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If you were the fat kid, like I was, they made you the catcher. The Twins catcher in those days was 5 time All Star, 3 time gold glove winner Earl Battey.

For most of his career Battey (and most other big league catchers of the era) used a Rawlings HoH-X mitt. They are unusual compared to today’s catcher’s mitts because they don’t have a hinge — they’re a no-break mitt. I lusted after one as a kid, but at $50! they were out of my price range.

Over the years I acquired 3-4 HoH-X mitts, but none have Battey’s signature, although some of that model were endorsed by catchers; Ray Fosse, for instance.

In the last year of his career, Battey switched mitts to a Rawlings HNB. Still a no-break, but with a different web, and a slightly different pocket. Several years ago I found one, WITH his signature endorsement, and bought it. I recently had it relaced, cleaned and conditioned. I wish they had re-cemented the pocket, but it’s still a nice glove.

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