In June of 1913, the Philadelphia Phillies were in first place. The Associated Press said one of the reasons for the Phillies success was the fielding of shortstop Mickey Doolan. A photo of Doolan’s glove was included with the story:
“See the glove.
“it is a baseball glove.
“The glove belongs to shortstop Doolan, of the Phillies.
“Doolan is one of the best shortstops that ever played ball.
“He and his palmless glove are two reasons why the Phils might win the National League pennant.
“The ragman wouldn’t give five cents for the glove. Doolan wouldn’t take a hundred dollars for it.
“Doolan credits this ragged glove for the base hits he kills off every day.
“The center of the glove is the same things a doughnut surrounds. The covering is ragged and the lining frayed. Back of the hole, Doolan’s hand is a callous.”
Doolan
Doolan hit just .218 but finished tied for 13th in the Chalmers Award voting.
The New York Giants knocked the Phillies out of first place at the end of June and ran away with the pennant. The Phillies finished second, 12.5 games back.
Baseball History Daily 
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