There is no other piece of game used gear that gets more use than a player glove, particularly that of the catcher who is involved in virtually every play. Before Tony Pena turned to the dark side as bench coach for the Yankees, he was a superb catcher for the Red Sox from 1990 to 1993. A five time All Star and four time gold glove winner, including in 1991 for the Red Sox, Pena had a very distinct catching position, virtually sitting on the ground in a split, and a cannon for an arm.
This pounded Rawlings mitt, with Pena's name largely obscured by pine tar, appears to have been used while he was with the Red Sox and thereafter, seeing duty for a period of years. There was at least one repair of strings on the mitt which may account for some differences with the picture. The pine tar likely accumulated on the mitt over years of use as Pena applied pine tar to his throwing hand so that he could grip the ball better when throwing.
