ABSTRACT
The meanings of objects, ideas, and events are often contested based on the individual background and context of who is using them and interpreting them. This chapter shows how a baseball glove has been a site of contested meanings from its earliest introduction when beliefs about its effeminizing power came into conflict with its practical utility. Depending on who was—or was not—adopting the glove, the "truth" of the baseball glove's role in the game has always been a matter of dispute. A baseball glove is what it is because of what it's used for and because it isn't anything else. Since the glove is so specialized, one of the first constellation of meanings that adhere to the glove are those regarding its proper use in the field. Throughout the history of the game, coaches, players, and glove manufacturers have been exchanging tips, strategies, and wisdom for fielders on how to use the glove.
