Original C. 1960s "Maggie-Ball" Magnesium Weighted Test Baseball

Bidding

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/1/2016

Here’s one for the serious baseball fan/historian: a weighted baseball created a half century ago as a training device, not unlike the concept of the weighted baseball bat that has been in use for many years. After much investigation, a Northwest Indiana newspaper, The Times, posted information about the ball online noting the circa 1960’s creation date in conjunction with a weighted bat of similar composition. The ball weighs 1.23 lbs., roughly four times the weight of an actual major league baseball (same size). The ball is remarkably detailed in the casting, right down to the intricate stitching on the laces and the “pebbled” horsehide surface. It has an ornate “TH” logo designed that is at the center of two opposite panels, with the name “Maggie-Ball” underneath. There is also an imprint of “Lansing, Illinois” and a patent pending insignia. The initials reportedly refer to Jim Teutemacher and Ron Hatcher, the two individuals in the 1960’s thought to be behind the development of the ball … and a companion weighted bat. The pair had the items cast by a foundry in Northwest Indiana and ultimately arranged to have the St. Louis Cardinals try the bat after getting rejected by the Cubs and the White Sox. According to the online article in 2009, though the TV announcers made mention of the bat during the 1967 World Series, the pair was never able to develop interest in the companion baseball. Like so many cool artifacts, the hazy story of its origins does nothing but add to the luster of the piece. The ball remains in excellent condition, with some tarnishing and staining obscuring some elements but still remarkably pristine, especially in most panels revealing the “texture” of the horsehide casting. It’s a fascinating piece that would seem like a wonderful addition to an advanced collection.