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First Baseballs
In the early, mid-1800s days of baseball, there was a great variety in the size, shape, weight, and manufacturing of baseballs. Early baseballs were made from a rubber core from old, melted shoes, wrapped in yarn and leather. Fish eyes were also used as cores in some places. Pitchers usually made their own balls, which were used throughout the game, softening and coming unraveled as the game went on. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Lemon Peel Balls
One of the more popular earlier ball designs was the "lemon peel ball," named after its distinct four lines of stitching design. Lemon peel balls were darker, smaller, and weighed less than other baseballs, prompting them to travel further and bounce higher, causing very high-scoring games.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
National League adopts Official Baseball
In 1876, the National League (NL) was created, and standard rules and regulations were put in place. A.G. Spalding, a well-known baseball pitcher who made his own balls, convinced the NL to adopt his ball as the official baseball for the NL. It remained that way for 100 years. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Cork Core Replaces Spalding's Rubber Core
In 1910, the cork-core ball was introduced. They outlasted rubber core baseballs; and for the first few years they were used, balls were hit farther and faster than rubber core balls. It eventually went back to normal. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Changes Are Made
In 1920, a couple of important changes were made to baseballs. They began to be made using machine winders and a higher grade of yarn from Australia. Although there was no evidence that these balls impacted the game, offensive statistics rose throughout the 1920s, and both players and fans believed that the new balls helped batters hit the ball farther. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Cushion Cork
In 1925, Milton Reach patented his "cushion cork" center. It was a cork core surrounded by black rubber, then another layer of red rubber.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
AL and NL Agree on a Ball
In 1934, The National League and American League came to a compromise and standardized the baseball. They agreed on a cushion cork center; two wrappings of yarn; a special rubber cement coating; two more wrappings of yarn; and, finally, a horsehide cover.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Balata Baseballs
During World War II, the US banned the use of rubber for non war-related goods, including for baseballs. So in 1943, instead of using rubber, baseballs were made with rubberlike shells of balata; a substance, obtained from a particular type of tropical tree, that was also used in golf balls. Hitting decline significantly in 1943.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Synthetic Baseball
The introduction of synthetic rubber in 1944 resulted in baseballs returning to normal. Offense would return to normal after the change back to the regular ball and return of players from active duty.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)] -
Rawlings
In 1976, MLB stopped using Spalding for manufacturing their baseballs and started using Rawlings.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_(ball)]
