Does your business struggle with profitable online marketing? If so, you are not alone. Attracting the right customers to a site and keeping them coming back - while also turning a profit - can be a challenge. Consequently, I’m always on the lookout for ways to demonstrate profitable online strategies.

Last night, as I watched the Baseball All Star Home Run Derby and visited Major League Baseball’s Web site, it struck me. The league is doing many things to effectively find and attract targeted Web customers, while simultaneously generating revenue.

In fact, I noticed numerous lessons from Major League Baseball you can consider to profitably target your own customers. Here are six of them:

Think Through Your Business Models

Free information and activities are present, but well thought out, revenue generating business models are also evident.

Lesson 1: Make your profit generators stand out.

MLB.com has a separate, prominent navigation menu for profit producing activities - MLB Shop, Tickets, Auctions, Subscriptions - which appears in the upper right on all pages, where potential paying customers cannot miss it.

Importantly, each corresponding area of the site is narrowly focused on the visitors’ interests. For example, the shop sells baseball - and only baseball - items. This is readily apparent from the slogan “For all things baseball”.

Lesson 2: Sell subscriptions.

The league generates revenue from a variety of event subscriptions - live video broadcasts, live audio broadcasts, archived clips, and fantasy games. This also help open the door for repeat purchases and add-ons.

Lesson 3: Include advertisements.

Pop-ups and other online advertising are a fact of life on free-to-user sites. Major League Baseball demonstrates taste and intelligent implementation with their pop-under, limiting each visitor to a single impression. Banner advertisements and sponsorships are also apparent.

Develop Profit Pulling Marketing Techniques

Lesson 4: Segment your visitors.

The league uses a “hub and spoke” system, which allows visitors to choose their own interests. There is one general site (MLB.com), with links to several specialty sites (stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com, etc.).

This portal approach helps segment visitors into specific interest groups. It is a win-win strategy. Visitors find what they are looking for and the league can more easily target its marketing activities.

Lesson 5: Target locally.

Each “spoke” off the MLB hub contains local content, which segments visitors regionally. The league targets products and services accordingly.

For example, the Cardinals team site includes detailed information for Cardinals baseball events, ticket purchasing for Busch stadium games, and auctions for St. Louis related baseball memorabilia.

Lesson 6: Offer tiered products.

MLB offers subscription services at many levels. By packaging fantasy games into progressively larger bundles, they encourage trial as well as repeat visits. The offering also target customers according to interest level and budget.

There you have it - five lessons in profitable target marketing from Major League Baseball.

Copyright 2003 Bobette Kyle. All rights reserved.

Bobette Kyle draws upon 10+ years of Marketing/Executive experience, MBA, and online marketing research in her writing.

Her book shows how to better find, target, and attract Web customers. Read about it here: http://WebSiteMarketingPlan.com/bookinfo.htm

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Easton - One of the top makers of aluminum bats and baseball equipment. There are many varieties of Easton bats, from wood or aluminum models to ultra high end bats.

Did you know that it takes 42,000 pounds of pressure to emblazon an etching onto the sides of a baseball bat? We players take that for granted as we grip our trusted slugger and head to the plate. Who ever would have thought that the smash hit you’re aiming for has already undergone that kind of pressure?

It’s really fascinating, the procedure and the concept. These days though, that procedure of customizing a baseball bat is nearly passe. Most baseball bat makers today are leaping into the future of technology by using the ever so prevalently relied upon laser approach for etching their logos and signatures onto their bat products.

The old fashioned way entails Brand or Foil stamping, which may be inducing an undue amount of compression on the wood fibers that are the final composition of the carved baseball bat. The potential for that pressure against the wood to cause internal fissures and harm that would be impossible to uncover or be informed of is no longer essential to do.

This would be allowing for the baseball bat to be experienced packed force as a hitting device, with no previous events to exam its density and impact the solidity of its mass. Looking for the laser emblazoned baseball bats may prove to be a leap on having a more dependable and durable slugger.

Who wants to maintain all points in line, a certain swing primed for a home run, and just as ball meets bat, the sliver in the wood that you had no way of knowing was splitting with every hit, instantly cracks? Don?t hazard losing your favorite, home run bat.

Great sporting goods stores feature a great selection of baseball bats priced to provide baseball players with the best baseball bat possible from manufacturers like Louisville, Easton, DeMarini, Rawlings, and more, all at affordable prices. You want to do business with a store that bring to their customer’s each manufacturer industry leading high performance technologies that make each baseball bat perform at the highest level possible. Expect and request the finest and you will get it.

Louisville Slugger / TPX - The original and most well known brand of bats. Today Louisville Slugger is the most popular brand of pro wood bats, and the company continues to move into the aluminum bat market.

About the Author

William Smith lives in Florida with his wife and three cats. William writes frequently on many subjects that may be of interest to all. Discover all the joys and secrets of baseball at Baseball’s Holy Grail

Golfers wear them and so do Brownies. Every Hollywood director since Steven Spielberg did Jaws considers it part of their work wardrobe. Its a US import which has become an integral part of British society. And this year it has a special birthday. The baseball cap is fifty.

Up until 1954, it was up to individual baseball players to choose a hat to keep the sun out their eyes. Some went for straw boaters, others preferred jockey caps. There was no consistency amongst players, let alone teams. So, in 1954, a hat company called New Era came up with the standard issue cap known as the 59Fifty. This brought uniformity to the game and fifty years on, its still the official cap of Major League Baseball.

In the late 70s and early 80s the American public became interested in wearing the caps worn by their favourite team and the big names in the game. The trend took hold and the baseball cap eventually made its way into every part of American society, including Hollywood and most importantly, the music scene.

In 1994, New York film maker Spike Lee asked the cap manufacturers to make him a fitted Yankees cap in ‘unofficial’ colours. At first they thought it was a strange request whod want a cap that’s not identical to the Pros? But Spike got what he wanted, people noticed, and demand for hats like his took off making Spike Lee the founder of the fitted fashion cap.

Ian Spencer of UK based cap specialists, Capitate.co.uk said The baseball cap made its way to the UK a while ago, but the last 4 years has seen extraordinary growth, largely due to the increasing number of homes with satellite TV. Through MTV, artists like Limp Bizkits Fred Durst helped introduce the UK to the New York Yankees cap. This was around the time when the British public were keen to show their solidarity with New York after the 9/11 tragedy.

Baseball caps continue to grow in popularity and the music industry retains its influence over whats hot. Usher is currently doing his bit for the Atlanta Braves while Britney flys the flag for the Birmingham Barons. Hats off to the baseball cap.

Ian Spencer is the Managing Director of Capitate.co.uk and is the UK specialist in authentic baseball caps and trucker hats. Ian grew up in Canada, spent a number of years in the US, and now lives and works in Scotland.

