The Evolution of Baseballs
Whether it's thrown, batted or caught, the baseball is at the center of America's national pastime. Since organized baseball began in the mid-1800s, the baseball has undergone several changes--some of them radical--to standardize the game and make it more accessible to players and fans.
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Materials
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Early baseballs were made from a small rubber ball wrapped in string and covered in horsehide. This era in baseball, from 1872 to 1910, was known as the "Dead Ball Era," and for good reason: With these materials, the ball did not fly very far off the bat or bounce very well.
In 1910, the inside of the ball was changed to cork, with dramatic results. Home runs became much more plentiful and the game was more exciting. In 1974, the outside of the baseball was changed to cowhide, which was more economical to produce. This marked the last major change in the materials used to create baseballs.
Size
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In baseball's infancy, there was little standardization regarding the size of the ball. The weight ranged from 3 to 6 ounces, and the ball was anywhere from the circumference of a golf ball to a softball.
However, by 1872 the size of the ball was roughly standardized and these specifications are still in use today. Modern baseballs are 5 ounces and 9.25 inches in circumference. -
Manufacturers
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In the early days of baseball there was no official baseball manufacturer. It was the home team's responsibility to provide the ball, and it was not uncommon to use the same ball for many games.
In 1876, when the first official baseball league was formed, Spalding was chosen to be the league's supplier. One-hundred years later in 1976, Rawlings became the sole supplier for Major League Baseball, and since 1990, they have produced all of their baseballs in Costa Rica.
Effects
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The changes to the baseball materials, size and manufacturing have led to changes throughout professional baseball. As manufacturing became less costly, teams began using many baseballs throughout a single game. If a ball became scuffed, torn or dirty, it was no longer used. In addition, teams began to allow fans to keep foul balls that were hit into the stands.
Alterations
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Throughout baseball history, players have found ways to alter the ball to give themselves a competitive advantage. Spitballs were common in the early days of baseball. The practice was banned following the 1919 season, but many pitchers were "grandfathered" under the new rule and continued to throw the pitch throughout the 1920s.
Adding foreign substances such as petroleum jelly and pine tar were techniques also employed by various players, most famously by Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry. Players felt that these substances caused the ball to move in an erratic way, making it harder to hit.
In the 2000s, the Colorado Rockies baseball team began keeping their supply of baseballs in a humidor for their home games in Denver. The team felt this was a useful way to combat the effects of high altitude on the flight of the baseball.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit baseball image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
