What years on this baseball?

[jcmtiger]

Sorry, can't get a good picture of the baseball, markings are as follows:

HARWOOD, National League, Double Cover
Warranted 9 in. 5 oz, 1 ounce rubber, Horse Hide Cover
Trade Harwood Mark Massachusetts.

There is a number, can't read it.

Red stitching.

I know I had the ball in 1954.

Thanks Joe

[horzverti]

Does your ball look like this one? I have only one of these. I haven't been able to find another exactly like it. I'd like to see a pic or two of yours.

LOL...we are talking about baseballs, right?

Mine came from a collection with other stuff from the 1940s, but I am not sure of the year. Brandon G., your thoughts on year?

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by horzverti

Does your ball look like this one? I have only one of these. I haven't been able to find another exactly like it. I'd like to see a pic or two of yours.

LOL...we are talking about baseballs, right?

Mine came from a collection with other stuff from the 1940s, but I am not sure of the year. Brandon G., your thoughts on year?

Yes, that's the ball. Mine is dirty and has been used though. The ball I have was used when I was 13 years old in 1954. My teammates names are on the ball and dated 1954. I am assumimg it is from the 1940's.
All of our equipment including baseballs were donated by a local neighborhood bar. Can't seem to get a good picture, will try again later.

Joe

[BrandonG]

You're looking at early 1950's on this one.

[Darner]

I have exactly the same ball with signatures of Ernie Banks, Bill Bruton, and Milwaukee radio announcer Earl Gillespie. Bruton, Gillespie both started with the Braves in 1953 the same year Banks broke in with the Cubs so mine is 1953 or a little later.

I'm curious how non-major league balls were able to be marked "National League." Was there some kind of commercial agreement back then? A manufacturer would never be able to get away with that stamping nowadays.