Preparing for your Prom Night ian PartridgePreparing for Prom Night

Preparing for prom night should begin months ahead of time.

Getting a date comes first. Girls without steady boyfriends spend more time finding a date than do the boys. The best strategies involve becoming a part of a particular group and building a particular friendship with prom night in mind.

Boys and girls each have their respective areas to prepare. Sometimes it’s difficult just to get the boys to rent their tuxedo, but they also need to arrange for the limousine rental, cover all costs, and make the arrangements for the night-such as a group activity or a romantic dinner before.

For girls, preparing for prom night is more intense. Make a to do list for the prom. Make another just for your hair. Select dress, jewelry, and hairstyle in that order, coordinating everything. If you need a hair stylist, begin asking for recommendations in advance. If you have one already, make a special appointment three months ahead to discuss your prom hairstyle.

Six weeks ahead, book an appointment with your stylist no less than four hours before the limo arrives. Try a complete dress rehearsal with hair, dress, and jewelry a month before your prom. Finally, on the day before collect all your essentials in one place. Does your hairdryer work? Do you need more gel?

These are the essential steps when preparing for prom night. Finally, don’t forget that you and your date will exchange corsage and boutonnire. Buy it the day before, keep it refrigerated, and please try not be nervous when you pin it on.

Ian Partridge lauched a website called http://www.promhair.uswhich includes more resources and links relating to prom night

Prom Night and the Prom Dateian PartridgeHow to get a prom date

Getting the right prom date is often the result of careful planning.

Girls typically work harder at getting a prom date than do boys. They seem to know intuitively how to get a prom date: planning months in advance, spending time with the right guy, and hanging out in the right group. These, the most successful methods, work best with advance planning.

Guys need to face their fears: Will you risk rejection by asking the person you are most attracted to, or play it safe by asking someone else? For you, how to get a prom date includes deciding what you want and what you are willing to risk. Then, ask-but don’t wait until prom week.

If you did wait until prom week, you may still find a prom date. If you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, you should already know how to get a prom date-but you should have asked before now. The next easiest approach is to ask a good friend. After that, asking someone in a lower grade is a safe bet for guys, because junior girls often make it a top priority to go to prom with a senior. Asking someone in another school works, too, since it feels risk-free all around.

If prom week is upon you and you are still wondering how to get a prom date, try asking your cousin, or your brother or sister. Admittedly this is a last choice, but it has a long tradition going back to the earliest of proms.

Ian Partridge lauched a website called http://www.promhair.uswhich includes more resources and links relating to prom night

Prom Nightian Partridgerom hairstyles

A large part of any girl’s prom is the prom hairstyle she chooses. The most popular prom hairstyles are subject to change each year. This year feminine, wavy styles are popular, but edgy styles will also fit the bill.

Today’s most popular prom hairstyles are luscious curls or waves. Multiple layers around the face, fresh curls, and shoulder length hair combine into an ideal of the feminine the mirrors the style of leading pop divas. Similar but less finished, soft twists combine those curls with styles that are half up / half down. Bangs are also in, especially large or sultry bangs swept to one side.

In spite of the emphasis on curls, straight hair still has its place among the popular prom hairstyles. Straight hairstyles that are textured or have a sleek mirror-shine are especially popular.

More daring styles include shoulder length bobs reminiscent of the late ’70s; the mullet is also in, combining cropped sections with longer tresses. Also popular is the extremely short cut worn by actress Alyssa Milano.

Always have a fallback style in case your hair refuses your chosen prom hairstyle. The popular French braid is an example of a style that can add class and control to any bad hair day.

The right accessory can make the difference between attractive and stunning. Bejeweled hair sticks or vintage hair combs are popular. Whatever you choose, be certain the hairstyle is consistent with the dress you have chosen, as well as with your jewelry.

Ian Partridge lauched a website called http://www.promhair.uswhich includes more resources and links relating to prom night

sustainable land plccharacter11Sustainable Land Plc is an established company, with many years experience in land investments and identifying land for sale. Our experienced teams of professionals allow us to acquire land in strategically placed regions of the country, where the opportunity for development is required, and widely identified by national house builders.

The land (land for sale) we acquire has been identified by the Government as areas where there is a need to establish more sustainable communities. Sustainable Land Plc recognizes the demand for housing that has been outlined by the government, and seeks to satisfy this need for future sustainable housing.

Sustainable Land Plc is an established company, with many years experience in land investments and identifying land for sale.

Press Release

A New Tool for Back to School

A new website lets teachers post their students’ grades online in real-time.

Sacramento, CA August 4, 2004 — As the back-to-school season nears, Engrade, an innovative provider of online tools for teachers, announced today the launch of its website http://www.engrade.com. Engrades new website is a free service that allows teachers to post students grades online and allows parents and students to view those grades online in real-time by logging in to their Engrade account.

With this new service, Engrade seeks to give teachers a tool to keep parents and students continually informed of their grades, attendance, and upcoming assignments.

Thanks to educational sponsors, Engrade is a free service. And because Engrades technology is web-based it does not require any installations all of Engrades service are available through their website.

In the past, teachers only method of grade reporting was to periodically print paper reports. Both teachers and students found this to be problematic because those paper reports became out of date as soon as a new assignment was graded so students and their parents never knew exactly how they were performing in class and experienced long delays before seeing their corrected assignment scores.

Now, Engrades new online reporting tools will solve those problems by continually updating students online grade reports as soon as teachers enter new assignments into Engrades website allowing students and parents to be constantly aware of their class grade and assignment scores.

We feel that Engrade will really help students - and their parents - get a better idea of how they are performing in their classes and increase student-parent participation, said Brian Holt, President and Founder of Engrade.

In addition to online grades, Engrade provides teachers with the option of posting attendance records and upcoming assignment due dates online.

Using Engrades online attendance reports, parents can see their students real-time attendance reports from work or from home and teachers can notify the parents of absent students instantly via e-mail.

With Engrades assignment calendar, teachers can post a list of upcoming assignments for students and parents to see when they log in, making the old excuse of I forgot that was due today, obsolete.

Engrades new website seeks to reshape the way grades, attendance, and assignments are reported, increasing students and parents participation and improving student performance.

For more information about using Engrade in your classroom, visit their website at: http://www.engrade.com/

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Press Release

L. Robert Lance Blevins “Titles of the Wrong Kind” Makes its Dbut

L. Robert Lance Blevins Titles of the Wrong Kind seeks the answer to a striking question:How does a child feel when practically raised by his grandparents, blessed with the trait of slow learning and branded a retard? This new and inspirational work based on a true story is guaranteed to captivate readers of all genres.

July 26, 2004 — With the release of a truly inspirational work based on a true story, readers of all genres will be able to find a common connection amongst themselves as they become even more captivated while turning the pages of a truly moving and inspirational story which offers readers everything; love, deception, greed, teasing, frustration and success.

