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1871 Arctic Trophy Ball
<p>Rare early trophy ball dating from 1871. The ball, which is constructed in a figure-eight pattern, has been painted white, with the graphics displayed in green and black. The lettering reads <span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Arctic, Easton Pa, 21-18, Aug 10th, 1871." The ball displays a small dab of what appears to be Wite-Out or modern white paint on the underside. That application is important, because it most likely relates to its provenance. We have seen that same exact application on several other early 1870s trophy balls that once resided in the collection of Lehigh University. Decades ago the University deaccessioned nearly its entire trophy ball collection. It is highly probable that this ball was once part of the Lehigh collection, especially since nearly all the balls in the collection were from the Pennsylvania region and dated from either 1871 or 1872. </span></p><p>Very little is known about the "Arctic" base ball club, other than it was an amateur team based out of Easton, Pennsylvania. As was the custom of the times, the winning team in a game or series was given the game baseball to be kept as a trophy. The baseball was normally painted, with the score of the game and date listed on front, and it was displayed in the team's clubhouse. Today, such trophy balls are scare and highly prized by nineteenth-century baseball collectors. The offered ball is an early example and dates to the dawn of professional baseball, as 1871 was the inaugural season of the National Association, baseball's first professional league. The ball displays wear commensurate with its age. The original white paint has worn away along the underside of the ball and there are a few nicks and abrasions throughout.</p>
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