Big League Baseballs and its forum members have been expecting a very light year for these special logo game balls. Unlike the 2012 MLB season there are just a few anniversaries for teams and as far as we can see and there appear to be no significant anniversaries for MLB stadiums.

In 2012, we saw six season-long commemoratives for individual teams and/or their stadiums and a total of 15 overall. Unfortunately 2013 does not appear to have anywhere  near that level of potential special events and accompanying baseballs – at least we didn’t see many genuine opportunities for a commemorative.

The best bets, I thought, would be in Miami, Colorado and Houston. 2013 is the 20th Anniversary for the Florida / Miami Marlins franchise and the Colorado Rockies – both came into the league as expansion teams in 1993 – but we’ve yet to get word about official gamers for either team. The Rockies at least are recognizing the anniversary with a commemorative patch to be worn on uniforms, which usually leads to a commemorative game ball. That logo is below – hopefully it does in fact end up on official ROMLB baseballs used at Coors Field. The Marlins have said they do not plan to use a special patch or logo of any kind, so no reason to expect a special ball again in Miami.

Rockies 20th Anniversary official logo (left) and sleeve patch (right).

Additionally the Houston Astros have moved to the American League for the 2013 season, so an Inaugural AL Season baseball seemed possible – if not just a minor stretch. Houston will also be taking on the Texas Rangers at the Alamodome in Texas for a two-game Spring Series exhibition being billed as the “San Antonio Big League Weekend.”  That stadium could make for a great logo on a game ball. We’ll have to wait and see there as well.

Fortunately for us baseball and autograph collectors, ballhawks and and fans across the league, there are in fact going to be a few surprises this season that we can confirm, including a very special, unique gamer that Big League Baseballs may have had a big hand in. More on that later this week.

In addition to the annual World Series, All-Star and (we assume) Home Run Derby, HR Derby Gold and All-Star Futures Game balls, we know of at least three more special event commemorative balls. We’ll share them as we get information, for now, the first is introduced below.

This will come as a welcomed return for those who attend Opening Day games with the added incentive of potentially catching a home run or foul ball stamped with a special logo. Opening Day baseballs were an annual ball we could depend on, being used from 2004 – 2010. Although we complained about the reuse of the same logo every year from 2006-2010, we missed them once they stopped producing them after the 2010 season. Well, for 2013, the Official Rawlings MLB Opening Day Game Ball has returned, and with a polishing of the commemorative logo that all fans should be able to appreciate:

Rawlings 2013 Opening Day Ball Artwork

Better pictures coming soon as usual. You’ll note that logo is exactly like the Opening Day, Opening Night, Opening Series, Week and Weekend logos used in recent years, as early as 2011. Much improved in my opinion, with the clean word mark and of course the patriotic bunting below the MLB logo. The previous Opening Day baseballs also had bunting and ribbons as seen in this photo of the 2010 version in our Museum. Which do you like better? For collectors, some of us grew tired of buying the same exact Opening Day Ball with only the numbers of the year changing. So it’s good to see a some variety. But personally if they need to reuse this logo for a few years it’s worth it my opinion, just to know there’s a special ball being used every MLB Opening Day.

More news to come soon, including a very unique first time special event commemorative for Major League Baseball, featuring colors you’ve probably never imagine on an official game ball!

Big League Baseballs Ebay Shop: Rawlings All-Star, World Series and Commemorative Baseballs

We’ll also be listing a number of short-term auctions weekly, with discounted deals on commemorative Major League Baseballs from various events. But we have many long-term Buy it Now / Make an Offer items listed including the following:

