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Some time around 1876,
Albert G. Spalding and his brother, J. Walter Spalding, obtained the right to produce the
official National League baseball, which they would continue to produce for the next 100 years.
The American League, formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs combined with the
National league in 1901 to form Major League baseball.
Alfred James Reach, owner of The Reach sporting Goods
company, sold his company to Spalding in 1889. Spalding continued to use the Reach label
to produce American League baseballs beginning in 1901.
NOTE: American League baseballs with the Reach Trademark had Red & Blue stitching, and the National League Spalding Trademark baseballs had Black & Red stitching up until about
1934/35 when in both league started using only red stitching.
Spalding along with the Reach label was producing Major league baseball for about 100 years until
Rawlings took over in 1977, and Rawlings have been making major league baseballs ever since.
Baseball made
before 1974 were made with Horsehide covers. In 1974 Major
League baseball switched to Cowhide covers.
Rawlings first started to make World Series baseballs in
1978 that features The World Series logo.
One baseball for both leagues. Rawlings introduced
the newly designed official Major League baseballs for the
2000 season that also features the MLB Silhouetted Batter
logo. Changing from the Official American League, and Official
National League baseballs, the Official Major League baseball
replaced both balls that were used.
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