Thankful Story Behind “The Parker” Glove in Western New York

His face told the whole story.

 

Clay Moden's son Gus has been dreaming about warm weather and playing catch outside since winter began.

 

Now that the temperatures have finally warmed up here in Western New York, they were able to get back into the driveway and throw the ball around.

 

Gus had the chance to try out a different glove than the one he had been using.

 

When he made his first catch with it, his eyes lit up.

 

And just like that, spring felt a little closer.

 

Little League season is almost here in Western New York.

 

We are only a couple of months away from Little League season beginning here in Western New York.

 

Gus just turned six, and he is beyond excited to be back outside and on the ballfield.

 

It has been a long winter, and I think many of us are battling cabin fever.

 

For kids like Gus, warmer weather means more than sunshine.

 

It means the end of the school day and afternoons spent with friends playing the game they love.

 

Baseball is something special, especially in Western New York.

 

We are fortunate to have incredible youth baseball leagues and great community ballfields where kids can learn the game, build confidence, and make lifelong memories.

 

Why the right youth baseball glove matters.

 

As much as Gus loves baseball, he struggled with one thing, his brand-new glove.

 

It was stiff.

 

It was hard to squeeze closed.

 

Making a clean catch was frustrating for him.

 

So Moden decided to stop by a secondhand sporting goods store to see if he could find a used youth baseball glove that might be easier for him to handle.

 

That decision made all the difference.

 

Gus can now close his glove around the ball.

 

He can feel the catch.

 

And he is officially hooked.

 

The glove named Parker.

 

For whatever reason, a family with a son named Parker decided to bring their glove to a secondhand sporting goods store.

 

After sorting through several gloves, Moden stumbled across one that stood out, an Adidas youth baseball glove with the name “Parker” written on it.

 

When Parker’s parents dropped that glove off, they had no idea where it might end up.

 

Now it’s in Gus’s hands.

 

Since that first warm day a couple of weeks ago, he hasn’t put it down.

 

"Every time I see him, he has that glove on, practicing in the house, asking to go outside, or begging me to play catch."

 

If we hadn’t found Parker’s glove, it could have been a frustrating start to Gus’s Little League season.

 

Instead, it’s been the opposite.

 

A reminder about donating youth sports equipment.

 

"This experience changed my perspective."

 

Like many families, the Modens have sporting goods equipment sitting in closets, under beds, or in the garage collecting dust.

 

Cleats get outgrown.

 

Gloves get replaced.

 

Bats get upgraded.

 

But somewhere in Western New York, there is a kid who could use those exact items.

 

And it could make a massive difference, not just in how they play, but in how they feel about the game.

 

Seeing the look on Gus’s face when he realized he could catch the ball consistently reminded Moden that youth sports are about confidence as much as they are about competition.

 

A simple donated baseball glove can spark a love for the game.

 

Spring can’t come soon enough.

 

"We are praying for spring to arrive soon.

 

While our family does love winter in Western New York, we are ready for dry fields, sunshine, and evenings spent playing catch.

 

Maybe someday we’ll cross paths with Parker and his family.

 

That glove matters more than they’ll ever realize."