I Solemnly Swear to Make Baseball More Fun for Your Kid

So, what's my motivation?

Simply, to make the game of baseball less frustrating and more fun for your kid. I was lucky, having two big brothers to pass down broken-in gloves to me as a kid. I was even luckier to have a dad who'd take me out after dinner on summer nights to have a catch (that's right, you "have a catch" you don't "play catch"). That's how I fell in love with the game.

But something happened to many kids and baseball along the way. Dads started working longer hours, for one thing. And the term "hand-me-down" became something negative.

I can't fix that.

What I can do is this: I can promise that my gloves, soft to the touch, yet stable enough to haul in a batted missile, will help your kid enjoy baseball sooner...with less frustration.

In talking with my designers and craftsmen, I asked them if they could produce a glove that - when new - felt like one of those gloves my brothers passed down to me. Comfortable on your hand, able to close without the assistance of a second hand. We went through a bushel of samples, with different shapes and different types of leather, before we signed off on the first edition of Bradley Baseball Gloves.

So far, being only a couple of days old, all I can do is rely on the testimony of those who've put one on their hand. The initial reactions have been smiles and verbal communication like, "Wow" and "I wish I was a kid again." They just feel so good.

Now, I'm not saying one of my gloves will catch the ball for your kid. But with practice - and it will take a little time to get the glove to break-in completely - I am confident that my gloves will do the job they're being asked to do. 

No need to meddle too much either. Feel free to send your kid out to a wall with a rubber ball - I love using a lacrosse ball - and have him work on catching balls one-handed in the web. That will help build a great pocket. Also, to speed up the break-in process, I suggest telling your kid - or if you want to play a bit, Dad - to put two fingers in the pinkie. What this will do is help build a big pocket or "sweet spot" that will eventually be your kid's best friend. 

When you think about it, catching a baseball is a difficult skill, and it can be frustrating. Your asking a kid to put a piece of equipment on his weaker hand and suddenly become coordinated with a hand he rarely uses for anything! So, have patience, and have fun.

I promise my gloves will help.