Lemon Peel Baseball Help

[bigfish]

Hello:

Wondering if anyone could help me date this ball. In very nice shape and has some weight to it. Is there anyway to nail down the approximate date of these? Any help would be appreciated.

[barrysloate]

Hi Toby- that's a very nice ball. Dating these lemon peels isn't an exact science, but I would guess 1860's. A little later or earlier is possible too.

[khkco4bls]

1860s to 70. nice ball, any interest in selling let me know.

[jbsports33]

Toby,

someone just pulled a similar ball out of an old house in Hingham, Barry lived in that same house for some years but never came across the ball - we dated this one to be about 1850s because of the records from the old house. The house was moved and was the oldest house in Hingham. yours is similar in style and defiantly a lemon peel - the one I am showing is a early example (quad ball for the four sides)



Jimmy

[Sixtofan]

Those are great! I would love to learn more about old balls, is there a good reference source for a beginner?

[william_9]

Regarding Toby's ball. It's definitely homemade, anywhere from mid to late 19th century would be a good guess. If it were stitched more precisely, you could narrow it down to 1850 to about the mid 1860's. Nice ball.

Jimmy, good to hear that there are still decent finds to be had in my area. If only I could find them!

[jbsports33]

William,

yes items this old still can be found, I did buy a few gloves, one may need some work. I started looking at your site, hope you had a good show this week.

Jimmy