Rawlings Mike Matheny Auto 1st Win Baseball Marlins Park Cardinals Signed Ball
Rawlings Baseball 1979 MLB Major League All-Star Game Ball ORIGINAL HAITI
Rawlings ORIGINAL HAITI Baseball 1979 MLB World Series Pittsburgh Balls
Rawlings ORIGINAL Baseball 1987 MLB All-Star Game Ball Oakland A’s Balls
Rawlings ORIGINAL Baseball 1989 MLB World Series Ball Oakland A’s Giants
Rawlings ORIGINAL Baseball 1992 MLB All-Star Game Ball Padres Major League Balls
Rawlings ORIGINAL Baseball 1995 MLB All-Star Game Ball Texas Rangers Balls
Rawlings Baseball 1997 MLB World Series Game Ball Marlins Indians Official Balls
Rawlings Baseball 2002 All-Star Game Ball Brewers Official Major League Balls
Rawlings 2004 Japan Opening Series MLB Game Ball SEALED Baseball NY Yankees Rays
RARE! Rawlings 2002 Riverfront Stadium Cincinnati Reds Baseball Final MLB Ball
Rawlings Baseball 2003 World Series Game Ball Marlins Yankees Official MLB Balls
RARE! Rawlings Baseball 2002 Japan All-Star Series MLB Major League Game Ball
Rawlings Baseball 2003 Cincinnati Great American Ball Park Inaugural Game Balls
RARE! Rawlings Baseball 2005 All-Star Futures Game Ball Detroit MLB Official
Rawlings Original COSTA RICA Baseball 1990 MLB World Series Cincinnati Reds Ball
Rawlings Original Baseball 1997 MLB All-Star Game Cleveland Indians Ball CUBED
Rawlings Baseball 1997 JACOBS FIELD EDITION American League All-Star Ball
Rawlings MLB Baseball 1998 COORS FIELD EDITION NL All-Star Ball Rockies
RARE Rawlings Baseball 2002 All-Star Futures MLB Official Game Ball NEW IN BOX
Rawlings Baseball 2002 Opening Day MLB Official Game Ball New in Box Mint!
Rawlings 2003 All-Star Futures Baseball White Sox MLB Official Game Ball
Rawlings Baseball 2003 Home Run Derby All-Star Game MLB Game Ball White Sox
Rawlings Baseball 2003 Final Game Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium Ball
Rawlings Baseball 2004 Inaugural Season Philadelphia Phillies Citizens Park Ball
Rawlings MLB Baseball Serie de Primavera 2004 Mexico Marlins Astros Ball

We’ll be adding some commons like 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 Rawlings Home Run Derby Gold baseballs, and some more rare special event commemoratives such as a 1986 All-Star Game RED stamped version, and many others.

We always sell cheaper direct through BigLeagueBaseballs.com via email, reducing cost by eliminating eBay fees. Send us an email to BigLeagueBaseballs@Gmail.com and let us know what you’d like to buy.

Four 1986 World Series Baseballs, two are original with Haiti stamp.

In case you didn’t notice, The World Baseball Classic has shifted from its every three year cycle and moved to 2013, though it’s just a few months off.  I’m not even sure it was supposed to be triennial. Either way, it takes place in early March.

And in case you haven’t seen it yet, the Rawlings 2013 World Baseball Classic Official Game Ball (left) is already being sold. Here it is — likely for the best price you’ll find — from site sponsor USA Sports Marketing. The real surprise for us was the introduction of a WBC Qualifier Baseball, thanks to the new expanded format which included a qualifying round for additional countries’ teams. We’ll address that, and show you that ball below.

Thoughts on the official 2013 WBC ball? Same as the 2006 and 2009 versions, which is fine by me. It’s a tournament that stands on its own, but doesn’t need rebranded each time like the MLB World Series and All-Star Game. Plus, that’s a pretty solid logo. By the way, have you ever seen the prototype for this ball? Check it out here in our Museum of Baseballs: 2006 WBC Prototype.

One final note for now on WBC baseballs – if you happen to come across 2006 balls for cheap, I recommend picking them up. They likely had a much lower production run and tend to sell very well, especially given the international demand in Ebay auctions. The 2009s still sell for around $20, while the 2006 can go for $60-$80 mint.

