About the Ball: The red ink stamped version of the Rawlings 2001 Month of the Americas Official Game Ball. Normally, this ball is stamped in blue. We've seen a half dozen red versions at least. Enough to make one wonder if both versions might have been used. Perhaps, or maybe these were an early version that was eventually changed to blue? Or maybe just a misprint / prototype.

About the Ball: An extremely rare Spalding Reach American League Official Game Ball, AL President Lee MacPhail stamped, with additional top panel stamping. The stamp on the top panel is what makes it significant - it was produced to commemorate the introduction of cowhide in Major League Game Baseball manufacturing. (Official MLB game balls were previously constructed of horsehide leather).

The top panel reads: "Cowhide Baseball First Use 4-4-74 Texas vs. Oakland." That would be MLB Opening Day in Texas - a historic day in the evolution of the official Major League Baseball.

To this day, we are unsure about how these official on-field style baseballs were used. Did they make it into games on opening day in 1974, as might be suggested by the stamping? Until we have a version with solid provenance, we can only speculate. But make no mistake, it's an official game-style AL ball from the period, and it's a very valuable and highly sought after baseball regardless of its use.

The Big League Baseballs Museum of Baseball also features the National League counterpart, a Spalding labeled Feeney version.

About the Ball: This is the second version of 2000 All-Star Game prototype / misprint we've seen (the first version is the next image in this gallery).

This most likely came out in 1999 after Atlanta was announced as the host. I believe this because it features the old Rawlings logo, which was updated for the 2000 season, and ended use in 1999. It also has a different commemorative logo.

It's entirely possible this was meant to be a souvenir ball and for whatever reason, it was printed on an Official MLB baseball. We've seen this exact logo (in multiple colors) on vinyl souvenir baseballs.

And lastly, this ball has all red laces - just like the other prototype / misprint. The Official 2000 All-Star Game ball of course has navy blue and red laces.

About the Ball: A Rawlings stamped Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, New York Official Ball. We're not sure if this was used in the Baseball Hall of Fame Game in a particular year, or some other exhibition. The Museum of Baseballs previously featured a game-used version, but we're not sure what game it was used in. This current ball came new, mint in sealed plastic bag.

This ball bears the new Rawlings Logo stamp, which came about in the 2000 season. It doesn't resemble other Hall of Fame Game balls, which have the Hall of Fame Logo and official league stamping - with Commissioner Bud Selig facsimile signature.

Additionally, this has the "China" stamp on the reverse, indicating it is a China-made non-MLB grade baseball, though it is still quality leather on par with some MiLB official league balls - certainly not a vinyl souvenir.

About the Ball: An extremely rare Spalding National League Official Game Ball, NL President Charles "Chub" Feeney stamped, with additional top panel stamping. The stamp on the top panel is what makes it significant - it was produced to commemorate the introduction of cowhide in Major League Baseball manufacturing. (Official MLB game balls were previously constructed of horsehide leather).

The top panel reads: "Cowhide Baseball First Use 4-4-74 Cincinnati vs. Atlanta." That would be MLB Opening Day in Cincinnati - a historic day in the evolution of the official Major League Baseball.

To this day, we are unsure about how these official on-field style baseballs were used. Did they make it into games on opening day in 1974, as might be suggested by the stamping? Until we have a version with solid provenance, we can only speculate. But make no mistake, it's an official game-style NL ball from the period, and it's a very valuable and highly sought after baseball regardless of its use.

The Big League Baseballs Museum of Baseball also features the American League counterpart, a Spalding / Reach labeled MacPhail version.

About the Ball: Information on this ball elludes us. If anyone finds this page and knows more please email us at bigleaguebaseballs @ gmail.com (remove spaces).

We know it's an official style ball, likely from the mid-1970s. We know it had a partner - the American League Lee MacPhail stamped version (we still need that one). We also know both version are extremely rare, highly valuable and sought after by official game ball collectors - at least those who even know of their existence.

But nobody seems to know how, or if, these scarce "star-stamped" official baseballs were used. Perhaps they were prototypes. I even wonder if they were made by Spalding for an upcoming season - maybe 1977, when Rawlings won the contract to produce MLB game balls, thereby relieving Spalding of the honor - and mothballing these would-have been 1977 game balls? But then, if production had already started, wouldn't there be thousands of these floating around? I've honestly seen 4 to date (Feb. 2013).

One last thought - because of that fantastic star logo and layout - it makes me wonder if these were earmarked to become the first official commeorative baseballs, maybe for an All-Star Game at some point in the '70s? Doubtful, but that would be a great story - at least as a footnote within the history of the official MLB game ball.

About the Ball: We know next to nothing about this odd ball. Or is that "oddball"? It's likely a 1970s era leather Rawlings ball. One thing that stood out, aside from the poor printing, is how light it is. It feels as tough it's half the weight of the official game ball, which comes in at 5 to 5 1/4 ounces.

This ball has a large MLB logo where you'd typically find official league stamping  and a commissioner's signature. It has a common Rawlings slogan from the period: "Finest in the Field." And last, an "MLBPC" notation on the lower panel, along with "MLB."

There only two related entities we've seen using that acronym, they are Major League Baseball Properties, Canda and Major League Baseball Promotions Corporation. More often than not, we've seen "MLBPC" alongside "MLBPA" - Major League Baseball Players' Association. Not the case here.

If I had to take a wild stab in the dark, I'd say it was produced not long after Rawlings won the contract to become the official supplier of Major League Baseball game balls - and that it's simply a high-grade leather souvenir. But hey, maybe it some weird kind of practice ball? It does have a Haiti stamp on the sweetspot, indicating it's like a late 70s ball.

About the Ball: Likely a prototype for the 2000 Millenium Opening Day Game Ball. The only difference between this rare version and the Official on-field game version? This ball is missing the year "2000" above the MLB logo. It also has a teeny "TM" trademark at the bottom of the logo.

We've only seen two of these, both came from a former Rawlings employee. So we'll just assume they're prototypes or possibly misprints - not actual gamers intended for use in Major League Baseball.

About the Ball: Rawlings Tom Seaver "The Franchise" Specialty Baseball. Please note, this ball does not contain official league stamping, but it is a Rawlings high-grade leather game-style ball otherwise.

These baseballs were apprently made for special signing events. This specific example was purchased and signed at an event held by the New York Mets.

The ball is essnenitally a career "stat ball" that features some of the player's career highlights or miletsones, and his Baseball Hall of Fame induction date.

About the Ball: An extremely rare prototype from a former Rawlings employee - this is a silver or "cool gray" ink stamped World Series Baseball - likely a prototype for the 2000 World Series Ball. Until the 2000 World Series, Rawlings had always used red or blue ink on official game balls starting with the 1978 event.

It's likely that before Major League Baseball chose gold colored ink for the 2000 Series gamers, they had Rawlings experiment with other options.