This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/1/2022
The offered baseball is a bit perplexing as it seems to offer conflicting stamping according to well-respected historians of the timeline of the Official American League ball. According to almost every account, the line "PAT'D AUG-31-09" first appeared on baseballs manufactured in 1911, which this ball clearly displays; however the general consensus is that 1911 also marked the appearance of "The Cork Center" in cursive script on the lower panel, not the straight-lettered "WARRANTED" with "5 OZ. 9 IN." directly below it, which this ball displays and is attributed to 1910 models. Also, under magnification there is some stamping visible on the right panel which appears to be the manufacturer's patent info, which is consistent with 1910 and was moved to the left panel beginning in 1911. Our best guess is that this is a transition ball manufactured in late 1910 or early 1911, and in any case it is an extremely scarce Ban Johnson Official American League baseball.