Here is a interesting photo from the Shorpy photoblog from 1925 featuring a seamless baseball created by inventor Samuel Castle and patented in 1883. The lack of seams is achieved by repeated dipping in gutta percha (a natural latex) which builds up a durable leather-like surface.Apparently, the ball was found in the archives of the patent office while they were doing some housecleaning. Below is a copy of the patent. If you click the photo it will take you to more patent information.
Why do you think the seamless ball never caught on?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question. Maybe it was poor marketing, or maybe the top teams of the time didn't want to change balls.
ReplyDeleteAll I do know is that it's probably a good thing it never caught on. The game would never have evolved into the game today. The stitching on a baseball is vital to a pitchers ability to throw a curve and other junk type of pitches.