So, about that 2012 WBC Qualifier ball? I’ll just copy and paste from our Big League Baseballs Forum, from Oct. 17 when we announced it (good reason to join our forum – get breaking news there before we post on the main page):

I received a tip from a Big League Baseballs member about a 2012 World Baseball Classic Qualifier Official Game Ball. I didn’t even think to look for these when the WBC Qualifying Rounds started being played in September:

“The qualifying round for the 2013 World Baseball Classic is held from September 19 to November 19, 2012. For the first time ever a qualifying round will be held to determine the final set of teams that will compete in the main tournament. 16 teams will compete in the qualification rounds: the bottom 4 teams from the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and 12 teams that were invited by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).”

2012 Qualifier Teams: France, Canada, Brazil, Chinese Taipei, Israel, Czech Republic, Colombia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Nicaragua, Philippines, Spain, Great Britain, Panama, Thailand.

Well that 2012 Qualifying round ball is going to be very tough to come by. I’ve seen one game-used version sell for over $200. Once again, thanks to USA Sports Marketing, we don’t need to try and out bid each other to add one to our collections. This ball is being specially produced for USA Sports and will be available for sale in a few weeks. At this point, they’re the only ones that are ordering it for retail. Here it is:

 We’ll post an update when they’re available. And coming soon, we should have a list of 2013 Commemorative / Special Event Game Balls.

We’ve broken down the entire list of Rawlings Official Major League Commemorative Game Baseballs by team. Every ball that’s been used on the field is attributed to the team, or teams, that produced the ball or participated in the event. Consider this a running total. We’ll update the list as new baseballs are discovered and produced.

You can view the unofficial Master List of Rawlings Commemorative Major League Game Balls as well.

Below is a breakdown of each team’s official gamers. The intention is to help collectors seeking baseballs just for their favorite teams and players, as well as praise the teams with the most, and call out the worst. The totals:

1. New York Yankees (29)
2. Atlanta Braves (21)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (19)
4. Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, San Fransisco Giants (13)
5. New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles (11)
6. San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers (10)
   
7. Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Florida Marlins (9)
8. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals (8)
9. Seattle Mariners (7)
   
10. Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds (6)
11. Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Rockies (5)
12. Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals (3)
13. Montreal Expos (2)

As for the numbers, It should come as no surprise that the Yankees lead the way in Official Special Event and Commemorative Balls, and by a large margin. In addition to pure success on the field — playoff balls in the mid to late ’90s and World Series baseballs — the Bronx Bombers have also celebrated their past more than any other team. Is it a glutinous display of wealth, or a deserving tribute to the winningest, most successful team in the four major sports? Regardless, we’ve got to applaud any team that provides an opportunity for a special game ball. Which is why we must give an old Bronx cheer to…

The Kansas City Royals (2012 Update: since adding the 2012 All-Star Event balls, the Royals have jumped up the list) and Chicago Cubs. A lack of success is one thing, but there are plenty of perpetual losers with a fair share of commemorative game balls. The Royals and Cubs have no excuse.

Granted, the Cubs haven’t received the post-20o4 All-Star Game Host bump, which guarantees at least four to five baseballs for the hosting team (All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, Home Run Derby Gold, All-Star Futures Game and now 24-Karat Gold HR Derby Balls). We excuse the now defunct Montreal Expos and the newest team, the Nationals, although their stats could be combined. Also excused  are recent expansion teams, namely, the Colorado Rockies.

There is good news for some teams with lower totals. In the coming years, the Mets will host the 2013 All-Star Game, while the Cubs (2014 – 100th Anniversary of Wrigley Field), Marlins (possibly 2015), Twins and Nationals have put in requests to host in the near future.

Below is the complete break down by team. Note that we did not include league-wide baseballs in individual team totals, such as Opening Day balls. The reason: We cannot verify that each team used a league-wide ball, and it’s also a special event that is in no way tied to a particular team. Additionally, canceled baseballs are excluded from team stats, but they’re noted below as some collectors may like to add them – if they can find them.

