampWest]

https://www.phoenixbats.com/glove-conditioner-1.html

Free engraving of your name as well...

https://www.phoenixbats.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/967x214/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/l/a/large_14.jpg

[CampWest]

http://www.baseballexp.com/Baseball-Accessories/Glove-Accessories/Ergo-Glove-Mallet/baseball/lev/6/productId/2703/Ne/31/N/33+36+1100029/parentCatId/43/Ns/CATEGORY_SEQ_43%7C0/index.pro

http://www.amazon.com/Unique-113-Hot-Glove-Mallet/dp/B002BZQIBM/ref=pd_sim_sg_4

http://www.aluminumbats.com/nokonaglovemallet.aspx

[eisenreich8]

Mike Andrews, popular former 2nd baseman for the Red Sox and a Jimmy Fund hero, once wrote an article in the Boston Globe about his preferred way to break in a glove. Make sure you're sitting down.

Place and old baseball in the palm of the glove. Wrap it in twine to hold it closed. Sink the glove in a five-gallon bucket of warm water and leave it in there overnight. Remove the glove next day and cut the twine and remove the baseball and let the glove dry out on a shady porch on a beautiful day (or similar dry air, paced-drying method).

When dry, smear a little neatsfoot of similar in the palm area, work it in, and play catch. I did this 20+ years ago on a Wilson A2000 I had bought when I got selected for a good team and needed to be ready fast. My contributions that season were miniscule but I flashed killer leather from the pine and even caught a few butterflies behind the backstop with it.

I asked Mike about 10 years ago if he would still endorse that method and he said he would without hesitation.

[prichmond]

I have gone to ebay and bought used gloves that i would call used but not misused. Generally good prices and saves the pain of breaking them in.

Pete

[CampWest]

Just remembered seeing this pop up in a search the other day...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-Rocky-Coloveto-outfielders-glove-/330600650207?pt=US_Baseball_Softball_Gloves_Mitts&hash=item4cf95595df

[cjclong]

Thanks for the suggestions. But I have to admit I'm a little queasy about soaking a glove in water.

[eisenreich8]

I figure the cow probably stood out in the rain a time or two before it was turned into a glove, so it should already be pliable. Can't say I blame you!

[dougiedshow]

I was just a Scheels Sporting Goods and they now have a machine you can put a new ball glove in and it steams it for 5 minutes, breaking in your glove. It claims to break the glove in 2/3 of the way. Pretty cool... where was that when I was wrapping mine with rubber bands and putting it under my pillow.