Best Glove For The Money

My Rawlings Pro preferred catcher's mitt is the best glove I have ever used. They are a little pricey but I think they are worth it. My catcher's mitt, I have used it for 4 years and it is still in beautiful shape.

-Kevin

I picked Rawlings. Kellys lose shape quickly and don't have much durability. If I were to rank those it would go:

1. Rawlings
2. Wilson
3. Mizuno
4. Akadema
5. Kelly

Nokona are also very nice gloves, I have an 13 inch model for outfielding and love it. Nike gloves are getting more popular latley. And once in a while I see people using SSK's. And I'm sure their some good Easton gloves out there. Theres also those TPX gloves that you see a lot of major league pitchers using. Theirs still some smaller glove companys like Demarini (known for bats) and George Brett gloves (known for bats), that are priced lower, but I've never used one before.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rhbaseball:
Theirs still some smaller glove companys like Demarini (known for bats)QUOTE]

They are owned by Wilson.

The only brand golves that I like and have used are (in the order of better qaulity imo)

Rawlings
Wilson
Mizuno

Yeah, I know their owned by Wilson, but there still a sub company, if you want to call them that.

Rawlings PRO preferred

I have an Akadema ABF-4 professional model and love it!!!...But thats JMHO

I would have to rate Kelley (Elevation Series) at the top for quality and price. They still use 5 oz Steerhide shell and Steerhide laces the same quality that Rawlings used to use on their "Heart of the Hide" series. Second, I would say Rawlings. Third would be Mizuno. Wilson states that you will get approx. 120 games from their A3000 / A2000 series gloves not even 2 seasons for most, they haven't used 5 oz steerhide for quite sometime.

Has anyone ever used a Guerrero or Barraza glove?

I always see there ad's in Baseball America, but have never seen one.

BTW, my ratings are as follows:

1. Kelley - Solid glove, especially for the money.

2. Mizuno - I used Mizuno when I played and loved the gloves. Current models look solid as well.

3. Wilson - A2000 fits my hand well. Solid glove. Don't really like the 3000 infield models.

3. Rawlings - I rate Rawlings below Mizuno because their gloves run a little big on my hand. Mizuno and Wilson seem to fit a little better.

I use the Wilson A2000 w/ Pudge A2403 leather. I love the mit. Broke in nicely and quickly for me and. Not a bad price either, about 170.

CatchingCoach05...
2 years ago we had eights players order the Guerrero glove and I believe all of them had problems with inferior lacing and in some cases problems with the stitching. I remember the samples we were shown were much better than the actual gloves received. Unless they did a 360 turn-a-round I would stay away from them.

My son's last glove was a Barazza and he loved it. Seemed like a good quality glove comparable to the HOH. Liked it so much, he ordered a JJ-01 Rolin for this year. Rolin is also made by Barazza (or visa versa). He's breaking it in now but says its great. He was always one to want something a little different than what most of his teammates have and at ~$110, it has been a good value. I like the personal service you get with them. Same guy, Charles, took both my orders and keeps you informed on the progress of the glove (they make them by hand in Mexico). Have nothing but good things to say about them.

Kelley product suc*. Business is suspect.

Chris, Charles is Jose Barraza's brother-in-law. So if you deal with Charles, you're dealing directly with Barraza.

Bear, were you a dealer for Kelley before they started selling direct?

Nokona's top line is good. Unfortunately, when they added a top line, their old main line went down some in quality. The devil to break in, though.

Kelley's may not take a lot of heavy use, but they are decent gloves with quick break in.

quote:

Originally posted by Glove Man:
Chris, Charles is Jose Barraza's brother-in-law. So if you deal with Charles, you're dealing directly with Barraza.

I knew he was a member of the family somehow...he even sent me a photo of his wife with his xmas tree in one of his emails to me. I liked the personal touch. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

Where can you get SSK gloves?

Texan...
What Kelley Series are you speaking of? Every top of the line Kelley (Elevation Series) has been more difficult to break in than most other brands. I have to disagree with you, I find their durability and break in to be quite the opposite.

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Nokona's top line is good. Unfortunately, when they added a top line, their old main line went down some in quality. The devil to break in, though.

Kelley's may not take a lot of heavy use, but they are decent gloves with quick break in.

Both the Century & Proline were very quick to break in. Don't know about the Elevation. Feel free to disagree, but that won't change my experience.

I like the Easton Gs60, Nice supple leather, it has a great gel pad in there, and nice deer skin lining. I think I got mine for $90, I think about $110-$120 most places.