Vintage National League Baseballs

[sphere and ash]

I believe this ball was produced by Spalding in 1951. Again, I have never seen evidence Spalding actually stamped baseballs with his signature during his tenure (1885-1902).

[brandoningram]

Wow, thats still a pretty special ball none the less. How did you come by both of your baseballs? ( Lynch & Young )

[Shoeless Moe]

but those balls look too good to be true (that's what she said).....are these the famous PastimeBaseballs knock-offs?

http://www.pastimebaseballs.com/

[brandoningram]

I dont think a true collector would want anything that wasn't original and real. To be honest with you, maybe its just ignorance, but I never even knew that this site/company exsisted. How can you tell whether a vintage ball is legit nowadays?

[brandoningram]

I just went to the website that Shoeless Moe posted, and im a little depressed now. How can you tell whether a ball you are buying or have purchased is legit?

[sphere and ash]

Skepticism is good. I don't think I could have been any clearer, though, that the Young stamp is not period. I believe it was created for the 75th anniversary of the National League. The Lynch baseball is the real thing; if you see it in person, you will have no doubt about it.

This discussion does raise a larger issue: how can you tell any baseball is vintage? It is becoming more and more difficult with several companies producing baseballs for "vintage base ball" leagues. I have used x-rays to date baseballs, since they allow you to get a good idea of what the core looks like. The stitches and the pattern of the stitching holes can also tell you quite a bit about the date of manufacture.