Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1884 — Inside a Base Ball. [ARTICLE]

Inside a Base Ball.

The first-class regulation ball for this year is not different from that in use last year. It costs $1.50, and sells at wholesale at the rate of sls a dozen. It weighs about five ounces, and, when thrown on a board floor, sounds like a young paving-stone. It is just as solid and as heavy as a turnip of the same size, and, though it is perfectly round and smooth, and the stitches are almost even with the leather, it stings the uncalloused hand of its catcher as if it were red hot, or coveted with prickers. Base balls are dear because they aro made by hand, and they are made by hand because they must be wound tightly, carefully, and evenly. The basis of each one is a little lump of Para rubber, round, and weighing an ounce. Wound around this in every direction is worsted yarn. In some balls, after a thick layer of yarn is wound on it, the ball is dipped in rubber, then more yarn-is wound on; then, it is dipped again, and finally yet more is wound on, and then the cover is fitted over it. One ball affected by many professionals has a thin skin of concrete midway between the cover and the rubber. Girls make all the balls. The process is something like that of making certain mixed drinks, wherein the bartender puts in lemon to make it sour, and sugar to make it sweet. Players want what is called a dead ball, that is, one that won't bounce much. A stone will bounce more than a base ball ought to. So the rubber is put in to make it bounce just a little, and the yarn is wound tight, and concrete is added, to stop it bouncing at all. Thus the happy medium is reached. Sometimes molded vulcanized rubber is used. The best balls are covered with horseskin, because it is strong and tough. Many of these are sewed with catgut, but in damp weather the catgut loosens, and, therefore, at such times those balls are used which are stitched with flax. Professionals have agreed upon the best form of bill, and have ruled that it shall accord with these specifications: The ball must weigh not less than « five nor more than five and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois. It must measure not less than nine nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. It must b* composed of woolen yarn, and shall not contain more than one ounce of vulcanized rubber in mold form, and shall be covered with leather. Base balls can be purchased for 5, 10, 20, 25, and 50 cents. Many of these are machine made. They are stuffed with odds and ends of leather, wound up with cord, pressed into shape, and covered with common leather. The second time one is hit with a bat, it assumes the shape of an egg. A little later it still resembles an egg—one that has been hit with a club. —New York Sun.