CLEVELAND — Gordon King knows a lot about baseball, and maybe even more about baseball gloves.
What You Need To Know
- Gordan King refurbishes baseball gloves for use and sentiment
- He got his knowledge from playing ball from tee-ball through college
- He also sends redone gloves to soldiers overseas
“I always ask people if they’ve heard of the land of the misfit toys from Rudolph the Red Nosed,” said Gordon King, owner of A1 Glove Repair. “They say, yes. Then, I counter by saying well, I’m the land of unloved, unused baseball gloves.”
His memories go back to tee-ball through high school, the couple years he played in college and the hours spent watching “America’s favorite pastime.” In fact, his knowledge of baseball gloves stretches to the fact that he knows how well they also hold memories. Memories that sometimes need help staying alive.
“It fit like a dream,” said King. “A trophy glove would be something that would look like this.”
He can mend any broken glove, or restore a sentimental one, and he spends most of his time doing it.
“So I have four here, couple there,” said King. “So I work on maybe 20 at a time?”
Through the years, King learned more than his fair share of tricks. He cuts his own string from hide he personally acquires, can paint or dye strings and other pieces to any color and even breaks in gloves upon request. He also makes his own serum that cleans, protects and softens gloves.
“To be honest with you,” said King, “I’m not a scientist, but it turned out way better than I ever could have expected.”
King doesn’t do it all for the money, though. He restores the gloves no one wants and gives them away to people who might need them.
“It just takes the time to get it right,” said King.
He’s full of stories. Whether it’s a family who fell on hard times and can’t afford a glove for their child, or a glove that needs restored so a grandpa can play catch with his grandchildren.
“See this glove?” said King. “This guy really loves this glove.”
King does it all for his love and respect for the game, and of course, the memories, because, King knows these gloves hold memories that can last a lifetime.
King also donates gloves to military troops overseas. Soldiers aren’t allowed to take baseball gloves overseas, so King restores donated gloves, sends them to Washington D.C. where they are checked thoroughly, and then they’re sent to soldiers.
The troops use the gloves and usually leave them behind for the next round of soldiers to have something to do.
Anyone interested in donating a glove or needs one restored, may find more information on Gordon King and A1 Glove Repair here.
