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Circa 1850\'s-60\'s baseball with excellent stitching.
This ball is a very early variation of the figure 8 style andis constructed of 2 similarlarlysized oval leather panels. The 2 panels are oval, not hourglass shaped like modern figure 8 baseballs.It has very small and tight stitching that is intact. Weighs 3 ounces and has a circumference of 7 1/4 inches (2.3 inches in diameter).
This ball has 3 holes next to one another on one of the oval panels that expose the red yarn or thread underneath. There is also a round rust stain on the same oval panel. Otherwise this baseball in good condition with no torn stitching and displays nicely.
I have included photos of all 6 panels.
Ellis Drake is considered to have invented the figure 8 baseball in the 1840\'s however he never patented it and in the 1850\'s William A. Cutler patented the figure 8 design and sold the patent to Harrison Harwood who then opened the first baseball manufacturing plant in Natick, Massachusetts in 1858.
Until 1858 all baseballs (including this one) were homemade and/or made by teams.
According to baseball historian Rob Loeffler, the earliest baseballs measured in size from 5 to 10 inches in circumference with a typical earlybaseball(1840\'s-50\'s) weighing 3 ounces.
Varying leagues had different baseball size requirements. In the 1850\'s one league would have completely different size requirements from leagues elsewhere.
In 1858 \"The Dedham Rules of the Massachusetts Game\" required that baseballs weigh between 2 to 2.75 ounces with a circumference between 6.5 and 8.5 inches whereas a New York league in the same time period used baseballs from 5.5 to 6 ounces with a circumference of 8.5 to 11 inches.
This baseball weighs 3 ounces and has a circumference of 7.25 inches.For comparison a modern baseball weighs 5 ounces and is 9 inches in circumference.
The second photo shows the baseball next to a modern baseball for size comparison.
An amazing 150+ year old baseball.
Please inspect photosand contact seller with any questions. Shipping is $6.95. Please check our other sales forother antique baseballs and sports items listed.