L. Robert Lance Blevins’ “Titles of the Wrong Kind” is getting lots of attention as it allows parents and school administrators alike to gain a valuable insight into how some of the children in the special education system actually feel about their parents; as well as the “system” that encompasses their lives.

Made possible by telling the story of the “system” from the child’s own vantage point and not that of the PhD or Administrator, a most valuable new insight into the “system,” as well as the feelings and thoughts of a child are able to be realized.

Whether you are connected to the special education system or not, this book is truly a must have for any serious reader. Written by a person who spent a good portion of his life in the special education system and then went on to realize success as well as an induction into the National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, this book promises to be a absolute success!

“Titles of the Wrong Kind” is now available for purchase through all major online book stores including http://www.amazon.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and others.

This new release can also be ordered through your local book store, or at http://www.blevinsbooks.com.

Title: Titles of the Wrong Kind
ISBN: 1-4137-2406-X

Media Information:

Who’s Who Verification:
631-422-1400

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Press Release

Hellboy HingeHead Now Appearing on Hinges Everywhere

Collectible figure stands atop your door hinge and easily becomes “unhinged” to stand on its own base or roam room to room!

Santa Barbara, CA July 21, 2004 — HingeHeads Hardware today announced their licensing relationship with Dark Horse Comics, Inc. and Mike Mignola, author & creator of the Hellboy comic hero. HingeHeads is proud to release a limited collectors edition of the Hellboy HingeHead; an artistic handcrafted, made in the USA, decorative hardware finial. This exclusive finial fits on the top of your door hinge pins to personalize your interior doors or use as a freestanding item alone or in “communities” throughout your living spaces!

Custom crafted by the artisans at HingeHeads, this new concept for home decor is inspired by Mike Mignola’s original Comic Book series “Hellboy.” Made of high quality “lead-free” pewter, the Hellboy HingeHead stands 2 tall and comes in an OxFire finish. A two-sided adapter and putty are included to fit the common U.S. Industry Standard hinge sizes. For display only, a clear vial tube and graphic insert is provided as part of the packaging for use as a display stand.

Distributed through Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. and Things From Another World, HingeHeads now offers this limited edition in the ever-popular Hellboy lineage.

HingeHeads Product Line
In addition to the Hellboy HingeHead, the company offers customers the ability to select from over 150 individual designs or order custom designs for personal, business or special events including (non-profit) organization activities.

About Us
HH Hardware/HingeHeads design and sell expressive home, garden and lifestyle dcor. Our goal is to enhance and lend expression to our spaces, places and faces. HingeHeads currently holds 3 Design and Utility patents with 4 more pending.

Copyright Information
HingeHeads is a trademark of HH Hardware, LLC. Mike Mignolas Hellboy 2004 Michael Mignola. Dark Horse Deluxe is a trademark of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective holders.

Contact Information
For Retailers interested in carrying the custom Hellboy HingeHead, HotHeads, original HingeHeads or our official Red Hat Society products, please contact us by calling: 800.783.3013 (Toll Free) or visit our website: www.hingeheads.com

For business development or press inquiries, contact:
Cynthia Johnston
800.783.3013 (Toll Free)

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Press Release

SpiderMan Movie and Comic Book Figure Toys with Danger in the Amazing SpiderMan Collectibles Sculpture Figures from HamiltonAction.com

SpiderMan toys, action figures and comic books collectors are in for the Ultimate SpiderMan collectible as Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man comes to life in a new First Edition sculpture exclusively from HamiltonAction! Created by Diamond Select Toys, the Amazing Spider-Man collectible statue combines bold hand-painted artistry with gleaming, crystal clear resin to create a truly unique Spider Man collectible that’s certain to become a “must-have” for every Spidey comic book fan!

July 22, 2004 — SpiderMan movie and comic book figure, the Amazing Spider-Man, comes alive in a new limited edition SpiderMan collectibles sculpture figures from HamiltonAction.com.

The Amazing Spider-Man collection is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for fans of Spiderman and Marvel Comics. SpiderMan, the alter-ego of mild mannered Peter Parker, has entertained fans with his comic book adventures since the original Spider-Man comics debuted in the comic Amazing Fantasy in 1962 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Now, Spider-Man is captured in vivid hand painted, handcrafted detail, and gleaming, glass-like resin. Perched high above the city and clinging to a skyscraper, this Spider-Man figure captures all the action of the Marvel comic books.

Available for the issue price of $39.95, the new “Amazing Spider-Man” collector statue from HamiltonAction.com features revolutionary design. This hand-painted sculpture is combined with dazzling crystalline to create the first-ever Spider-Man sculpture of its kind. Sculptures are limited to 95 casting days, are hand numbered and include a matching numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

This exclusive, limited-edition SpiderMan collectible is available only through HamiltonAction.com and only while supplies last. According to Steve Milo, Director of E-Commerce Business Development for HamiltonAction.com, SpiderMan Collectors shouldnt wait, as this SpiderMan limited statue will be gone before you can blink!

About HamiltonAction.com

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, HamiltonAction.com develops an innovative array of products that will satisfy the increasing demand for collectibles inspired by some of todays hottest television and big screen entertainment including Family Guy, Marvel Comics, The Simpsons, and more. HamiltonAction.com is a subsidiary of The Hamilton Collection, an established direct mail company that has proudly provided sought after collectibles to millions of collectors for more than 30 years.

To learn more about the new “The Amazing Spider-Man” statue and other products offered by HamiltonAction.com, check out the company’s web site at www.hamiltonactionfigures.com/spiderman/spiderman_44892.asp

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Press Release

Storming Robots Learning Center, Helping to Build a Generation with Robotics Science as Part of Its Culture

Storming Robots Robotics Learning Center is the first learning center in New Jersey offering multi-disciplinary Robotics programs for youth, as well as the LEGO MINDSTORMS Center provides hands-on LEGO robots workshops. Its programs aim to inspire children’s interests in robotics and science technologies by developing their intellect in fundamental engineering concepts, mathematics, strategic thinking, and problem solving.

Branchburg, NJ July 17, 2004 — Storming Robots, the first learning center in New Jersey offering multi-disciplinary Robotics programs for youth as well as the LEGO MINDSTORMS Center provides hands-on LEGO robots workshops. The majority of exercises utilize the popular Lego, Mindstorm and Robotics Kits as learning tools. Its programs aim to inspire children’s interests in science technologies by developing their intellect in fundamental engineering concepts, technology, mathematics, strategic thinking, and problem solving.

Be Fascinated by Your Own Built LEGO Robot

The popularity of LEGO among children is undisputable. Do you remember the wonderful feeling of completing your own LEGO construction with your own hands? It is even more fun programming your LEGO Robots to move on command. However, don’t think it is a trivial task. It requires planning, problem solving, analysis and programming. Under proper instruction, children further develop their applied mathematics skill, fundamental engineering concepts, strategic thinking, and programming knowledge.

