Show Your Early Baseballs

[perezfan]

Me neither...

I may have wiped off some dust or debris when I first acquired them. But have never "treated" them, and never used any cleaners or solutions.

I just don't recommend it for items this old, as I really don't know how the early leather would react. And it's not like something you can re-do (once it's done).

The battle scars are part of their histories. So I just prefer to leave them as-is.

[sicollector1954]

I only have this one.

[pedodds]

Most of these are pretty self explanatory. The two that I wanted to make note of are;
1. Second row far left. That is a Gutty Baseball. It has a Gutta Percha, (rubber outer layer), with twine and some type of core that shows up on x-ray. I would not have understood the ball had I not seen an example in "Banana Bats and Ding-Dong Balls". Reach was trying to create a seamless baseball.
2. The second is the baseball in the third row closest to the viewer, second from the far right. It has over 130 stitches. It has to be late 1860's early 1870's.




1858 New York rules baseball. One piece lemon peel trophy baseball Atlantics 39 Mutuals 20.



Possibly a seamless baseball. Possibly a "Dead Red" baseball. Lynch ball and Tenner ball.



1870's baseball with it's original canvas wrapper. 1890's J. Carr's baseball with box.




D&M double seam with deerskin leather. Possibly a "Dead Red" baseball. Spalding High Flyer. '03 Pullium baseball.






Early 1900's UPenn and Columbia trophy baseballs.



1890 Kiffe Sporting Goods baseball trophy.

[1880nonsports]

am I gonna say your balls are great :-) I also love the totality of the initial display and I'm thinking about how badly I need a glove like either example displayed there. Super post. Many thanks for sharing!

[Bill Rayburn]

John, fabulous ball collection and extremely well displayed. If space allowed it would be great to hear the hunt and acquisition stories on each one.

[pedodds]

Bill,
After 30 years of collecting it just happens. A little here and there, it all adds up!
Some of the balls represent friendships. Baseballs that other collectors had and retired from the hobby that I was able to buy. Some came from 5am flea markets and antique shows. Others came in trades. Some came from the usual dealers, auctions and shows. All great memories! It’s been fun to be a small part of the hobby over the years. I see myself starting to share more because my end is coming soon. My biggest regret is that I have chosen to be somewhat silent and sit on the sidelines. I will have to pass this stuff on to the next generation soon. It’s bittersweet. I’m starting to think about my exit strategy. It’s hard to part with something that has been part of your identity for so long!