Mizuno has wowed us yet again with their limited edition release for the month of July. Mizuno pulled out all the stops to honor Hall of Fame inductee, third baseman Scott Rolen. Rolen was a Mizuno guy for the vast majority of his 17 year MLB career. That Mizuno leather helped him add 8 Gold Glove awards to his mantle throughout his time in The Show.
Mizuno knew they had to do something special when creating the Pro Limited MZP-527 to commemorate Rolen’s HOF career. This 11.75″, natural cork colored beauty they reincarnated for this “Legend Drop” is the epitome of a classic ball glove.
The biggest appeal to the MZP-527 is undoubtedly the retro look. Since 2005, Mizuno gloves have featured their iconic run bird logo. For the first time in nearly two decades, the “Big M” graces a ball glove again. Appearing on both the wrist and the I-web, the Big M logo is iconic and will surely bring many of us back to a simpler time.
While the look is iconic, the MZP-527 is far from just a beauty queen. Made in Mizuno’s legendary Haga factory, the craftsmanship is unparalleled. That elite-level attention to detail is paired with Deguchi steerhide leather, some of the best steerhide available in the world.
The MZP-527 represents the “restomod” of ball gloves. In the car world, a restomod is a classic car that has been restored but with modern technology. Think a ’69 Mustang with a brand new engine and modern infotainment system. The MZP-527 brings that same concept to the diamond. This timeless look from the early 2000s is paired with all of the best modern materials, technology, and techniques Mizuno has continued to master over the years.
The attention to detail extends well beyond build quality. Each glove features this limited palm stamp – the day Scott Rolen will be enshrined in Cooperstown. The throwback nods continue past the Big M logo and extend to the “Made in Japan” pinky stamp as well as the “Limited Edition” stamp on the thumb. Both are period-correct to the time when this glove would have been worn by Rolen himself. Even the model number represent Rolen’s career. The 527 breaks down to the third base position, 5, combined with the number most closely associated with Rolen, 27.
The Pro Limited MZP-527 will release on Mizuno USA on Sunday July 23rd to coincide with Rolen’s inauguration ceremony. The MZP-527 won’t come cheap with a price tag of $600 but does represent of one the best retro glove releases we’ve seen and something truly special from Mizuno. Even with the high price tag, the US will only be getting 27 units (17 in Canada) so they won’t last long.
This classic beauty contrasts nicely with the absolutely wild KM Flow pitchers piece Mizuno dropped last month. Stay tuned as the limited releases from Mizuno are going to keep coming.
