Reach Baseball Pin Questions

[aelefson]

Hi-
I recently acquired the A.J. Reach CO. Official American League Ball pin scanned below and I was hoping someone might be able to help with a few questions I have regarding this pin, and others like it. The back has a Whitehead & Hoag CO paper insert with three patent dates, the latest being July 21st, 1896.
1. When was this pin made and distributed? I realize it cannot be before 1896 but how long after that?
2. I have seen a few American Association pins when searching for additional information about this pin, but I did not see any AL or NL pins. Is this a result of my fairly inept search skills, or are the AL and NL ones less seen?
3. Assuming Reach issued these pins over many years, did they change the design?
4. Any additional information is also greatly appreciated.
Please also post your own Reach pins!
Thanks in advance,
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

[batsballsbases]

Hi Alan,
I would say the pins were put out from the early 1900s-1910. I have seen many of these pins and with different back papers so dont date them from the whitehead and hoag as alot of the early pins have that same paper coverlet on the back.
There are 4 of the reach pins that I know of 3 are in the 7/8s of and inch and are 1) american league ball 2) american association 3) Southern association. I would say that is the order they should be in from easiest to hardest. I havnt been able to get a southern association one and have looked for awhile. But there is also a 1 1/4 inch size American league ball also. Rare and harder to find. It would also stand to reason that there might be versions of the other 2 pins in that size but I havnt seen them.
As to design I havnt seen any other style other than the ones you have. Al

[aelefson]

Thanks Al! I really appreciate the information. I will let you know if I ever turn up a Southern Association one.
Alan

[batsballsbases]

Thanks Alan!