A Baseball Card and a Baseball Glove

What do you think about when you look at the player on this card?

 

 

 

If you grew up a baseball fan in the '70s or '80s, you might think of a slick-fielding shortstop whose dad was also Major League ballplayer. If you've been a Minnesota Twins fan at any point over the past 20 years, you might think of an insightful analyst for the team during television broadcasts.

For me, it's something else.

I think of my very first baseball glove: A MacGregor Roy Smalley signature model. 

 

For my first couple of years of Little League ball, that was my special piece of equipment. It's the classic story. Dad teaches you to take care of it. Keep it clean. Put a softball in the pocket and wrap some rubber bands around the outside to maintain the shape. Make sure you oil it every so often. The whole nine yards.

I only wish I still had that glove. But thanks to the internet, at least I've got this:

After a little searching, that image came up. And I was certain it was the same model as mine. One hundred percent certain. Those diamond cuts in the webbing. The red MacGregor tag stitched onto the wrist strap. The shape. No doubt about it. 

 

And this next image just helped confirm it.

 

 

 

 

The script MacGregor logo on the heel. The Roy Smalley facsimile signature. All the other branding.

 

Yep. That was my mitt, alright. I had it from about 1984 through 1986.

It took me right back to the cluster of Little League fields in my town. We mostly played on the smallest field during my first season. Jeez, I can smell the grass and feel the sun, and see our St. Louis Cardinals uniforms. (Back then, each team in our league was given a uniform that resembled an actual Major League team.) I was a pitcher and a shortstop. 

 

And it's funny what you remember just by looking at a piece of equipment like this. My very first season, I remember picking a grounder on a short hop with that Roy Smalley mitt, hearing the parents yell in excitement and surprise, and then throwing the ball from the hole at short all the way over to our first baseman, who scooped up my throw on a bounce to make the out. His scoop made the parents cheer even louder. I also remember turning a triple play with that glove.

I miss those days. But that's part of nostalgia. In fact, it's right there in the etymology of the word. (Greek: nostos = return home, algos = pain or longing.) And I've still got at least a few pictures from those Little League years, which is nice.

But let's get to Mr. Smalley for a moment.

He played from 1975 through 1987, and suited up for the Rangers, Twins, Yankees, White Sox, and finally the Twins again, winning a World Series with the team in '87 before retiring.

1979 was his best year. He played in all 162 games, was an all-star, and led the A.L. in plate appearances (729). he also set career-highs in runs (94), hits (168), doubles (28), home runs (24), and RBI (95). 

 

On the defensive side that year, Smalley led the majors in putouts (296), assists (572), and double plays (144), but was edged out for the A.L. Gold Glove by Boston's Rick Burleson, who had almost 90 fewer chances, but a higher fielding percentage. Smalley had similarly impressive (and league-leading) defensive numbers in 1977 and 1978, but was edged out of the award both years by Baltimore's Mark Belanger, who'd already won 6 Gold Gloves in his career, including 1973 through 1976. Smalley took on many more chances than Belanger those years—a whopping 237 more in 1978, in fact—but had a lower fielding percentage. Smalley's was .970, while Belanger led the league at .985.

 

Here's a quick video of his early days with Texas.

 

 

 

Post playing career, as mentioned a little earlier, Smalley was a baseball analyst for the Twins for 22 years. He just announced his retirement a few months ago. 

 

Congratulations to Mr. Smalley for a great career!

And now a question for you readers:

 

If you played Little League ball, do you remember the first "signature model" baseball glove you had? 

 

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