19th Century Trophy Balls

[Yanks23]

Since the 19th Century Bats thread was such a success (hat tip to Gary Passamonte for starting it), I thought I would start this thread showing 19th Century Trophy Balls. Here’s my latest pick-up that I am very excited about – 1860 Atlantic’s ball.

[GaryPassamonte]

Great ball, Tim. Congratulations.

Here are two trophy balls I have. The first is a Union/Pioneer ball from 1865 in less than stellar condition. The second is an 1878 Tecumseh trophy ball from an International Association game in great condition. My interest in the Tecumseh ball is that Ross Barnes was the player/manager of the team.

[tlwise12]

The only trophy ball I still own.

1866 Unions of Morrisania vs St. George

Terrible condition

[bgar3]

Great stuff. Wish I had one.

[jpop43]

My only one…Fulton BBC (NY) from Sept of 1867.

www.dugouttreasures.com

[bgar3]

Hoping to try try to keep this thread going, I am including the closest thing I have to a trophy ball. This is a Warren photo of the 1867 Harvard team with Silver Ball they won after beating Lowell. There is also a trophy bat that was won by one of the players.

[Yanks23]

Awesome stuff, guys...keep 'em coming! Gary, that Tecumseh ball has a great look! Love the Ross Barnes connection.

Here is another one of mine. Many of you have likely seen these "Lehigh" balls floating around. It is said that they came from Lehigh University, though I am not convinced that there is a connection to the school...other than having been in their trophy display case (or wherever they were found). If anyone has any information that helps show the connection to a Lehigh University team or otherwise, please post it on this thread so we can all learn more.

This one is from 1870...

[mrreality68]

Please keep those pictures and stories coming. I am thinking of getting into Memorabilla but have so much to learn. And I am but so much more to go

[aelefson]

Hi-

I also have one of the white/green trophy balls (1871). They are definitely not Lehigh U balls, but I believe they were purchased from the university. I know the person who bought them and will try to get more details when I next see him (hopefully at Brimfield in September). I believe another friend of mine has knowledge of these as well, and I will try to find out more from him when I can. I believe they were found in 1995. I have seen pictures of about 5 or 6 others plus the one you have and mine.

Alan

[Yanks23]

Here is one that just sneaks into 19th Century: A Princeton/Yale ball from the June 17, 1899 game between the two schools. Princeton won 11-4.

The front of the ball with the score looks great, whereas the side with the date and location is not as clear.

You will notice that "New York" is the location for this game. Yale and Princeton played one another 3 times each year. One game at each school, and the third at a neutral site in New York. I'm still not sure exactly which field in NY that they played at.

Included in the third picture is an order form for Yale undergraduate students to purchase tickets for the June 3, 1899 home game against Princeton. Yale won that game 8-0. On June 10, 1899, Princeton won their home game 6-2. And as you can see on the trophy ball, Princeton won 11-4 in the NY game, and what was their season finale.

Princeton went 18-9 in 1899, including two wins against Harvard. Interestingly enough, 3 of Princeton's losses came at the hands of Georgetown that year. Yale went 19-12 in 1899.

[mmilla07]

Attachment 472183Not a game ball but an actual trophy in ball form.

[jpop43]

Don’t wanna hijack the thread here but was wondering if we might include 19th C. trophies in general for the sake of continuing the discussion. These baseballs are simply wonderful, but how about we look to add trophy bats, printed presentation materials, and trophies (cups, medals, etc) themselves.

Jon
www.dugouttreasures.com

[sphere and ash]

Unions of Morrisania, giving the ball an association with member and master ball maker John Van Horn.

[Yanks23]

Awesome ball, Paul! Keep those balls coming, all!

Jonathan, I dig the idea, but let’s keep this 19th Century Ball thread a…ball thread. You should definitely start up a separate thread for the types of other 19th Century stuff you want to see. Then there will be a 19th Century ball thread, bat thread, etc. always archived for easy access and additions without getting too convoluted.

[GaryPassamonte]

1875 silver trophy ball from Franklin Co NY. Unfortunately, a fuzzy image due to my technological shortcomings.