Finally, and we’re undecided on this point – we did include a few cases where an official game ball was made for an event, but not used despite the fact the event took place. Examples are the Home Run Derby Gold Replicas and the 2012 Marlins Opening Night balls. Unsure what to do with those, so we erred on the side of “the more available to collect, the better.” Oh one last note – although that Marlins Park Inaugural Game ball is truly for only the Marlins, the Cardinals logo is part of the design, since they were the opponent, therefore the ball is also added to the Cardinals list.

1. 1978 WS NYY (75th WS Logo) (1st Commemorative MLB Ball)
2. 1981 WS LAD
3. 1996 American League Mickey Mantle Game Ball (8/25/96)
4. 1996 AL Division Series Version 2 (TEX VS. NYY)
5. 1996 AL Ball – League Championship Series (BAL vs. NYY)
6. 1996 World Series (NO Commissioner Stamp) (NYY)
7. 1998 Joe Dimaggio Day (9/27/98)
8. 1998 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
9. 1998 American League ALCS (CLE vs. NYY)
10. 1998 World Series (NYY)
11. 1999 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
12. 1999 American League ALCS (NYY vs. BOS)
13. 1999 World Series (NYY)
14. 2000 World Series (NYY)
15. 2001 World Series (ARI)
16. 2001 World Series American Flag Ceremonial 1st Pitch
17. 2002 Reggie Jackson Day
18. 2003 Yankees 100th Anniversary Season
19. 2003 World Series (FLA)
20. 2004 Japan Opening Series (NYY vs. TB)
21. 2008 Yankee Stadium Final
22. 2008 All-Star Futures
23. 2008 Home Run Derby
24. 2008 Home Run Derby Gold
25. 2008 Home Run Derby Red
26. 2008 All-Star Game
27. 2009 Yankee Stadium Inaugural Season
28. 2009 World Series (NYY)
29. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1991 WS (MIN)
2. 1992 World Series (No commissioner stamp) (TOR)
3. 1995 World Series (ATL)
4. 1996 NL Division Series Version 2 (ATL vs. LAD)
5. 1996 NL Ball – League Championship Series (STL vs. ATL)
6. 1996 World Series (NO Commissioner Stamp) (NYY)
7. 1997 NL NLCS (FLA vs. ATL)
8. 1998 National League NLDS (ATL vs. CHC, HOU vs. SD)
9. 1998 National League NLCS (ATL vs. SD)
10. 1999 Hank Aaron 715th HR 25th Anniversary
11. 1999 National League NLDS (ATL vs. HOU, ARI vs. NYM)
12. 1999 National League NLCS (ATL VS. NYM)
13. 1999 World Series (NYY)
14. 2000 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (Venezuela: ATL vs. TB)
15. 2000 MLB Turner Field Edition All Star Ball
16. 2000 All-Star Futures Ball
17. 2000 Home Run Derby Ball
18. 2000 All-Star Game Baseball
19. 2011 Civil Rights Game PHI @ ATL & 2012 @ Atlanta Braves
20. 2012 Chipper Jones Retirement Game Ball (9/28-9/30, Final Home Series vs. Mets)
21. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1982 WS (STL)
2. 1985 WS (KC)
3. 1987 WS (MIN)
4. 1996 NL Division Series 1 (SD vs. STL)
5. 1996 NL Ball – League Championship Series (STL vs. ATL)
6. 2004 World Series (BOS)
7. 2005 Busch Stadium Final Season (Final Home stand Ball)
8. 2006 Busch Stadium Inaugural Game
9. 2006 Busch Stadium Inaugural Season
10. 2006 World Series (STL)
11. 2009 All-Star Futures Game
12. 2009 Home Run Derby
13. 2009 Home Run Derby Gold
14. 2009 All-Star Game
15. 2010 Civil Rights Game (May 15th STL @ CIN)
16. 2011 Teams Unite for Joplin – KC vs. STL, June 17-20
17. 2011 World Series (STL)
18. 2012 Marlins Park Ceremonial Opening Night Ball 4/4/12 vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Unused)
19. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1981 All-Star Baseball
2. 1994 American League Cleveland Jacobs Field Inaugural Season Ball
3. 1995 World Series (ATL)
4. 1996 AL Division Series 1 (CLE vs. BAL)
5. 1997 AL Ball – ALCS (CLE vs. BAL)
6. 1997 All-Star Season Cleveland
7. 1997 All-Star Game Baseball
8. 1997 World Series (FLA)
9. 1998 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
10. 1998 American League ALCS (CLE vs. NYY)
11. 1999 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
12. 2000 Hall of Fame Game Arizona vs. Cleveland (Dated “Hall of Fame Game 2000″)
13. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (CLE vs. HOU in Venezuela)

