Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Just over 50 years ago, a Rawlings sales manager named Elmer Blasco made the
observation that well over half of the pros in the game wore a Rawlings glove.
It didn’t take him long to realize that Rawlings should create an award that
recognized defensive excellence. Thus the iconic Rawlings Gold Glove Award was
born. The rest is history!
For the initial award design, Blasco worked
with the Brown Shoe Company in St. Louis. They supplied him with gold tanned
leather that was used to create ladies’ formal slippers. Rawlings constructed
the glove and affixed it to a walnut base to create the very first Rawlings Gold
Glove Award. The look of the award didn’t change much over the next 50 years. In
honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2007, the
award was given an updated look. Inspired by the look of a luxury automobile,
the new award features a burled cherry wood base with a lacquered black piano
wood trim. Additionally, a section of the award base is covered with Rawlings
Heart of the Hide™ leather embroidered with the Rawlings Patch logo. The updated
pro award is 12” deep x 17” wide x 2 ½” tall. If the award recipient is a
Rawlings sponsored player, they will receive a gold version of their game day
model on their award. Other winners will receive a generic gold Rawlings model.
While the look of the award has changed over the course of 50 years,
one thing remains the same: defense continues to be the heart of the game and
the heart of the Rawlings brand.
