Angels' Adell Donates Historic 3-Homer Robbery Glove

Jo Adell made history on April 4 when he robbed three home runs in a single game, and now he's making sure that moment lives forever.

The Angels outfielder donated his black Wilson glove to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown before Thursday's game against the Yankees. Originally, he planned to wear the same glove all season, but Adell had a change of heart.

"I want my kids or their kids to have an opportunity to go and see it," Adell said. "Have something up there, even after I'm long gone, they have something to see."

The glove became famous when Adell triumphantly raised it in the air after his third spectacular catch in the ninth inning. He ended up in the stands down the right field corner at Angel Stadium after leaping to snag the ball from the crowd's grasp.

Adell robbed Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth, and made his final grab in the ninth with similar athletic catches at the wall. The performance left fans and media stunned by what they'd witnessed.

"I've heard from multiple people that it was the best baseball experience they've ever been a part of," Adell said. The past week brought countless interviews, appearances on MLB Network and ESPN, and even a promotional video at MLB's main office.

Why This Inspires

No outfielder in baseball history has ever robbed three home runs in one game. That's what makes this glove more than just leather and laces.

The Baseball Hall of Fame houses tens of thousands of artifacts, but defensive performances rarely get this kind of recognition. Jon Shestakofsky, the Hall's vice president, called the glove "the ultimate storytelling device" for preserving a moment nobody had ever seen before.

Adell's decision to donate the glove now came partly from practical concerns about it being stolen, but mostly from wanting to share the moment. Instead of keeping it locked away, he chose to let millions of future visitors experience the magic of that April night.

The glove will likely be displayed in the museum's "Today's Game" section or the Angels' dedicated locker. Either way, it will stand as proof that sometimes the best offense is an incredible defense.

Future generations will walk past that black Wilson glove and learn about the night one player turned Angel Stadium into his personal highlight reel, giving fans a game they'll never forget.