my 2 cents
......back then was another time. For one, foul balls were not allowed to be kept by fans. They were to be thrown back into play. Some fans who tried to keep were arrested. This occurred up until about 1920-21. The ball was the property of the home team. The same balls would be used inning after inning, spit balls were legal, the ball would be tobacco stained, beaten up and darkened, the pitchers using every advantage.
This changed in 1920 with the beaning and death of Ray Chapman. After that new balls would be put into play when the ones became too dirty. And also shortly thereafter fans were allowed to keep foul and home run balls.
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