Children learn robotics by integrating basic mechanics, mathematics, design and programming.

Learning Tools include LEGO MINDSTORMS components, graphics user interface (GUI) programming languages such as RCX Code and ROBOLAB, along with other LEGO accessories. The MINDSTORMS’ core comprises of various sensors along with a main building block housing an autonomous LEGO microprocessor named RCX which communicates to a PC through its Infra-Red port. You may think the LEGO Robotics Kit was created for entertainment value only but don’t underestimate the benefit and intricacy of these tools. These robotics devices are much more than meet the eye. The same components are used at the college level and for PHD robotics classes.

Sponsoring a Robotics Youth Club and Robots Tournament

In order to promote awareness of science in robotics, Storming Robots is sponsoring a Robotics Youth Club for children aged between 9 and 15. Children will periodically meet at the Storming Robotics center. The center provides all software, computers, and LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics components for members to conduct their robotics activities and exploration. Membership is free, but the major requirements for participation are enthusiasm, interests in math and science, thirst for challenges, and respect for others. If interested, you may signup online at http://www.storming-robots.com . Because the first year enrollment is limited to 8 - 16 children, an assessment may be given as part of the membership enrollment process.

Members will participate in the annual FIRST LEGO League Robots Tournament as well. The FIRST LEGO League is an internationally known robotics program for children. Annual tournaments allow teams to conduct hands-on robotics design and authentic scientific research. For those with higher aptitudes in math and other science areas, Storming Robots will also make available other related contests, such as the National Continental Math League Contest.

Multidisciplinary Robotics Classes and LEGO Workshop for Youth

LEGO Robotics activities integrate LEGO construction with fundamental engineering concepts and strategic thinking. Most challenges involve a team of two to four members. At the end of most programs, children create an open-solution project by building their own robots, programming it and making a short presentation of their invention. For the more comprehensive programs, parents are invited to watch these presentations.

Storming Robots offer robotics programs which addresses the National Science, Math and Technology Standards.

Storming Robots utilizes robotics curriculum developed by the renowned robotics institutions as its guidelines. These institutions include: the Robotics Academy (a division of the National Robotics Engineering Consortium from the Carnegie Mellon University) and the Tufts University Engineering Continuous Education. These programs address the National Science, Math and Technology Standards. Storming Robots also participates in various related communities to include educational events which focus on software and educational program development involving LEGO RCX (the brain of the robotics kits).

See Some LEGO Bots…

Storming Robots has posted some of its simple robots in its activities page. Click to view some of the activities and programs currently available. Note all bots are made from scratch, i.e. starting from a couple of LEGO bricks.
You may also visit http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/inventions/default.asp to look at some inventions.

To sign up, the children need to be aged 8 or over. You may sign up online at www.storming-robots.com or email to classes@storming-robots.com. Note that each class size is limited to 8 children, while workshop is limited to 16.

The tentative Opening Date will be October 15th of 2004. If interested, you may sign up in advance and receive 25% off your first month class and workshop fees. Check the Storming Robots program site for possible early classes in August and September of 2004. All robotics challenges have open-ended solutions. The challenge is only limited to how far the child is capable to reach.

Cool experiences, Indeed!

Contact Information:

Elizabeth Mabrey
908-534-9996
pr@storming-robots.com
STORMING ROBOTS

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Press Release

Kids Start Off on the Right Foot with Shoe Clues !

Mom Inventors, Inc. launches innovative new product that helps kids put the Right Shoe on the Right Foot!

WALNUT CREEK, CA April 26, 2004–Mom Inventors, Inc., a Walnut Creek, CA based company announces that it will unveil its newest, Mom Invented product at The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) Tradeshow in Dallas, Texas on May 2, 2004. The international JPMA show is the worlds largest juvenile products tradeshow.

Shoe Clues are fun and durable stickers that teach children to put the right shoe on the right foot! Shoe Clues feature three pairs of stickers in a colorful package. On each pair of stickers is a lovable animal that, when properly placed in the heel of a childs shoes, will be looking at the other. Children quickly see that if the animals are looking in opposite directions, their shoes will be on the wrong feet.

The Shoe Clues packaging boasts the tagline I Can Do It Myself! because children are trying to master new skills daily. A simple task like putting on shoes can be frustrating when a proud child gets dressed all by herself only to be told, your shoes are on the wrong feet, says Tamara Monosoff, CEO of Mom Inventors, Inc. Shoe Clues is a fun tool that helps children put their shoes on successfully and builds confidence!

We are looking forward to showing Shoe Clues to buyers from the nations most respected childrens products retailers, says Monosoff. There is nothing like it on the market today and we have received enthusiastic responses from retailers and consumers who have previewed the product.

We love Shoe Clues! We think this will be one of the hottest new products on the market says, Adena Surabian, President, www.safeandsecurebaby.com. With Shoe Clues, not only does my three-year-old proudly put her shoes on the right feet but she eagerly shows her friends the fun stickers in her shoes!

Shoe Clues will be sold where kids toys, games, clothing, and shoes are sold. Shoe Clues are patent pending and trademarked.

Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) - The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JPMA) is a national trade organization representing 95% of the $6.02 billion industry. JPMA has grown to include more than 400 companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. These companies manufacture and/or import infant products (856-638-0420).

Safe & Secure Baby - At www.safeandsecurebaby.com, we are passionate about providing parents, grandparents, and other care providers with the knowledge, products, and services needed to improve the safety of children everywhere (888-801-BABY.).

Mom Inventors, Inc. Established by a mother and inventor in early 2003, Mom Inventors, Inc. is founded on the principle that many of the best and most unique ideas come directly from their target market Moms. In addition to developing its own brand of Mom Invented products, Mom Inventors, Inc., licenses products, as well as assists and supports other mom inventors in taking their product ideas to market (866-376-1122).

Tamara Monosoff holds a doctorate of education and is a former member of the Clinton White House staff.

ORDER DESK:   866-376-1122
IDEAL FOR:   Children 2+ years old and Up

PRESS CONTACT:               
Tamara Monosoff, CEO            
Mom Inventors, Inc.
125 Grover Lane          
Walnut Creek, CA 94596          
925-932-6674 Office   
925-457-8998 Cell            
925-280-8224 FAX
tmonosoff@mominventors.com         
www.mominventors.com

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Press Release

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Baseball training aids are an effective way to learn the skills you need to achieve stardom. They can aid in muscular development, hand eye coordination, as well as on posture and instruction on skills. But, which are the best baseball training aids to take your game to the next level? Here are a few ways to improve your game.

