Earliest piece of baseball memorabilia - Pictures - Pre-1880 only, 18th Century Wins

[BigJJ]

Earliest piece of baseball memorabilia - Pictures - Pre-1880 only, 18th Century Wins

[baseballart]

This will not be the earliest, but here's an 1867 book Baseball as viewed by a Muffin

[GaryPassamonte]

This is my earliest.

[SetBuilder]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

This is my earliest.

I wonder what O'Fake sounded like.

[jpop43]

Some of our 19th century bats.

1. Circa 1860's/1870 silver plated trophy bat. This 35" bat is made of dense, heavy rosewood and features two very nice, engraved silver adornments.

2-4. Circa 1860's- 1875 era baseball bats. The handles of these bats are bound in leather and using a number of images from the 1860's and 1870's, we can quite definitively date them to this period. The bat on the bottom is specifically shown in a sporting goods catalog that dates to 1875..."leather wrapped willow bat".

[jpop43]

Our circa 1850's- 1860's era lemon peel balls...

Check out the entire collection of 19th Century Memorabilia at our website...www.dugouttreasures.com. We recently published a book that contains our entire collection...it can be previewed and purchased thru the website.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by baseballart

This will not be the earliest, but here's an 1867 book Baseball as viewed by a Muffin

Max, please tell us more - I'm dying to learn how a 'Muffin' views baseball

[BigJJ]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Max, please tell us more - I'm dying to learn how a 'Muffin' views baseball

+1

[khkco4bls]

On the cover is a 5 sided lemon peel. I'll post my 6 sided lemon peel baseball later. Anyone ever seen another. Here are photos of the 11 1/2" ball.

[benjulmag]

These are images of what is believed to be a bat used to play rounders (one of the precursors to baseball) in England in 1832. Note how it was intended to be held with only one hand, which is consistent with Peverelly's description of a rounder's bat being in the form of a policeman's truncheon.

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Max, please tell us more - I'm dying to learn how a 'Muffin' views baseball

A Muffin might look for morning glory, but in 19th century terms, was a name for a fan.

I did recently see an ad for this book in a MA newspaper. As you can see however, the add refers to a "Muffer", which presumably only Mr. Sloate is able to define.

[GaryPassamonte]

Corey- the elaborate painting on the bat is beautiful.

[IronHorse2130]

Originally Posted by baseballart

A Muffin might look for morning glory, but in 19th century terms, was a name for a fan.

I did recently see an ad for this book in a MA newspaper. As you can see however, the add refers to a "Muffer", which presumably only Mr. Sloate is able to define.

I believe a muffin in 18th century base ball lingo refers to a rookie or an inexperienced player, not a fan.

[barrysloate]

The stereotype of the ballplayer in 1867 was that he was rough and tumble and would likely be battered from head to toe due to the roughness of the game. The cartoon illustrations in the book reflect this in a humourous and exaggerated way.

And I should add that the "muffin" was most susceptible to injury, as he was as likely to be hit with a batted ball as he was to catch it.

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by IronHorse2130

I believe a muffin in 18th century base ball lingo refers to a rookie or an inexperienced player, not a fan.

I seem to have got my muffins and cranks confused. I should spend more time reading the books, rather than just looking at the covers. It is interesting the ad notes "muffer" instead of muffin, and I don't recall that reference before.

Max