OUR MUSEUM IN ACTION
FRANK WAYLAND BROWN 1887 FINGERLESS GLOVES
You can honor baseball's earliest artifacts by helping fund the work that will preserve this symbol of excellence for today’s generation and the next.
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
As baseball has evolved, so too has the game's equipment. Modern batters continue to add protective gear, with everyday gear now including elbow guards, shin guards and even hand guards. On the other side of the diamond, fielding gloves have undergone significant improvements as well.
One early iteration of a glove had a distinctive omission. First patented in the early 1880s, some catchers and infielders would use two fingerless gloves while securing the ball with both hands. Soon after, fingers and additional padding were included on fielding-hand gloves, but some players still utilized the fingerless glove on their throwing hand, allowing for increased protection and throwing accuracy.
When the invention of a round catcher's mitt was introduced later in the decade, fingerless gloves would begin fade out of baseball fashion. This unique design, however, remains an early example of innovation and creativity within the game.
These specific fingerless gloves were worn by a ball player named Frank Wayland Brown in the mid-1880s. Not much is known of Brown's playing career, but he would have donned this pair while playing with local teams in Troy, N.Y., and as a student at Colgate University.
The gloves are now part of the Hall of Fame's collection and are in need of conservation. With your generosity, you can help preserve this artifact for the next generation of baseball fans. Please consider making a gift to make a direct impact on baseball history.