Offered for sale is a genuine vintage baseball catcher's mitt, branded with the name Eddie Phillips, featuring Excelsior Brand designation, model G1349, and the term “Greased Pocket” embossed into the leather. This glove is an outstanding example of mid-20th-century American sporting goods craftsmanship, with full period-correct typography and construction.
Player Name: Eddie Phillips
Model: G1349
Branding: Excelsior Brand
Type: Catcher’s Mitt
Material: Cowhide leather
Era: Likely manufactured late 1920s to early 1930s
Markings:
“Eddie Phillips” (top line)
“Cowhide”
“Excelsior Brand”
“G1349”
“Greased Pocket”
This layout matches the traditional branding hierarchy for mitts of the period. The glove’s embossing is legible, with rich patina consistent with age. Lacing is original and intact. Interior shows use but no damage or repairs.
Exterior: Strong condition for age; leather remains supple
Markings: Stamped and well-preserved
Lacing: Fully intact; no fraying or breaks
Interior: Wear consistent with handling and age
Display Quality — ideal for collectors or sports history displays
This glove is most likely associated with Edward David Phillips, a professional Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1924 to 1935 for the Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Senators.
Full Name: Edward David Phillips
Born: February 17, 1901 – Worcester, MA
Died: January 26, 1968 – Buffalo, NY
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
MLB Debut: May 4, 1924
Final Game: September 29, 1935
Career Games Played: 343
Career Batting Average: .253
RBI: 102
Home Runs: 5
Alma Mater: Boston College
Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY
Eddie Phillips was known as a durable and competent catcher during a transitional era in baseball history. While not a Hall of Fame player, he was a regular presence on several competitive rosters, and his post-playing career likely included coaching or regional prominence — making him a plausible namesake for this glove.
There is no verified catalog record (as of this writing) directly confirming a commercial endorsement deal, but the dating of the glove to the late 1930s or early 1940s — shortly after Phillips’ career ended — strongly supports the interpretation that this mitt was named in tribute or semi-endorsement of him, a common practice for players of the time.