* Training videos - One of the best ways to learn what the pros know is to use videos that they create. Many of the professional players and coaches are more than willing to share their experiences about techniques and tips that work. Learn these by watching and reacting to videos. The problem with these, though, is that you don’t have someone watching what you are doing and correcting your stance or your aim. So, watch them with someone else and allow them to tell you if you are actually doing what the video says. This is an all-year-round tool to benefit from. * Summer Camp - Probably the very best option to think about investing is are baseball camps. While it used to be punishment to go off to camp in the summer, now it doesn’t have to be. Baseball camps are offered for virtually all age groups depending on your needs and skills. Some may even just meet at your local baseball diamond too. The benefit here is one on-one-training that you can not get anywhere else unless you have a personal coach, of course. * Learn To Swing Like The Pros - Another tool to use is a pitching machine. Now, it is very important that you purchase a high quality product, set it up right and use it regularly if you plan to get a good amount of improvement from a piece of equipment. But, if you are having trouble making contact with the ball, this is a great way to do just that.

* Pitching techniques - In order to know how to pitch, you need to learn the skills needed. To do this, the most effective way to do so is to use a pitching cd to help you learn. This is also an effective baseball training aid for the coaches trying to teach.

Other things like practice gloves, fielding machines can help your infielder, your catcher, your batter and virtually ever other person on the team. When it comes to learning, we all can use these tools to have a better game.

About the Author

On http://www.1-stop-baseball.com/ you will more about discount pitching machines & little league baseball uniforms.

Todays kids are learning a tough lesson. They are watching baseball heroes suffer through some of the effects of steroid abuse. Those huge, powerful muscles Jose Canseco and other baseball greats developed to play the game are coming at a terrific price. That price includes public humiliation, loss of prestige and reputation, and probable financial loss.

What these kids are not seeing is the future health problems these baseball legends will almost certainly experience because of steroid abuse. These can include heart disease; several forms of cancers, impaired immune systems and other problems that will likely have devastating medical effects.

The problem is that many of these kids are themselves being pressured to be better at the games baseball, track, soccer or other sports they play. This is to say nothing of those kids who are simply too skinny and underweight to be good at sports or picked for the teams.

Anthony Ellis, a fitness consultant, was one of these skinny kids. He spent a lifetime trying to gain weight. He couldnt stand to look at himself in the mirror. He tried to hide his thin physique with baggy clothes. He wouldn’t think of going to the beach and letting his friends see how skinny he really was. He was repeatedly rejected for sports teams because he was underweight and likely to be hurt. Baseball was out of the question.

The news these days, it seems, is filled with stories about obesity and how people are overweight. I am trying to help people gain weight. What the media doesn’t talk about is that segment of the population, people like me, who have trouble gaining weight. This is the group that suffers frustration and low self-esteem because they are underweight. They read the body building magazines and watch sports heroes pack on muscle. They turn to fad diets, unregulated diet supplements and steroids to gain weight.

I went through all of the fads, the low self-esteem and the lack of confidence that affects all areas of your life, Ellis related. I know how tough it is. But, I finally learned the proper way to eat and weight train.

Since 1998, Ellis has gained over 60 pounds of lean muscle. His body fat has gone from 10 percent to seven percent. He looks great and feels great about himself.

He has taken what he has learned and put it into an easy to understand, easy to follow program that is entirely natural and entirely safe. It does not include so called natural supplements or dangerous steroids.

He has already helped thousands of skinny guys, guys just like he once was, gain muscle mass with the right diet and the right exercise. More than 70,000 people worldwide have already obtained results from the Gaining Mass! program. They have done it quickly, safely and without endangering their future health.

The program contains pure information telling users exactly what foods to eat and exactly which exercises will work to help them build muscle and body mass without fat. This is real information, without the fads and without the hype. It works. It has been proven to work again and again.

Make no mistake, Ellis says. This program is not for everyone. It is only for those of us who have trouble gaining weight. We may not all become baseball home run sluggers, but we can look great and feel great. We can do it without all of the problems some of those guys are going to continue to suffer.

The Gaining Mass! program is the fast and safe way for skinny people to gain muscle mass, greater confidence and heightened self-esteem. This program uses exactly the right diet and exercise. It does not use phony diet supplements or dangerous and illegal steroids.

For more information on this amazingly effective muscle building program, visit the website at http://www.fastmusclegain.com

Former “skinny guy” Anthony Ellis is the author of Gaining Mass! The most widely used weight gain program in the world.

This unique program designed to help people gain weight and build muscle, is currently being used in over 90 countries and boasts the largest private weight gain forum on the Internet, with well over 13,000 members at http://www.fastmusclegain.com

Click here to view over 200 user testimonials: http://www.fastmusclegain.com/testimonials.html

From the time small children are old enough to hold a baseball bat many have longed to be part of the great American pastime. Baseball bats have been around ever since the game was created and there are baseball museums that have collections of baseball bats owned and used by famous players.

When kids first start to play the game of baseball they use a plastic bat. There are plastic baseball bats made today for the youngest of ballplayers and some even have baseball teams or players names on them.

As children get older and more serious about the game they find there are choices to be made about which bat to buy. Baseball bats come in many widths, lengths and materials. A heavier bat gives the ball more momentum but a heavier bat also means a less speedy swing. Bats that are made from graphite or aluminum hit balls farther than baseball bats made from wood.

Players endorse baseball bats and many have their names on them. Baseball team logos are also represented on baseball bats.

When aluminum bats were first introduced in the 1970’s, batting averages rose 30 points and home run hits doubled. In the Major Leagues batters now use wooden bats instead of baseball bats made from lighter materials. They could change to the baseball bats made from aluminum or a lighter material but it would significantly change the home runs hit today and the traditional records and baseball legends would not seem as important.

If you are wanting to buy a baseball bat consider who will be using it. Age and which league you are playing in is also a deciding factor. Little League bats cant be more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter or more than 33 inches long for instance. Adult leagues have rules about baseball bats also.

Speed and control are the most crucial factors to consider when buying a baseball bat. Check the weight of the bat, if its too heavy it wont work for you. When checking the grip, your fingertips should meet when closed around the handle.

You can buy a small wooden baseball bat for $10-$20. An aluminum bat will cost between $20-$200 or more but it wont chip or peel and the balance and weight will remain constant.

There are thousands of baseball bats to choose from. Talk to an expert who can help you decide which is the perfect baseball bat for you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Being a baseball coach can be very rewarding. It is a big responsibility, though. You are basically the ?leader? of your team, and how you act will directly affect how the assistant coaches and the players act. There are some tips you can follow to make yourself a better baseball coach.

These tips are:

1. Give everyone on your baseball team a responsibility. Make each and every person on the team feel if they don?t do something, it won?t get done! Any accomplishments made by a member of the team are shared by the whole team. (It is important to give recognition to individuals, though.)

