1870 Trophy Ball

[ooo-ribay]

So, you got this ball? If so, congrats! Amazing find!

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

So, you got this ball? If so, congrats! Amazing find!

yup.

"Thank ya, thank ya very much."

[aelefson]

Hi-

Incredible find! I have one myself (antique shop purchase a few months ago) from the same group that Corey sold (back in 1995!). Mine is 1871. I believe they put the team they played that day on the ball. Mine also says Mutual as the team but I am fairly certain mine does not refer to the well known Mutual team. I believe there was a local PA team named Mutual (or Mutuals). I had checked the more well known Mutuals team box scores and they were not in PA at that time.

I believe the team the balls came from might be the QuikSteps (or QuickSteps) but I based that on the research into the expensive ball that sold at REA and I am not 100% sure where I read the home team name.

I hope you enjoy yours! I am very happy to own mine. I have seen pictures of another 5-7 of these with the similar painting. Please let me know if you find any additional information and I will do the same.

Alan

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Hi-

Incredible find! I have one myself (antique shop purchase a few months ago) from the same group that Corey sold (back in 1995!). Mine is 1871. I believe they put the team they played that day on the ball. Mine also says Mutual as the team but I am fairly certain mine does not refer to the well known Mutual team. I believe there was a local PA team named Mutual (or Mutuals). I had checked the more well known Mutuals team box scores and they were not in PA at that time.

I believe the team the balls came from might be the QuikSteps (or QuickSteps) but I based that on the research into the expensive ball that sold at REA and I am not 100% sure where I read the home team name.

I hope you enjoy yours! I am very happy to own mine. I have seen pictures of another 5-7 of these with the similar painting. Please let me know if you find any additional information and I will do the same.

Alan

Good info! Thank you!!! Yes, and hopefully more will post info.

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Hi-

I believe the team the balls came from might be the QuikSteps (or QuickSteps) but I based that on the research into the expensive ball that sold at REA and I am not 100% sure where I read the home team name.

Alan

I don't know, from reading the REA description on the one, sounds like the Quicksteps were maybe from or playing in Bethlehem, PA:

"The white painted ball features a bluish-green shield design framing the black-painted lettering "DeAfrique/Bethlehem, Pa./54-10/July 24/1871." While we have not been able to find any specific information regarding the DeAfrique club, its very name leaves little doubt as to the ethnic makeup of the club. Incredibly, the game recorded on this ball is documented in the July 24, 1871, issue of the Bethlehem Daily Times newspaper. In the column headed "Baseball" the first entry reads "The Quicksteps will play the DeAfriques of this place, this afternoon."

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...ague-baseball/

Doesn't mention where the Mutuals are from, or who is the team from Allentown, PA. Hmmmmm.

[bgar3]

Very nice ball.
Alan is correct however on the Mutuals. According to Orem, p.116-117, the national title Mutuals were playing the Olympics of Washington on September 3, 1870, winning 29-4.

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by bgar3

Very nice ball.
Alan is correct however on the Mutuals. According to Orem, p.116-117, the national title Mutuals were playing the Olympics of Washington on September 3, 1870, winning 29-4.

No, I wasn't referring to the Mutuals of NY, what I was referring to was the Quicksteps being the Mutuals.

What is Orem? A newspaper?

Can you find a newspaper from Allentown from Sept 3 1870 time frame, that maybe might give more info.?

[aelefson]

That was where I got the name from. My opinion is that the Quicksteps played in multiple towns in PA and they painted the ball with the name of the team they played that day and the town/city where they played. I did find reference to multiple Mutual clubs (beyond the well known one) but very little on the Quicksteps. My ball is from Allentown PA like yours. I wonder if the Quicksteps went by a different name. I will try to put together a list of the teams that appear on the trophy balls with this coloring as that might provide a lead to the definitive team name.

Alan

edited to include picture of mine

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by aelefson

That was where I got the name from. My opinion is that the Quicksteps played in multiple towns in PA and they painted the ball with the name of the team they played that day and the town/city where they played. I did find reference to multiple Mutual clubs (beyond the well known one) but very little on the Quicksteps. My ball is from Allentown PA like yours. I wonder if the Quicksteps went by a different name. I will try to put together a list of the teams that appear on the trophy balls with this coloring as that might provide a lead to the definitive team name.

Alan

edited to include picture of mine

Ahhhhhhhh, now I get what you are saying. That these trophy balls are from the Quicksteps and they wrote their opponents name on the ball. Got it. Interesting. Sorry I'm a little slow. Good info. keep researching please.

Just found this good article by Jay Caldwell on Trophy Balls, old and through the years:
https://negroleagueshistory.com/rich...-trophy-balls/

[bgar3]

Sorry, showing my age by referencing Orem. Orem refers to Preston Orem, a great collector who compiled a History of Base Ball 1845-1881, with some supplements later. His history is taken from various newspaper accounts.
Self published in 1961, it is an excellent reference for that time period.