Quote:
Originally Posted by william_9
I think it's a combination of rarity in general and the connection to an actual game. Coming from one of only two opening days in Federal League history in the city of Baltimore doesn't hurt either.
I would think that the chances of finding a FL ball that was not used in a FL game would be slim. Most that have come up have been used. I don't know what the market was in 1914 or 1915 for FL balls at sporting goods stores, or if any were sold that way. I presume they were, but it would be nearly impossible to say how many were sold.
For what it's worth, I think the near mint version that sold in 2006 would sell for much more today. Primarily because of its status as one of very, very few clean examples known to exist.
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Federal League baseballs were definitely sold commercially:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2731,1102499
So I'm not sure you are correct to assume that most of the remaining balls are game used. It could be true, but is not necessarily so. I agree, though, that the near mint version would likely sell for more than $7,200 today.
One thing I find interesting about the ball in the Huggins & Scott auction is that there is not stamp with President Gilmore's signature opposite the Official Federal League stamp. I'm not sure if that indicates that it was a commercially sold ball, rather than one intended for official game use, or if there is some other explanation.