2. Help everyone on your baseball team make good, informed decisions. As the baseball coach, you need to guide and teach the players to make the good decisions you want them to make. Don?t bully the baseball team to do what you want them to do, just encourage them to do what is best.

3. Always treat your baseball team like they are winners! If your baseball players feel like winners, they will be more likely to win.

4. Let everyone on your baseball team know you care. Be interested in every individual baseball player. Encourage them and show them your support. Look at your behavior around your baseball team and evaluate it carefully.

5. Help your baseball team understand the meaning of playing with good sportsmanship! Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning. Make sure your baseball players understand the meaning of fair play from the moment you become their baseball coach.

6. Make sure you motivate and reward your baseball team players. Just knowing the basic skills and strategies of baseball won?t necessarily make you a very good baseball coach. Being a baseball coach is truly more than just teaching these things. A really good coach can motivate a baseball team to do its best! Good baseball coaches understand and can empathize with the players? feelings of joy, anger, anxiety, frustration, and pride.

7. Don?t make your baseball practices boring or repetitious. Shake up practices by playing games and teaching new techniques and plays. Since only 9 players can play at a time, make sure to keep the rest of the baseball team feeling useful by having them keep score or charting pitching and offence. Make sure to keep each baseball player feeling they have an important role in winning.

8. Make sure you have a plan for your baseball team. Just like a teacher needs to plan for the school year, a baseball coach needs a plan for the season. Having no plan is a sure road to failure.

9. Give your baseball team enough time to review things they have learned. Whether at the end of a practice or the end of a game, give your players time to review what has been learned and what could be improved upon. Keep the review as positive in tone as possible.

10. Make sure you communicate with your baseball team. If you cannot get across to your baseball team what you want, how will they know what to do?

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The early part of the Twentieth Century saw the rise of an age that has come to be known as the Dead Ball Era of baseball. The Dead Ball Era reportably spanned the Progressive Reform Age leading up to the Roaring Twenties, which ran from 1900 to 1919. During this time, professional and semi-professional ball clubs relied heavily on defense and pitching, and scoring was at a premium.

Pitchers dominated the pace of the games, and several legendary pitchers established their lasting legacy during this period. Some of the most notable were Cy Young, Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander. In part, these fellows and several others were responsible for a lack of offensive production during this period, but there were other reasons as well.

“Dead Ball” also describes the baseball’s actual condition, especially in the latter stages of the games after it had been manipulated, defaced and altered, which was standard practice at that time. Baseballs were considered expensive, and at three dollars each, generally only one ball was used per game. The hardness and aerodynamics of the ball were poor by modern standards and thus the sphere was detrimental to a hitter’s success.

In general terms, even though the ball was “dead” by most accounts, it actually did not provide a huge advantage to either offense or defense. The ball could not be hit for great distance, but the poor condition of the ball decreased the speed while increasing the movement of the pitch, thus making it somewhat easier for the hitters to make contact. Hit balls did not generate the tremendous speed off the bat as in today’s game. This benefited the defenders in the field. Balls were only replaced if they were hit into the stands and lost. There were not many long-ball hitters and “short game” strategy was common, although some sources say that strategy as a whole was lacking in the Dead Ball Era, which may have further added to a lack of offensive production.

The “foul-strike” rule was installed in 1901 in the National League and 1903 in the American, whereas hitters were charged with their first two strikes on foul balls. The new rule benefited pitchers and cause offensive output to decline further. It also remained legal to throw “spit balls”, and although illegal, defacing the ball in some way was a very common practice. Consequently, as you might expect with these conditions, hitting a soft, wet, and usually defaced ball resulted in may singles and fewer doubles, triples and homers.

Dividing pitching responsibility among a larger bullpen also became trendy, as did the sacrifice bunt. Both of these strategies had a detrimental effect as well on a hitter’s overall performance. Strangely, there were some legendary record setting hitters from this era, most notably, Ty Cobb. Hailing from Georgia, his nickname was the “Georgia Peach,” Cobb was best known for his pinpoint hitting accuracy and his never-say-die stubborn character. He set the record for career batting average at .366 and for runs scored with 2,245; both marks still stand to this day. He also finished his career first in hits; this record stood until the mid-1980s when Pete Rose broke the record. In 1936, Ty Cobb became the very first inductee of baseball’s Hall of Fame, earning 222 out of 226 votes.

During the “Dead Ball Era”, managers relied on defensive strategy much more than offensive strategy. It was said, “you could shake a tree and find a bat, but finding a glove was a whole different matter.” Offensive skills were not highly sought after by managers. The focus was on defense. Some critics argue that “dead” baseballs probably were not the cause of low scoring, given there was no change in the ball’s construction between the high scoring 1890s and the low scoring 1900s. The 1894 season saw the highest offensive totals in runs scored ever recorded in the National League. The construction of the ball was changed in 1911 in an attempt to make the ball livelier and to increase scoring. The balls were corked for the first time. And yet, the Dead ball Era continued for another eight years-until 1919.

In 1908, an incident occurred in the National League that has come to be widely known as the “Merkle Incident.” It occurred during a regular season meeting between the Giants and the Cubs, In a tie game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, runners on first and third, a single hit by Al Bridwell apparently won the game for the Giants as the runner scored from third. However, Fred Merkle was on first and ran to the clubhouse instead of advancing to second base, partly because the fans were mobbing the field at the Polo Grounds and partly because it was not entirely customary in that era to run out game winning hits. The Cubs’ second baseman, Johnny Evers later claimed to have alertly retrieved the ball and tagged second base. By a strict interpretation of the rules, Merkle was forced out at second, and the game winning run nullified. Because of the pandemonium on the field, none of the umpires saw Evers make the play. Since an official protest was registered, the League ordered the game replayed at the end of the season only if it was necessary. It turned out that it was necessary when the Cubs and Giants ended the regular season tied for first place. The Cubs won the replayed game and then went on to win the League pennant and then the World Series. The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since.

Even though it wasn’t brought to the media’s and public’s attention until 1920, no article on the Dead Ball Era would be complete without mentioning The White Sox of 1919, or as they have become widely known: the “Black Sox”. Many of the White Sox players felt they were underpaid. This was in light of a new trend where owners in both leagues offered the best players much higher salaries than they had been previously paid. At the same time, White Sox Owner Charlie Comiskey felt cutting costs was the best response to a poor showing by his team in 1918. As a result, a conspiracy ensued by eight of the starting White Sox players to throw the World Series.

Many observers of the series suspected this was the case and a long running controversy eventually led to a Grand Jury investigation. Eddie Cicotte was the first to come forward and admit his part in the conspiracy, followed by “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. All eight of the “Black Sox” were suspended from baseball. Even though there was no law against conspiring to throw baseball games, and all 8 players were eventually acquitted, they were all ruled permanently ineligible.

