How many kinds of baseballs have been used in the history of baseball?

Answer 1

BaseballsThere have been many changes in the type of Baseball used in the history of the game. Most during the early years of the game. The "Lemon Peal" style Baseball (1850 -1860) was one of the first style baseball used. Dark leather was used for the cover because it was readily available and easier for the players to see when the ball was hit in the air on a clear day. White baseballs were later introduced (1861) because most ball fields at the time had heavily wooded area back drops, and it was easier to see the white ball.

The "Figure 8" stitched baseballs were then used becoming more popular during the 1870's and were similar to the baseball used today with size and weight being the major difference. In 1859 the rules stated that a ball must weigh 5.75 to 6 ounces and measure 9.75 to 10 inches in circumference. Two years later, the ball specifications were changed to 9.5 to 9.75 inches in circumference and 5.5 to 5.75 ounces and . Today the official size of a Major League Baseball is 9 to 9 1/4 inches in circumference and 5 to 5 1/4 ounces in weight.