How to Relace a Baseball Glove

Is your baseball glove a relic from your youth, purchased back when digital watches were expensive and gas was cheap? If so, it probably needs some new lacing. You could buy a new glove, of course, but repairing your old one is so much more satisfying. With a little care, this glove could be passed on to your kids.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leather Softener Or Glove Oil
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Rawhide Lacing
• Leather awl, ice pick or other pointy tool

1. Treat the new rawhide lacing with a leather softener or glove oil before you begin work. This will allow the leather to soften and make it easier to handle.

2. Inspect the lacing and memorize the lacing pattern.

3. 
    

   Remove one section of the broken lacing (see A). If necessary, use a pair of scissors to cut it free.

4. Tie a simple overhand knot at one end of a long piece of the new rawhide lacing. Pull the knot as tight as possible.

5. 
    

   Using a leather awl, ice pick or other pointy tool, push the lacing through the first hole in the stitching pattern (see B). Pull the lacing through, up to the knot in its end.

6. Continue threading the lacing through the holes, following the lacing pattern of the original. Pull the lacing as tight as possible without deforming the glove. The lacing will stretch over time, so tightness is essential to a lasting repair.

7. Place another overhand knot in the lacing at the end of the section. Adjust the knot so that it is snug against the glove. Cut off any excess lacing.

8. Continue working on other sections as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't remove all the old lacing on your glove at once, or you will probably forget the lacing pattern. Work section by section.
• Rawhide lacing, leather softener and a leather awl can be purchased at hardware stores.

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[horseman1134]

on 10/7/2009 im trying to relace an old 1st. baseman's glove its a rawlings fastback Keith Hernandez signature its about 25yrs old the model or serial # is RFM9 any help out there im stuck at the web and bridge any pictures or instructions, please help

[horseman1134]

on 10/5/2009 i'm relacing a 1st. baseman's glove but im stuck at the webbing the laces are broke and most of them are missing any help or pointers will be appreciated its an old glove maybe 25yrs old

[madmobster]

on 9/1/2009 you first stick thru the holes then insert the lace into its hole and pull it back thru.

Also, purchase quality rawhide such as Alm, not the crap that is sold in kits or sporting goods stores......
Here is a link that sells the best rawhide lacing for ball gloves that I have found as well as the lacing needles needed to do the job right.

Don't be afraid to try it yourself, you will find that it is easier than you think. Good luck!
http://www.emocs.com/rawhidelaces.htm

I recommend you purchase several laces of both sizes 1/8" and 3/16"...........

[madmobster]

on 9/1/2009 Actually it doesn't take a professional to re-lace a ball glove, only someone with the patience to search the internet for some reliable information. Such info specifically related to lacing patterns which unfortunately I have been unable to find for my Wilson A2000 XL..........With that being said, I have pretty much restrung the entire glove with the exception of the lacing across the top of the dual-hinge webbing......I'll figure it out eventually.

All the relacing I have seen on my fellow ball players' gloves appear to have been done by so-called professionals who have done hack jobs; jury-rigging the lacing patterns and using cheap ass rawhide lacing.......

The key to successful relacing is in the tools. Buy yourself lacing needles which allow you to thread the leather laces into the top of the needle which is approx. 4" - 6" long. They are much better than that tool which...

[expensivewino13]

on 6/14/2007 And this seems to be the problem with relacing gloves - the ones who know don't seem to keen on sharing the know-how. The closest I have come in the past hour to finding instructions for do it yourself turned out to be an add by some "glove doctor chico" who wasn't sharing, but asking you to buy his book first to get the instructions. It's all about the dollar!

I'm so glad this website exists - it reminds us that the internet was developed to share information freely in the first place. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction, staff expert. I've played ball for twenty years and should be able to figure this out now that you've been kind enough to think of others first.