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In the beginning of baseball, gloves were considered as a way of demeaning the game. The first baseball glove had no web and was used as a way of stopping or knocking down the ball so it could be picked up rather than catching. They were leather with no finger tips and the back of the hand cut out for ventilation.
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Baseball gloves were normal to wear on the field. Most players had them and they were not ridiculed much anymore.
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A pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals by the name of Bill Doak comes up with the idea of a web between the thumb and index finger to create a pocket. He patented the design and sold it to Rawlings.
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With Bill Doak's idea Rawlings took off. It quickly became preferred by the professionals.
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Nokona began sending gloves overseas for servicemen to use for recreation. About 250,000 gloves were sent there annually.
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The Wilson A2000, which would eventually become the official glove of the MLB, featured a large web and broad pocket.
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The Rawlings XPG had a deep pocket and a u-shaped heel. It came out the year after the A2000.
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The Trap-Eze featured a web that looked somewhat like a finger. This style of web made it easier to catch fly balls.
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Most manufacturers moved to Asia due to cheap labor but Nokona stayed in their factory in Nocona, Texas. Nokona prides themselves with being the last U.S. glove manufacturers.
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Now days gloves are made with the top 5% of leather. They are made with incredible efficiency and precision.
