19th Century Baseball Bill of Sale
Baseball history photo: March 11, 1871 - Bill of sale for H. Hardwood & Sons, Natick, MA, who is generally acknowledged as the first baseball factory in the United States. They began making baseballs in 1858 and produced the two piece figure-eight stitched baseball that became standard in 1872. The bill of sale reads as follows:
2 Dozen Balls Star Balls ($10 per dozen) - $20
2 Dozen Red Stocking Balls ($15 per dozen) - $30
1 Dozen Atlantic Balls - $15
2 Dozen B Rock Balls ($15 per dozen) - $30
1 Dozen Champion Balls - $15
2 Dozen C Walk Balls ($15 per dozen) - $30
1 Dozen Practice - $8
3 Dozen White Dead Balls ($10 per dozen) - $30
2 Dozen Red Dead Balls ($11 per balls) - $22
"Unidentified" - $2
6 Dozen Poplar Bats ($2 per dozen) - $12
7½ Dozen Spruce Bats ($2 per dozen) - $15
Click photo to return to previous page.