Bronzed glove to be golden addition to collection

By Lenny DiFranza

Ever since this year’s inductee list was set at Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice, and Joe “Flash” Gordon, we’ve been planning the exhibits that will honor them. We’ve combed through our collection for artifacts related to the players and discovered some excellent items. But, like most years, we’ve also looked to borrow items that would help us illustrate these great careers.

I have been assigned Joe Gordon’s exhibit, and it has been a great pleasure to communicate with Gordon’s children, Judy and Joe. Their effort and generosity has allowed us to assemble an extraordinary tribute to their father that will give visitors to Cooperstown an excellent review of his accomplishments.

Of all the wonderful items they loaned to us, my favorite is a bronzed fielder’s glove that arrived just a few days ago. Judy Gordon explained to me that when her father retired, her mother took possession of the glove he had been using and had it preserved in bronze.

We have Gold Glove Awards in our collection and many different items that were bronzed and later donated to our museum, but this bronzed glove stands out in comparison, showing the rips and repairs of an old, trusted piece of leather.

I hope you can see, along with the many other items that the Gordon family loaned to us for this summer’s exhibit, for yourself.

Lenny DiFranza is the assistant curator for new media at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.