Vintage Rawlings FJ42 Gene Tenace First Base Mitt, "Deep Well" Pocket, Flex-O-Matic Palm, 1970s
The Rawlings FJ42 is a vintage first baseman's mitt in tan leather with mustard yellow binding, brown lacing and a burgundy woven Rawlings script patch on the back above a 100% Nylon Sewn stamp. In the pocket are stamped "DEEP WELL" POCKET, a Gene Tenace facsimile signature, the Rawlings script logo and FJ42; the palm reads Flex-O-Matic Palm and "The Finest In The Field!". Listings date the Gene Tenace version to the 1970s and size it at 11 inches. Because the same FJ42 also came with Wes Parker and Bill White signatures, the stamped name identifies the version.
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A Gene Tenace model Rawlings mitt
Rawlings sold the FJ42 first base mitt with facsimile player signatures stamped in the pocket; listings show Wes Parker, Bill White and Gene Tenace versions. This one carries Gene Tenace, the Oakland Athletics catcher and first baseman who was the 1972 World Series MVP. Listings for the Tenace version date it to the 1970s and give an 11 inch size.
Tan leather first base mitt with a Gene Tenace stamp
The Rawlings FJ42 Gene Tenace first base mitt is a vintage leather first baseman's mitt with the rounded, scoop-shaped body of a first base glove, a separate laced thumb section and a closed back. Its leather is tan, a medium saddle brown in the pocket that fades to a lighter gray-tan on the back. Yellow binding, a mustard yellow vinyl or leather, wraps the edges. Brown leather lacing through metal eyelets holds the mitt together along the heel and fingertips.
Back: a woven fabric patch in red, a deep burgundy, stitched on near the wrist, with Rawlings in gold-tan embroidered script with a long underline swash and a registered mark, between gold and black stripes. Above it, 100% Nylon Sewn is stamped in black handwriting-style script with four dots underneath. Palm side, in the pocket: "DEEP WELL" POCKET stamped in an arch of small block capitals with a registered mark below it; a facsimile signature reading Gene Tenace in flowing script; the Rawlings script logo with its underline swash; and FJ42 in plain block capitals. Lower on the palm, Flex-O-Matic Palm is stamped in a slightly condensed serif face, and near the heel "The Finest In The Field!" runs in italic serif letters with a registered mark.
Gene Tenace was a catcher and first baseman for the Oakland Athletics from 1969 to 1976 and the 1972 World Series MVP, and the same FJ42 model was also sold with other player signatures, including Wes Parker and Bill White. The model number and signature together identify this version. A further stamp near the bottom edge of the palm is only partly visible in the photos and cannot be read.
On this copy: not measured; listings for the same Gene Tenace FJ42 give it as an 11 inch mitt. The leather is dry, darkened and scuffed, with heavy wear on the back. Several laces are broken or pulled out of their slots, and the binding is cracked and flaking at the wrist. Stamps remain clear but slightly faded.
- Type: First baseman's mitt
- Maker and model: Rawlings FJ42
- Player stamp: Facsimile signature Gene Tenace in script
- Leather: Tan, a medium saddle brown fading to gray-tan on the back
- Binding: Yellow, a mustard yellow, with brown leather lacing and metal eyelets
- Patch: Red, a deep burgundy woven patch with gold-tan Rawlings script, on the back
- Palm stamps: "DEEP WELL" POCKET, Gene Tenace, Rawlings, FJ42, Flex-O-Matic Palm, "The Finest In The Field!"
- Back stamp: 100% Nylon Sewn
- Listed size: 11 in., per listings for the same model
- This copy: Not measured; dry scuffed leather, broken and loose laces, cracked binding at the wrist
Back: 100% Nylon Sewn Rawlings ® Pocket: "DEEP WELL" POCKET ® Gene Tenace Rawlings ® FJ42 Palm: Flex-O-Matic Palm "The Finest In The Field!" ®
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Comparable listings, ranked by delivered price
Live listings on ebay.com, checked October 2026. Asking prices, not sold prices.
| Listing | Price | Shipping | Delivered | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vtg 1970s Gene Tenace Rawlings Model FJ42 1st Basemans Mitt 11in eBay | $19.99 | $7.99 | $27.98 | Listed | View ↗ |
| 1970s Gene Tenace Rawlings Model FJ42 1st Basemans Mitt eBay | $24.99 | $8.00 | $32.99 | Listed | View ↗ |
| Vtg 1970s Gene Tenace Rawlings Model FJ42 Baseball Glove 1st Basemans Mitt eBay | $60.00 | Free | $60.00 | Listed | View ↗ |
About the Rawlings FJ42 Gene Tenace Mitt
What model is my Rawlings first base mitt?
The model number is stamped in the pocket under the Rawlings logo. This one reads FJ42, with a Gene Tenace facsimile signature above it.
Who is Gene Tenace on the Rawlings glove?
Gene Tenace was a major league catcher and first baseman, mainly with the Oakland Athletics from 1969 to 1976, and the 1972 World Series MVP. The stamped signature is a facsimile, not an autograph.
How old is a Rawlings FJ42 Gene Tenace mitt?
Listings date it to the 1970s, which fits Tenace's peak years with Oakland.
Is a Rawlings FJ42 mitt worth anything?
FJ42 mitts with Wes Parker and Bill White stamps have been listed on eBay at about $23 to $34 before shipping. Condition of the leather and laces matters most.
- Owner's photos
- eBay listing
- Wikipedia: Gene Tenace