If I weren't excluded from this conversation, I'd at least point out the "rare/investment opportunity" angle that you could try and take with the wife.
You really want to cherish that glove? Think bigger...take the wife on a trip, visit Japan personally, walk into those shops yourself, go to a few games then buy the darn glove (after trying it on of course). Problem solved, your welcome ;-)
You really want to cherish that glove? Think bigger...take the wife on a trip, visit Japan personally, walk into those shops yourself, go to a few games then buy the darn glove (after trying it on of course). Problem solved, your welcome ;-)
I'm a user, not a collector. As a musician, I would never buy a guitar that I couldn't play, no matter how "special" it was. As such, the idea of buying a glove that I couldn't use makes no sense.
Found a couple more interesting pics of some Sluggers, for me, an American, these glove models are somewhat difficult to decipher. Between the Hard ball and Rubber ball models, I definitely want a Hard ball model. Once Japanese players get to high school they switch from the Rubber ball to the Hard ball, the Hard ball gloves are beefier with better internals.
Most outfield gloves max out at 12.5" with some infield patterns as small as 10" & 11". It almost seems like there's 5 Japanese glove models (this is a broad assumption on my part), Pitcher's gloves, Catcher's mitts, 1B mitt's, infield gloves, and outfield gloves......seems simple enough right? We here in America are spoiled, I know I am, if tomorrow I want a 1/4" larger glove than I'm playing with today, I'll replace my 12" Pro1000 with my 12.25" Pro207 or NP7. I'm rambling on, I really just wanted to start a new glove thread, hasn't been a new one here in a while, seems like everyone here's DD just hits and never plays defense?
Got the Hard ball / Rubber ball pic from a guy over at SBF who's really well versed on true Japanese gloves, interesting photo!