How to date an old baseball

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

How can you date and old baseball that looks like the one in this auction;

http://tinyurl.com/583rz9

I don't see how you can determine if it was from 1890 or 1920..

martyOgelvie
New York Yankee cards

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Posted By: davidcycleback

It's fair to ask a seller how he came up with the advertised date.

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Posted By: Alan Elefson

Marty-
I am not an expert on these and I am sure others will post with more information, but it certainly matches the appearence of other labelled 19th century baseballs I have seen in reputable auction houses. I believe there is an excellent book about dating vintage baseballs but I cannot recall either the author or the title right now.
One other piece of information is related to the circumference of the baseball. If it is smaller than a standard baseball (and its patina and feel are correct), it usually dates to before the turn of the century. You can also search old posts on this board by the key word baseballs. You will have to wade through some autograph posts but there have been a few threads about 19th century baseballs.
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

Thanks David, Allen.

I questioned seller but haven't gotten a response.. I will try and wade through some posts..

martyOgelvie
New York Yankee cards

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Posted By: Jim VB

Scanning the list of topics, here's where my mind went first...


How to date an old baseball...


1. Make casual conversation.
2. Buy it a few drinks.
3. Ask it out for dinner.
4. Invite it back to your place.


(Sorry for the diversion.)

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

LOL

thanks for the diversion.

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Posted By: Mark

Jim...

Your dating technique might work, but after so many years, I have a feeling this particular ball is tired of being "HIT" upon.

Sorry... couldn't resist!

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

...make sure you tell her she doesn't look a day over 39, even if she's a lemon peel. When I have made enough money, I hope to snag me a trophy ball.

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Posted By: Mark

Not bad, Jodi...

But this girl is no Lemon Peel. She would rather be told her figure is an "eight".

I won't touch your "Trophy Ball" comment... that was pure genius!

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Posted By: barrysloate

You guys are on a roll...I can't top this.

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

no pun intended..............ball,roll..........

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Posted By: MVSNYC

Jim- i thought the same thing...guess that shows where our minds are at...

i was going to say, "i can't help you date a baseball, but i can help you date a model."

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Posted By: barrysloate

We have so many double entendres going here that I could say "good morning" and somebody would find something salacious about it.

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Posted By: william

Store model or player model???????