[pedodds]

1859 Mutuals vs Atlantics

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/5696/LioB2L.jpg

Uninscribed silver prize ball

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/3518/M2dqD4.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/9480/7daqd2.jpg

I assume this is a Lehigh ball?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/8053/0HABMv.jpg

1866 Columbia class ball and 1867 Joiner's banker's league ball. Note the unique stitch pattern of each ball. The '66 ball has an "H" pattern at the base and the '67 ball has a "Y" stitch pattern at the base. May be unique to those specific years...

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/4742/ZvwiY6.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/5898/lsTLLi.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/6624/ksTKkv.jpg

Three early 1900's UPenn balls decorated in the colors of their adversaries, Princeton, Lehigh and Columbia....

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/8136/o68iEM.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/4106/aASB6E.jpg

Not sure if this Golden Jubilee ball qualifies?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/484/0KYVEn.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/2995/pjepNX.jpg

[bgar3]

Really good stuff, excited to try to find one now.
John, clicking on your photo line brings up really great large, clear images.
I don’t know how to do that.

[pedodds]

Thanks Bruce!
There are some fabulous balls in this post. I'm not sure why my images didn't come up? Maybe the file size was too large? Anyway...Give me a call as I know where a killer trophy ball is and it's right up your alley!!

Originally Posted by bgar3

Really good stuff, excited to try to find one now.
John, clicking on your photo line brings up really great large, clear images.
I don’t know how to do that.

[sphere and ash]

This was the first trophy baseball I ever bought, at an estate sale advertised in The New York Times circa 1994. It’s an 1858 game from Pastime of Bedford. I paid $1,000, which brought my net worth to negative $101,000, as I had just graduated from business school. Some things you just know you’ll never see again.

[GaryPassamonte]

Great ball, Paul. One of the earliest that exists.

[sphere and ash]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Great ball, Paul. One of the earliest that exists.

Thanks, Gary. I’m aware of three at the Hall and one earlier ball in a private collection that sold in the early 90s and disappeared.

[pedodds]

The belle of the ball! I wouldn't expect anything less!! Dripping with history! Everything the man touches turns to gold! The real life Goldfinger! PR

Originally Posted by sphere and ash

This was the first trophy baseball I ever bought, at an estate sale advertised in The New York Times circa 1994. It’s an 1858 game from Pastime of Bedford. I paid $1,000, which brought my net worth to negative $101,000, as I had just graduated from business school. Some things you just know you’ll never see again.

[sphere and ash]

This is an Atlantic trophy ball, likely bisected for display in the rotunda at Ebbets Field. The interior shows just how lively baseballs of the early 1860s were, particularly those made by Harvey Ross of the Atlantic Club.

[aelefson]

Incredible items! I really like seeing the pre 1860 ones, but all are great to view. Pedodds, yes yours is a "Lehigh" ball. I will try to post more information when I talk to the finder of them next month.

Does anyone know the oldest figure eight style trophy ball? Are all of the pre 1867 ones lemon peel? Pedodds, the two you show with the different stitching patterns are awesome.

Alan

[GaryPassamonte]

Alan- My 1865 Unions ball is an "H" style ball. I also had an 1864 trophy ball that was of this style. The 1878 Tecumseh ball is a figure 8 style ball. I'm sure there are a couple NA, 1871-1875, balls that are figure 8 style.

[aelefson]

Thank you Gary! My 1871 is figure eight and I think the other "Lehigh" type balls are the same style.

[sphere and ash]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Thank you Gary! My 1871 is figure eight and I think the other "Lehigh" type balls are the same style.

I just confirmed with the person who discovered the Lehigh trophy case that this ball was found in it. Presumably, it dates to 1870-1871 and represents what the Lehigh trophy baseballs look like unpainted.

[jpop43]

My example from 1867 is of the H-Stitch variety...

[aelefson]

Paul, Wow! That is really cool and has to be one of the earliest documented figure eight style balls! Jonathan, great H stitch.

[sphere and ash]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Paul, Wow! That is really cool and has to be one of the earliest documented figure eight style balls! Jonathan, great H stitch.

Thank you. The Hall has the Reach display of baseballs which I believe is from the 1876 exposition. If only they would remove the Heubach figurines or, even better, remove the balls from the case. There was also a very early Reach figure eight ball in a MEARS auction a few years ago. I was the underbidder and it’s whereabouts are unknown, at least to me. If you know where it lives, please let me know.