Hi-
I have acquired a great number of oldish baseballs over the last few years but I have great difficulty determining their approximate year of manufacture. Can anyone help with any of the baseballs scanned below? All have multi-colored stitches. Here is a little bit of information regarding each one:
1. I believe it says Major League on the sweet spot. There is a maker's mark above it in a small circle but I cannot make it out. Below the sweet spot it says Warranted 5oz 9in. NO 951 (1st 3 scans)
2. There is very faint printing that I cannot make out on the sweet spot. Above it I can read Spaulding and possibly the word Love above that. Below the sweetspot is a Spaulding logo that I cannot make out very well. (2nd 3 scans)
3. The next two you cannot see any logos nor marks of any kind. (post 2 scan 1st scan)
4. The final two contains one that appears to be burned (missing its cover as well, yet the multi-colored stitches are still visible) and one that exposed the wrappings underneath. (post 2, 2nd and 3rd scans)
Beyond the year, is it possible to determine the manufacturer of any of these? Also, is it possible to narrow down a date based on the style of stitching in any of the baseballs canned above? For example, if a ball has more space between the stiches is it older than one with more compact stiching? Is there any other information someone can provide to help determine the age of baseballs in general? I know 19th century ones tend to be smaller (or sometimes larger) but are there any other indicators? Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. Please feel free to post your own questions regarding vintage baseballs in this thread as well.
Thanks in advance,
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com