In 1957, sporting goods manufacturer Rawlings worked with Major League Baseball to create an annual Gold Glove Award. Last year was the 50th anniversary of the prestigious defensive award, issued each year by position. The very first award for an catcher was won by Sherman Lollar of the Chicago White Sox. It was the only year where there were not individual position awards in both the National and American Leagues, so Sherm was the sole catcher recipient that year. Other notable 1957 winners included Gil Hodges, Nellie Fox, Willie Mays, Al Kaline, Minnie Minoso, and Bobby Shantz. There were three White Sox players (in bold) out of the nine positions awarded. Historically, the player to earn the most of these awards in a career is Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux with eighteen.

Sherm Lollar went on to win the award two more times as a catcher, but would have won many more if the honor would have been established earlier in his career. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Ivan Rodriguez won 13 Gold Gloves to lead all catchers. Other backstop greats recognized by Rawlings include Johnny Bench with 10 awards, Yadier Molina 8, and Jim Sundberg 6. The catcher position has always fascinated me, even though it was a position that I never played. Sherm Lollar was my favorite player growing up, starting with his World Series appearance in 1959. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been collecting some of his memorabilia that I proudly display in my office. I also wrote several letters to the Golden Era Hall of Fame Committee suggesting that he be considered a Hall of Fame candidate. (See Post #5), especially in light of the fact that that he is one of the top defensive players in the history of the game.

For Christmas this year, my wife bought me a game-worn Sherm Lollar #10 Sox jersey from 1955. (See Post #494). I also have autographs, photos, cards, pins, and a drink cup in honor of his 18-year career as a catcher plus several more years as a baseball coach and manager. I don’t really understand this fascination with a man I never met, but I now joke about having one of the world’s largest collections of his merchandise. It’s really not much of a museum, but you’re certainly welcome to visit it. Today, I just received a 1950’s era Rawlings leather catcher’s glove endorsed by Sherman Lollar that I purchased on e-Bay. I just couldn’t resist displaying it next to the pin-striped, #10 wool jersey and a Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger bat autographed by Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio, another of my White Sox idols from the 1959 World Series. They may have lost to the Dodgers, but they won my heart!