About the Author

This article was written by FR Penn sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com. If you’re looking for baseball tickets to see your favorite team live in action, look no further than Stubhub.com where fans buy and sell the hottest sports tickets. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link back to http://www.stubhub.com.

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I love what prominent baseball people have to say about the great ballplayers. They seem to eloquently capture what we are thinking. “It was his solemn duty to catch a ball that wasn’t in the stands.” - Monte Irvin (Newark Eagles OF, May 6, 1981), on Willie Mays

“Maybe they should see if his body is corked.” - Howard ‘Hojo’ Johnson (NY Mets), on Bo Jackson, from Sports Illustrated, October 19, 1986

“When he took BP everybody would kind of stop what they were doing and watch.” - Jim Kaat, former pitcher, on Mickey Mantle

“I played with him for nine years and marveled at how hard he hit and how fast he ran. How can anyone ever forget the catch he made on Gil Hodges’ line drive to save Don Larsen’s perfect game?” - Tony Kubek, former shortstop, on Mickey Mantle

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” - Jackie Robinson

“Having Willie Stargell on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger.” Chuck Tanner

“Ted Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw, but (Joe) DiMaggio was the greatest all around player.” Bob Feller

“No one hit home runs the way Babe (Ruth) did. They were something special. They were like homing pigeons. The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands.” Lefty Gomez

“When Neil Armstong first set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew immediately what it was. That was a home run ball hit off me in 1933 by Jimmie Foxx.” Lefty Gomez

“Every time Johnny Bench throws, everybody in baseball drools.” - Harry Dalton

“He (Babe Ruth) hits a ball harder and further than any man I ever saw.” - Bill Dickey “He (Lou Gehrig) just went out and did his job every day.” Bill Dickey

“He gets better every year, that’s what’s remarkable about him. Some guys are good and stay good. Some guys are good and get better. He reminds me of Kareem. Hubie Brown said that Kareem worked at the beginning of every season to improve some facet of his game. It’s that way with the best, whatever the profession. That’s the way this kid is.” Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes - Talking about Derek Jeter

“I think he was one of the greatest third basemen of all time. He had one of the sweetest swings I ever saw.” - Teammate Johnny Logan - Referring to Eddie Mathews

“How good was Stan Musial? He was good enough to take your breath away.” - (1989)Vin Scully “When he (Maury Wills) runs, it’s all downhill.” Vin Scully

Seeing what these writers, ballplayers and managers has to say about these players lights up the page for me. I can visualize these players on the field hitting home runs, running with arms outstretched to catch a ball or throwing out a would be base runner trying to steal a base.

This is my baseball memorabilia.

Feel Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.

About the Author

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. You will love his honesty and his passion.. You will be touched by the heartwarming stories. The unusual statistics will amaze you and the quotes will make you laugh…Sometimes

Go here right now to join his ezine http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com

Baseball glove repair and relacing is what Doctor Glove is all about, and for over 25 years people have been relying on him to give new life to their old baseball or softball glove. Doctor Glove, who is known as “The Best Friend Any Baseball Glove Ever Had,” recently talked about the art and craft of baseball and softball glove repair.

“When it comes to glove repairs, I like to think I can fix anything and everything. I haven’t been proved wrong yet, but I guess there’s always a first time,” Doctor Glove laughed. “Over the years I’ve been asked to fix just about every imaginable type of problem in a glove - but I’m careful to say that I haven’t seen everything yet because every time I do, someone brings me a glove that’s been ‘critically injured’ in some new way.”

Doctor Glove has an almost cult-like following among his loyal client base in Southern California, but thanks to his website (http://www.DoctorGlove.com) he also gets gloves shipped to him from all around the world.

Relacing, sometimes called re-stringing, is the most common need, says the Doctor, because the rawhide laces used in gloves only last for a few seasons before weakening, stretching and breaking. He said, Most of the rips and tears I see in gloves happened because the owner had worn-out, stretched laces and didnt replace them when he should have.

When asked about glove repairs, Doctor Glove said, “I fix a lot of routine problems like rips and tears, or maybe some stitching that’s come undone, or maybe someone wants to replace the original padding or put in additional padding. Some clients come to me complaining about their glove being limp or floppy, and most of the time thats because the plastic inserts that are in the thumb and pinkie padding have broken. I make a new plastic insert and bingo, that problem is solved Ive put the snap back in their old glove.

“Many of my clients have been using their glove for 10, 20, 30 years or more and would not dream of buying a new one. Maybe it was a special gift, or maybe it was handed down from father to son, or maybe they wore that glove in a championship game, or it has some other special memory associated with it. People become attached to their glove the same way some people become attached to their old cars - it would kill them to get rid of it,” the Doctor said.

The Story Behind The Slogan

Doctor Gloves slogan is The Best Friend Any Baseball Glove Ever Had, and he told the story behind the slogan. The Doctor said, I’ve fixed a lot of gloves that were chewed up or mauled by dogs, and Ive been telling people for years that dogs may be mans best friend, but theyre also his glove’s worst enemy. Well, after I fixed a glove for a guy whose dog had eaten the wrist strap and webbing of his favorite glove, the guy said, If a dog is a gloves worst enemy, then youre a gloves best friend, in fact, you’re the absolute best friend any baseball glove ever had!

Customizing Gloves: Strengthening and Additional Finger Lacing

Doctor Glove talked about another specialty of his work, customizing gloves. “I do a lot of ‘custom strengthening’ work thats when the owner feels his glove is too weak or flimsy and thinks the lacing will break too easily, even if the glove has new laces. A lot of glove manufacturers use 3/16 inch laces in places where they really should have used 1/4 inch laces, which are much, much stronger.

“A lot of times, my ‘custom strengthening’ jobs are brand new gloves that have barely been broken in - the owner likes the feel and look of the new glove, but not the strength, toughness or durability. What I do to strengthen a glove is add laces as needed to the webbing or pocket area, by either doubling or tripling the existing lacing, or adding a new lace course (and making holes as necessary). When I ‘custom strengthen’ a glove, I imagine how strong I would want the glove to be if I had to catch Randy Johnson fastballs!”

“Another type of customization I am frequently asked to do is adding a lace run through the four fingers of an infielder’s or outfielder’s glove (catcher’s glove and first baseman’s gloves don’t have fingers). In most gloves, there is only one run of lacing connecting the fingers (criss-crossing at the very top of the glove). Some high-end gloves have a second lace run connecting the four fingers about midway up the fingers between the palm and the top finger lace. This second finger lace run adds a little strength, but more than that it helps a glove hold its form and shape.”

“Gloves that I have “custom strengthened” or added a new lace run though the fingers serve a functional purpose plus they look great! The owner has increased confidence in his ability to catch anything and everything that comes his way, and he also can proudly show off his customized, individualized glove.”

