THE SHADOW Story
The baseball glove industry had grown predictable and tedious. For years, players were left with little choice but the same repetitive designs— hues of brown and tan, coupled with redundant patterns and styles. While many saw this as a tribute to baseball's pristine tradition, the minds behind Shadow Ball Glove saw it as an uninspiring routine.
Shadow Ball Glove's founders perceived an unfulfilled niche: the market craved an elite, audacious glove that both upheld quality and dared to break the mold. They envisioned a glove that wasn't just exceptional in its craftsmanship but also carried an aura so formidable that it would unnerve its competitors. And thus, the concept of Shadow Ball Glove came to life.
Many raised eyebrows and remarked, "Baseball honors tradition. Players aren’t looking for flashy gloves." But Shadow Ball Glove wasn't chasing mere flash; they sought to invoke a sense of power and supremacy. Their debut glove, the "Shadow 1," redefined norms. Crafted with a black leather exterior, its unique closed web design was unparalleled. The wrist adorned with red metal spikes and a mantra of “intimidate and dominate” stitched into the palm, served as a battle cry for players. This was not the glove of yesteryears, and this was definitely not your dad’s glove.
The overwhelming success of Shadow 1, which sold out within 2 weeks, not only took the industry by storm but also pleasantly stunned the visionaries at Shadow Ball Glove. The movement at this point could not be stopped. The market and players alike had spoken.
“We wanted to make a glove that first and foremost was of professional quality, but at the same time, stood out and didn’t look like anything that came before it. We are always looking to push the envelope with our designs, and we want to give our player base something that gives them a slight competitive edge when it comes to motivation. In a world of played out color ways and food-themed gloves, we want to do the opposite by making and designing gloves that have as much bark as they do bite.” - Shadow Ball Glove founder, Carson Snave