This is a picture of my beloved glove from my last year in college - Rawlings PRO 200HC. The date code says "OEC01" - so I guess this means it was built:
1997-April-Horween Leather


I used this glove at 3rd base. Remembered when I first found it at Sports World, I really liked the 2-tone color scheme - which wasn't very common if I remember correctly. I got it, broke it in very nicely, and used it when I played infield once I joined my MSBL league in 2001. I rarely played infield, mostly LF and RF - so I let one of my teammates use it a lot. I would always clean it up and it was in GREAT shape. In 2005, one of my teammates HAD to have it. I sold it to him, but never got the money.
So I called him the other day, and asked him if he still had the glove and that I would like to have it back - (or buy it back as I told him) and he unhappily told me of it's demise - he loaned it to one of his son's teammates, who left it in the back of his truck. It got rained on and mildewed.
I told him I would still like to have a look at it and see if I can restore it, so we are meeting for lunch soon and he is going to drop it off. I wish I had NEVER given that thing up. This picture is of it just as I saw it last - in great condition and just beautifully broken in.