Movies have the Oscars. Television has the Emmys. Baseball has the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.

Since its creation in 1957, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award has been the benchmark by which all defense is measured. But did you know that a St. Louis executive played a large role in establishing the award to be something significant?

Chesterfield resident Mike Thompson is the chief marketing officer for Town & Country-based Rawlings Sporting Goods and he helped to make the award one that gets people in baseball talking.

“I always felt like we should elevate this award because it’s iconic,” Thompson said in a recent interview with West Newsmagazine. “I thought, let’s create the best baseball ceremony in the sport. Going back to 2011, we decide to plant the flag in New York City. Baseball is there. The media is there. The MLB Network is there. ESPN is in Bristol, Connecticut. We fly the 18 winners in and bring in a cast of presenters and make it a five-star evening. We have world class entertainment. It’s been described to me as the best night in baseball.”

 

The 2022 Gold Glove Awards

This year’s awards honored 14 first-time winners. The ceremony was held in New York on Friday, Nov. 11.

Named to the exclusive legion of defensive greats were: 

National League catcher J.T. Realmuto, Phillies; first baseman Christian Walker, D-backs; second baseman Brendan Rodgers, Rockies; shortstop: Dansby Swanson, Braves; third baseman Nolan Arenado, Cardinals; left fielder Ian Happ, Cubs; center fielder Trent Grisham, Padres; right fielder Mookie Betts, Dodgers; pitcher Max Fried, Braves; and utility player Brendan Donovan, Cardinals.

American League: catcher Jose Trevino, Yankees; first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays; second baseman Andrés Giménez, Guardians; shortstop Jeremy Peña, Astros; third baseman Ramón Urías, Orioles; left fielder Steven Kwan, Guardians; center fielder Myles Straw, Guardians; right fielder Kyle Tucker, Astros; pitcher Shane Bieber, Guardians; and utility player DJ LeMahieu, Yankees.

“It was a great year for pro baseball, and there was no shortage of jaw-dropping, incredible defensive plays from both the game’s established veterans and young phenoms,” Thompson said.

This year also marked the first-time utility players have been included in the list of Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners. 

“That’s an idea that’s been incubating in my brain for a while,” Thompson said. “A great utility guy is a key position on the roster. As you construct a lineup, a utility guy is very meaningful and plays a huge role.”

For Cardinals fans, there could be no other choice than Brendan Donovan. The 25-year-old St. Louis rookie played six different positions for the Redbirds last season, every position in the field but catcher and center field. He wound up with a .982 fielding percentage in 854 1/3 total innings.

The majority of Donovan’s time came playing at second base. In 38 games at second base, he played 264 1/3 innings. He boasted a 1.000 fielding percentage.

In claiming the first-ever Utility Gold Glove, Donovan edged out teammate Tommy Edman, who also played several positions for St. Louis in 2022.

“Maybe there is a little bit of controversy this year with the Cardinals with Donovan and Edman,” Thompson said. “When you look at the Cardinals, you have to ask who is the utility player? Tommy Edman is a starter. But Donovan, in his first four games, he played four different positions. Oh my gosh, it’s a dream come true for a first time kid. Donovan had an impressive rookie season.”

Third baseman Nolan Arenado continued his stranglehold on the award, claiming his 10th consecutive Gold Glove. He’s a perfect 10-for-10 in claiming the honor and it’s deserved, Thompson said.

“Nolan ties the all-time third baseman total of 10 with Mike Schmidt,” Thompson said. “He’s 10 for 10 and that’s unheard of. Brooks Robinson is the all-time leader but that was in a different era. Not all the analytics and stats were available like they are now. What Nolan has done is really special. It’s not as though there’s not stiff competition there at third. Nolan is kind of in rare air if you will. He’s a breed apart. He is such a good young man.”

Thompson said the players all cherish this award.

“It’s so damn meaningful to the players. There are guys who’ve cried before when we notified them,” Thompson said. “They’re all so happy. It’s an award that takes a lot of work. You have to work on defense. Putting that little gold patch on your glove is something every player wants. It’s a symbol of pride and distinction.”

 

Mike Thompson’s journey

Thompson has been with Rawlings for 38 years. He’s held numerous jobs in his tenure with the company. He said the work is something he enjoys; it’s also fun for him.

“There’s a reason I’ve been there so long – it is rewarding,” Thompson said. “Baseball changes every day. The season changes and evolves. Amateur baseball changes. You’re not doing the same thing over and over.

“I work with people who are energetic and people who want to win. All those are the kinds of things that keep you going. At the end of the day, there are responsibilities and goals. You have to meet your financial goals. But you’re doing something that’s extremely fun.”

Thompson said Rawlings’ marketing team is filled with a “lot of young, talented people,” who are good at what they do. He said that helps keep him young and on his proverbial toes.

“I love being around the younger people. They are all smart people who want to roll their sleeves up and go hard,” Thompson said.

Where he is now with Rawlings is where he thought he would wind up. That’s just part of his makeup.

“I’ve always been one of those guys who is never satisfied,” Thompson said. “I thought, ‘OK, what is the path I need to take? What do I need to do to get that?’ I actually thought of that when I was starting out. It sounds a little self-serving to say that but it’s not. I had high ambitions and lofty goals. I’m one of those really competitive people who goes after things.”

Thompson got started long ago in his native Colorado. He got a job working at a sporting goods store while in high school. After he graduated from Colorado State University-Pueblo, he went to work for a company that represented Johnson & Johnson on the athletic side.

He called on trainers with professional teams and Division I schools in a five state region working out of Denver. He later moved to San Diego with that company. Then, he became involved with apparel company Russell Athletic.

It was in California that he began working with Rawlings. He spent 10 years working in southern California. In 1994, he accepted a job in St. Louis and has been here ever since.

It’s been a great ride.

“Just being around some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, well, it’s very cool,” Thompson. “There have been so many of them I’ve gotten to meet. Joe DiMaggio, I had breakfast with him one time. I’ve met Willie Mays many times. Then, there are guys like Johnny Bench and Ozzie Smith. I’m good friends with Ozzie.”

He’s been to many big sporting events, including the World Series. He goes  every year.

One benefit of his job is his ability to add to his collection of sports memorabilia.

“I’ve got a pretty wild man cave if you will,” Thompson said. “It’s pretty extensive from me being around it for so long. I’ve got a lot of stuff. It seems goofy to some people. If you like the sport, it’s kind of nostalgic. It brings back memories of what happened.”

Thompson does not live in the past. His job is always looking ahead.

“We’re always working on new products,” Thompson said. “We’ve got some breakthrough technology with ball gloves. Franciso Lindor wears a glove called Rev1X. It’s a new type of ball glove.

“We’re always tinkering with our bat line, especially our amateur bats. We’re really focusing on the travel ball kid. We’ve got a lot of lifestyle apparel down in the pipeline. Products are the heartbeat of the company. A shortstop needs a different glove from a pitcher or an outfielder from a second baseman. We have to recognize what they want and get it to them.”

All that excites Thompson.

“I still have a deep passion for this,” Thompson said. “I’ve got a couple of years left, maybe more. I’m not the kind of guy who is going to retire and play golf every day. Whatever I do end up doing will be in the sport of baseball. Rawlings has been a great company and a good fit for me. I owe my career to Rawlings. I love working for the brand. It’s been wonderful.”