My new (very old) mitt

[MrMet]

So maybe you saw my posts in the Morning Thread about a mitt I found at an antique store. Hoping some baseball detectives can help me out with it!!
Here's the info that came with the mitt

Says it's from Elmer Valos estate, but says nothing about it being his glove, or anything like that.
Now here's the glove


Besides the strap to the buckle being broken, it seems like it's in great shape

And like the paper says it's definitely an old Spalding

Now, upon closer inspection, on the palm of the glove I can read a very faded "John" and some semblance of a last name, here's the best pic I can get of it

If there is a name there, would that just be the glove style, or would that be an owners name? And how can I make the name pop? I was thinking about rubbing baby powder over it and hoping the baby powder collected more in the grooves of the name than the glove, but could that damage it in any way? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Brewer Andy]

Cool piece! I can't help much but notice the note says he threw right handed. That appears to be a left handed glove so either that info is wrong or it wasn't his own personal glove

 

[MrMet]

Cool piece! I can't help much but notice the note says he threw right handed. That appears to be a left handed glove so either that info is wrong or it wasn't his own personal glove

Wow, how did I miss that?! Haha
Everything I've read says he threw righty, yup not his glove, that just deepens the mystery, dang

 

[dano7]

Glad you got the glove! Now to continue work on your mystery.
DANNY

 

[zach]

JOHNNY MIZE????

 

[MrMet]

JOHNNY MIZE????

Haha no, the name was definitely longer than that. I tried rubbing baby powder in to bring the sig out more, but that didn't work. A guy from Vintage Sport Shoppe recommended lexol to clean the mitt and bring the sig out more, but I'd have to go buy some

 

[A_Pharis]

John Burrows is a leftie that played with him for the A's in '43. Burrows was a pitcher, though. Could we get a better shot of the name on the glove?

(if it - by a long shot - is Burrows... he was born in Louisiana, and I would beg for the glove. LOL!)

 

[MrMet]

I can't get a better picture, I can't even read it myself, besides the John....i gotta figure out a way to make the name pop

 

[michaelstepper]

Awesome pickup! So jealous
Def left-handed and the name looks something like "john" followed by another "j" or letter if the same type. Will it take a better pic turning the flash off and rotating the glove out of the direct light? Sometimes changing the light source the shadows give away more than direct light

 

[MrMet]

Awesome pickup! So jealous
Def left-handed and the name looks something like "john" followed by another "j" or letter if the same type. Will it take a better pic turning the flash off and rotating the glove out of the direct light? Sometimes changing the light source the shadows give away more than direct light

I tried different light, different camera filters... I don't know... That mitt guy told me about the laxol, I might try that, it's supposed to restore leather

 

[michaelstepper]

Hmm. Looking through baseball reference the only john J's I found who were left handed were 2 pitchers and a PH/utility guy that ended his career in 33. I only looked up to the late 40's.
Very confusing.

 

[michaelstepper]

Used my hd app on my phone to darken it up a bit


My gf definitely feels like it's a "J" following the name as well.
Would Spaulding have a reference list?

 

[MrMet]

It might not be the players name on it who used it, but rather a style of glove

 

[A_Pharis]

I thought it might be a J, also, but then I thought it could be the start of many different letter. I can't find any reference to a Spalding model with a "John" endorsement.

 

[michaelstepper]

John j could be just a branded name like you said. Googling spalding mitt a John J Spalding appeared quite often.
Check out this auction though. I want the book
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191305492515

 

[A_Pharis]

Very similar

 

[A_Pharis]

John J. McGraw?

Edit: Endorsed - not used. But his facsimile would probably include the second J. DId he ever endorse for Spalding?

 

[MrMet]

I'm at my parents now, when I get home, or tomorrow, I'll try to take more photos, different angles/filters

 

[michaelstepper]

Hahaha you have us hooked here!
Very intriguing

 

[MrMet]

I'm hooked as well, wish I could figure it out