Walter Croft – Professional Allstar Carver

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Man in workshop holding carved wooden sneaker, surrounded by sports memorabilia and woodworking tools.

In America we have the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Hockey League (NHL). If there could be a National Carving League (NCL), this woodworker would set the top statistics to be one of the most valuable players (MVP) in carving. Walter Croft’s abilities are like that of the Jim Thorpe of football, Hank Aaron of baseball, Michael Jordan of basketball, and the Wayne Gretzky of hockey.  

Walter holds a replicated Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics size 15 basketball shoe.

Creating perfect wooden replicas of professional sports teams and equipment is now his retirement hobby.

Wooden sports-themed carvings including a basketball hoop, football, baseball bat, and helmet on a workbench.

Walter Croft’s talent comes from, what he calls a “God given gift“, and from his mother, who was a phenomenal clay sculpturist. All of his woodworking capabilities are self-taught. He started out in construction, building houses, custom kitchens and cabinets, followed by working in retail, and finally sharing his woodworking knowledge at Woodcraft in Providence, Rhode Island during the past eight years.

Wooden baseball display stand holding a carved baseball next to a worn leather glove and navy blue baseball cap with red B
Blue baseball helmet with red and white B logo resting on a shelf in a workshop setting
Baseball cap with a wooden visor, showcasing woodcarving craftsmanship.
White Boston Red Sox baseball jersey with red piping and World Series Champions patch hanging on plastic hanger in wooden

The baseball caps, basketballs, footballs, helmets, and shirts are made of basswood, the baseballs are made from holly. The basketball, footballs, baseballs and bats are regulation weight, just like the real mccoys.

Basketball shoes with green and black accents placed on a wooden shelf next to a basketball hoop and ball.
Basketball featuring Boston Celtics logo and Spalding brand name on textured surface
Basketball shoes with green and black accents placed on a wooden shelf next to a basketball hoop net
Wooden display stand with carved and painted NFL logo holding a Wilson football
Leather Wilson Steelers football with white laces on textured fabric background
Wilson Patriots football mounted on a wooden stand with painted NFL logo in workshop setting

Even the wooden shoes are weighted the same as real shoes and come with wooden shoe laces.

Walter has a special made tool to transform the wood on the shoes to look like leather grain material. Wooden cleats are attached with wooden screws to complete the professional look.

Two baseballs with red stitching, one featuring a PawSox logo and cartoon mascot on a textured fabric surface
Pair of black and white cleated baseball shoes on a workshop table surface
Wood-carved baseball glove with detailed lacing and engraved Wilson logo and text
Black and white carved wooden sneaker with detailed laces and logo on a workbench surface
Wooden baseball glove carved with detailed stitching and lacing patterns
Black leather cleats with metal spikes on the soles for traction on sports surfaces

The football facemask is created by steam bending green wood with form fixtures to shape them. All threads, seams, and details to be colored are woodburned first, stopping any bleeding of color beyond the desired area:

Man in workshop holding up a sports jersey, surrounded by woodworking tools and supplies on shelves.
Close-up of a stitched NFL Patriots football jersey collar and logo on polyester fabric
Close-up of a sewn Reebok NFL equipment label on blue mesh fabric with player name Bruschi and number 54.
Close-up of a sewn Reebok NFL equipment label on blue mesh fabric with player name Bruschi and number 54.

Walter borrowed the original Tedy Bruschi (#54) helmet of the New England Patriots, and duplicated it in wood. Walter also made a woodcarved football and gave it to Bruschi. Bruschi played for the Patriots starting every game in his rookie season as a pass rush specialist in 1996, then an outside linebacker in 1999, and finally a defensive captain in 2002 until his retirement in 2009.

The fabric detail of the carved shirt is on the inside and the outside, and all of the artwork is hand drawn and painted by Walter.

3-D Hollow carved game jersey’s of the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots (above),

Listen in on our conversation with Walter…

Here a few other items Walter has carved,

Two detailed wood-carved fish mounted on a bleached driftwood display against a blue background.
Realistic carved and painted wooden fish mounted on driftwood display base against blue background
Hand-carved and painted wooden fish sculpture mounted on driftwood base against blue background
Two detailed wooden duck head carvings mounted on round wooden bases against a blue fabric background.
Wooden model of a fishing boat deck with barrels, fishing rods, oars, and a carved sailor figure smoking a pipe
Miniature wooden lobster traps and barrels arranged on a wooden dock model with carved figurines.
Wooden display case with sports memorabilia including a baseball bat, basketball hoop, and miniature shoes and jersey.

You don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate Walter’s talent. If you are in the Rhode Island area, stop in and meet Walter at the Woodcraft store. This is something you must see in person to appreciate, you won’t believe your eyes!

Thanks Walter, it doesn’t get any better than this!

Auf wiedersehen…Frank

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