Womens and Girls Softball Gloves

The latest rage in Southern California girls softball leagues is a Doctor Glove creation, using designer eyelets instead of the traditional round brass or black eyelets. I can add pastel colors, or bright vibrant team colors, or even eyelets in fun shapes like hearts and daisies. Ive even done patriotic gloves with red, white and blue star eyelets. When gloves are manufactured they use just a few eyelets (also called grommets), but I can put them anywhere on the glove.

Theres no reason why a woman or girl has to leave her femininity in the locker room when shes playing softball, and I help her make a fashion statement with her glove.

Doctor Glove Invents Glove Potion Leather Products

“I’m always been creative when it comes to fixing a major problem, and I believe in the old saying, ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ Remember how ‘The Professor’ on the old TV show Gilligan’s Island could make just about anything out of absolutely nothing? Well, that’s they way I am with gloves - finding ways to make even the most difficult of repairs and inventing tools to get the job done.

Anyway, I developed Glove Potion and Glove Potion #9 cleaners, restorers, conditioners and protectors for glove leather because I wasn’t happy with any of the other available products. Maybe someday I’ll get rich with the royalties from my Glove Potion and Glove Potion #9 (when we start selling it at places like Wal-Mart and big sporting goods stores).”

Doctor Glove Guarantees His Work

“All of my work comes with an unconditional one year guarantee - if one of my repairs doesn’t hold up for at least a year, or even if a lace breaks, I’ll repair the glove for free.

For more information, visit Doctor Glove’s Internet website www.DoctorGlove.com or call him at (818) 521-5626.

“When it comes to glove repairs, I like to think I can fix anything and everything. I haven’t been proved wrong yet, but I guess there’s always a first time,” Doctor Glove laughed. “Over the years I’ve been asked to fix just about every imaginable type of problem in a glove - but I’m careful to say that I haven’t seen everything yet because every time I do, someone brings me a glove that’s been ‘critically injured’ in some new way.”

Doctor Glove has an almost cult-like following among his loyal client base in Southern California, but thanks to his website (http://www.DoctorGlove.com) he also gets gloves shipped to him from all around the world.

Relacing, sometimes called re-stringing, is the most common need, says the Doctor, because the rawhide laces used in gloves only last for a few seasons before weakening, stretching and breaking. He said, Most of the rips and tears I see in gloves happened because the owner had worn-out, stretched laces and didnt replace them when he should have.

When asked about glove repairs, Doctor Glove said, “I fix a lot of routine problems like rips and tears, or maybe some stitching that’s come undone, or maybe someone wants to replace the original padding or put in additional padding. Some clients come to me complaining about their glove being limp or floppy, and most of the time thats because the plastic inserts that are in the thumb and pinkie padding have broken. I make a new plastic insert and bingo, that problem is solved Ive put the snap back in their old glove.

“Many of my clients have been using their glove for 10, 20, 30 years or more and would not dream of buying a new one. Maybe it was a special gift, or maybe it was handed down from father to son, or maybe they wore that glove in a championship game, or it has some other special memory associated with it. People become attached to their glove the same way some people become attached to their old cars - it would kill them to get rid of it,” the Doctor said.

The Story Behind The Slogan

Doctor Gloves slogan is The Best Friend Any Baseball Glove Ever Had, and he told the story behind the slogan. The Doctor said, I’ve fixed a lot of gloves that were chewed up or mauled by dogs, and Ive been telling people for years that dogs may be mans best friend, but theyre also his glove’s worst enemy. Well, after I fixed a glove for a guy whose dog had eaten the wrist strap and webbing of his favorite glove, the guy said, If a dog is a gloves worst enemy, then youre a gloves best friend, in fact, you’re the absolute best friend any baseball glove ever had!

Customizing Gloves: Strengthening and Additional Finger Lacing

Doctor Glove talked about another specialty of his work, customizing gloves. “I do a lot of ‘custom strengthening’ work thats when the owner feels his glove is too weak or flimsy and thinks the lacing will break too easily, even if the glove has new laces. A lot of glove manufacturers use 3/16 inch laces in places where they really should have used 1/4 inch laces, which are much, much stronger.

“A lot of times, my ‘custom strengthening’ jobs are brand new gloves that have barely been broken in - the owner likes the feel and look of the new glove, but not the strength, toughness or durability. What I do to strengthen a glove is add laces as needed to the webbing or pocket area, by either doubling or tripling the existing lacing, or adding a new lace course (and making holes as necessary). When I ‘custom strengthen’ a glove, I imagine how strong I would want the glove to be if I had to catch Randy Johnson fastballs!”

“Another type of customization I am frequently asked to do is adding a lace run through the four fingers of an infielder’s or outfielder’s glove (catcher’s glove and first baseman’s gloves don’t have fingers). In most gloves, there is only one run of lacing connecting the fingers (criss-crossing at the very top of the glove). Some high-end gloves have a second lace run connecting the four fingers about midway up the fingers between the palm and the top finger lace. This second finger lace run adds a little strength, but more than that it helps a glove hold its form and shape.”

“Gloves that I have “custom strengthened” or added a new lace run though the fingers serve a functional purpose plus they look great! The owner has increased confidence in his ability to catch anything and everything that comes his way, and he also can proudly show off his customized, individualized glove.”

Womens and Girls Softball Gloves

The latest rage in Southern California girls softball leagues is a Doctor Glove creation, using designer eyelets instead of the traditional round brass or black eyelets. I can add pastel colors, or bright vibrant team colors, or even eyelets in fun shapes like hearts and daisies. Ive even done patriotic gloves with red, white and blue star eyelets. When gloves are manufactured they use just a few eyelets (also called grommets), but I can put them anywhere on the glove.

Theres no reason why a woman or girl has to leave her femininity in the locker room when shes playing softball, and I help her make a fashion statement with her glove.

Doctor Glove Invents Glove Potion Leather Products

“I’m always been creative when it comes to fixing a major problem, and I believe in the old saying, ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ Remember how ‘The Professor’ on the old TV show Gilligan’s Island could make just about anything out of absolutely nothing? Well, that’s they way I am with gloves - finding ways to make even the most difficult of repairs and inventing tools to get the job done.

Anyway, I developed Glove Potion and Glove Potion #9 cleaners, restorers, conditioners and protectors for glove leather because I wasn’t happy with any of the other available products. Maybe someday I’ll get rich with the royalties from my Glove Potion and Glove Potion #9 (when we start selling it at places like Wal-Mart and big sporting goods stores).”

Doctor Glove Guarantees His Work

“All of my work comes with an unconditional one year guarantee - if one of my repairs doesn’t hold up for at least a year, or even if a lace breaks, I’ll repair the glove for free.

For more information, visit Doctor Glove’s Internet website www.DoctorGlove.com or call him at (818) 521-5626.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR