Trophy baseballs are generally game used balls. Most originate from the 1860's, although occasionally an earlier or later one is found. When two teams played an important match, the winner was awarded the game ball. They would then hire an artist to paint it a solid color (often gold), and when it dried, would add in dark letters the date, the teams, the score, and perhaps an artistic flourish. The team would then proudly display it in its trophy case. Quite a few of these have turned up over the years, but there is no way to determine for certain if they are original or modern copies unless the paint is tested in a lab. Caution is advised when making a purchase.
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