1. 1998 Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day Ball
2. 1999 National League NLDS (ATL vs. HOU, ARI vs. NYM)
3. 2000 Hall of Fame Game Arizona vs. Cleveland (Dated “Hall of Fame Game 2000″)
4. 2000 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (Hermosillo, Mexico ARI VS. LAA)
5. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (OAK vs. ARI in Hermosillo)
6. 2001 World Series American Flag Ceremonial 1st Pitch
7. 2001 World Series (ARI)
8. 2011 Spring Training Inaugural Season, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Used all spring by Diamondbacks & Rockies)
9. 2011 All-Star Futures Game
10. 2011 All-Star Home Run Derby Baseball
11. 2011 All-Star Home Run Derby Gold Baseball (Unused version)
12. 2011 All-Star Home-Run Derby Real 24K Gold Baseball (Actual Derby Ball)
    
13. 2011 All-Star Game Baseball

1. 1986 WS (NYM)
2. 1998 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
3. 1999 American League Fenway Park Edition All Star Ball
4. 1999 Home Run Derby
5. 1999 All-Star Game Baseball
6. 1999 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
7. 1999 American League ALCS (NYY vs. BOS)
8. 2000 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (BOS vs. HOU in Dominican Republic)
9. 2004 World Series (BOS)
10. 2005 Red Sox “2004 WS Champs” Opening Day Ball
11. 2007 World Series (Red Sox)
12. 2008 Opening Series Japan
13. 2012 100th Anniversary at Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox

1. 1986 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1998 National League NLDS (ATL vs. CHC, HOU vs. SD)
3. 1999 Houston Astrodome’s Final Game Oct. 3, 1999 (35 Years 1965-1999)
4. 1999 National League NLDS (ATL vs. HOU, ARI vs. NYM)
5. 2000 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (BOS vs. HOU in Dominican Republic)
6. 2000 Houston Enron Field Inaugural Year Ball
7. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (CLE vs. HOU in Venezuela)
8. 2004 Serie De Primavera Ball (Spring Series) Marlins Astros
9. 2004 All-Star Futures
10. 2004 Home Run Derby
11. 2004 All-Star Game Baseball
12. 2005 World Series (CHI Sox)
13. 2012 50th Anniversary, Houston Astros

1. 1984 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1989 WS (OAK)
3. 1997 NL Ball Division Series (SF vs. FLA)
4. 1999 NL Final Series at Candlestick Park “Tell It Goodbye!” (September 28-30)
5. 2000 Pac Bell SF Inaugural Game
6. 2002 World Series (ANA)
7. 2007 All-Star Futures
8. 2007 Home Run Derby
9. 2007 Home Run Derby Gold
10. 2007 All-Star Game
11. 2010 World Series
12. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)
13. 2012 World Series (SF)

1. 1986 WS (NYM)
2. 1996 Primera Serie – Monterrey, Mexico SD vs. NYM
3. 1999 National League NLDS (ATL vs. HOU, ARI vs. NYM)
4. 1999 National League NLCS (ATL VS. NYM)
5. 2000 Japan Opening Series Opening Day Ball (Cubs-Mets)
6. 2000 World Series (NYY)
7. 2003 Serie De Primavera Mets Dodgers (Spring Series)
8. 2008 Shea Stadium Final Season
9. 2009 Citi Bank Ballpark Inaugural Season
10. 2010 San Juan Series (FLA. vs. NYM)
11. 2012 50th Anniversary, New York Mets

1. 1979 WS (PIT) (76th WS Logo)
2. 1983 WS (BAL)
3. 1993 All-Star Game Baseball
4. 1995 Cal Ripken Record Games Streak 2130, 2131 (Orange Laces)
5. 1996 AL Division Series 1 (CLE vs. BAL)
6. 1996 AL Ball – League Championship Series (BAL vs. NYY)
7. 1997 AL Ball Division Series (BAL vs. SEA)
8. 1997 AL Ball – ALCS (CLE vs. BAL)
9. 2001 MLB Cal Ripken Farewell Game
10. 2012 20th Anniversary Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore
11. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1984 WS (DET)
2. 1999 AL Tiger Stadium Final Game
3. 2000 Comerica Park Inaugural GAME (Dated)
4. 2000 Comerica Park Inaugural Season (No date)
5. 2005 All-Star Futures Game
6. 2005 Home Run Derby
7. 2005 Home Run Derby Gold Ball
8. 2005 All-Star Game Ball
9. 2006 World Series (STL)
10. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)
11. 2012 World Series (SF)

1. 1984 WS (DET)
2. 1992 All-Star Game Baseball (1st Multi-Colored Laces)
3. 1996 Primera Serie – Monterrey, Mexico SD vs. NYM
4. 1996 NL Division Series 1 (SD vs. STL)
5. 1998 National League NLDS (ATL vs. CHC, HOU vs. SD)
6. 1998 National League NLCS (ATL vs. SD)
7. 1998 World Series (NYY)
8. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (S.D. vs. COL in Culiacan)
9. 2001 Tony Gwynn Final Game Ball
10. 2008 Opening Day China Series (Spring) (LAD vs. S.D.)

1. 1978 WS NYY (75th WS Logo) (1st Commemorative World Series Ball)
2. 1980 All-Star Ball
3. 1981 WS LAD
4. 1988 WS (LAD)
5. 1996 NL Division Series Version 2 (ATL vs. LAD)
6. 2003 Serie De Primavera Mets Dodgers (Spring Series)
7. 2008 Opening Day China Series (Spring) (LAD vs. S.D.)
8. 2010 MLB Taiwan Games (LA Dodgers vs. CPBL, Exhibition Games)
9. 2012 50th Anniversary Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium
10. 2010-12 Civil Rights Game Ball, Atlanta Braves vs. LA Dodgers

1. 1979 WS (PIT) (76th WS Logo)
2. 1994 All-Star Game Baseball
3. 2000 Three Rivers Stadium Ball
4. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (TB vs. PIT in Mexico City)
5. 2001 PNC Park Opening Day Ball
6. 2006 All-Star Futures Game
7. 2006 All-Star HR Derby
8. 2006 All-Star HR Derby Gold Ball
9. 2006 All-Star Game

1. 1980 WS (PHI)
2. 1983 WS (BAL)
3. 1993 World Series (TOR)
4. 1996 All-Star Game Baseball
5. 2003 Phillies Veteran Stadium Final Game
6. 2004 Phillies Citizen Bank Inaugural Season
7. 2008 World Series (PHI)
8. 2009 World Series (NYY)
9. 2011 Civil Rights Game PHI @ ATL (Same as 2010 STL @ CIN Ball)

1. 1997 NL Ball Division Series (SF vs. FLA)
2. 1997 NL Ball – NLCS (FLA vs. ATL)
3. 1997 World Series (FLA)
4. 2003 World Series (FLA)
5. 2004 Serie De Primavera Ball (Spring Series) Marlins Astros
6. 2010 San Juan Series (FLA. vs. NYM)
   
7. 2011 Final Game for Florida Marlins, Sun Life Stadium – 9/28/2011
8. 2012 Marlins Park Ceremonial Opening Night Ball 4/4/12 vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Unused)
9. 2012 Inaugural Season, Miami Marlins & Marlins Park

1. 1989 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 2000 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” ( Hermosillo, Mexico ARI VS. ANA)
3. 2002 World Series (LAA)
4. 2010 All-Star Futures Game
5. 2010 Home Run Derby
6. 2010 Home Run Derby Gold
7. 2010 All-Star Game
8. 2011 Angels 50th Anniversary Baseball
   

1. 1995 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1996 AL Division Series Version 2 (TEX VS. NYY)
3. 1998 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
4. 1999 American League ALDS (NYY vs. TEX, CLE vs. BOS)
5. 2001 Opening Day San Juan Puerto Rico (TOR vs. TEX)
6. 2010 World Series (SF)
7. 2011 World Series (STL)
8. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1987 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1988 WS (LAD)
3. 1989 WS (OAK)
4. 1990 WS (CIN)
5. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (OAK vs. ARI in Hermosillo)
6. 2008 Opening Series Japan (BOS vs. OAK)
7. 2012 Japan Opening Series Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics
8. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1980 WS (PHI)
2. 1985 WS (KC)
3. 2011 Teams Unite for Joplin – KC vs. STL, June 17-20
4. 2012 All-Star Futures Game Baseball Kansas City Royals
5. 2012 All-Star Home Run Derby Ball, Kansas City Royals
6. *2012 All-Star Gold Home Run Derby Replica Baseball KC Royals (Unused)
7. 2012 All-Star Home Run Derby 24 Karat Gold-Infused Leather Ball KC Royals
8. 2012 All-Star Game, Kansas City Royals

1. 1979 AS SEA (50TH AS Game) (1st Commemorative AS Ball)
2. 1997 AL Ball Division Series (BAL vs. SEA)
3. 1999 SafeCo Field Inaugural Game
4. 2001 All-Star Futures Game
5. 2001 Home Run Derby
6. 2001 All-Star Game Ball
7. 2012 Japan Opening Series Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics

1. 1983 All-Star Game Baseball (50th AS Game)
2. 1991 Comiskey Park Inaugural Season (1st Special Event Commemorative)
3. 2003 All-Star Futures Game
4. 2003 Home Run Derby
5. 2003 All-Star Game Baseball
6. 2005 World Series (CHI Sox)

1. 1982 WS (STL)
2. 2000 Milwaukee County Stadium Final Game Ball
3. 2001 Milwaukee Miller Park Opening Day Ball
4. 2002 All-Star Futures
5. 2002 Home Run Derby
6. 2002 All-Star Game

1. 1988 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1990 WS (CIN)
3. 2002 Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium Final Game
4. 2003 Cincinnati Great American Ballpark Opening Day
5. 2010 Civil Rights Game (May 15th STL @ CIN)
6. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1991 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1992 World Series (No commissioner stamp) (TOR)
3. 1993 World Series (TOR)
4. 2001 Opening Day San Juan Puerto Rico (TOR vs. TEX)
5. 2005 Toronto Rogers Center Opening Day Ball

1. 1998 NL All-Star Game Colorado Edition
2. 1998 All-Star Game Baseball
3. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (S.D. vs. COL in Culiacan)
4. 2007 World Series (Red Sox)
5. 2011 Spring Training Inaugural Season, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Used all spring by Diamondbacks & Rockies)

1. 1985 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1987 WS (MIN)
3. 1991 WS (MIN)
4. 2009 HHH Metrodome Final season
5. 2010 Minnesota Target Field Inaugural Season

1. 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Inaugural Season Baseball
2. 2000 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (Venezuela: ATL vs. TB)
3. 2001 Month of the Americas – Spring Training “World Tour” (TB vs. PIT in Mexico City)
4. 2004 Japan Opening Series (NYY vs. TB)
5. 2008 World Series (PHI)

1. 1990 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 1998 National League NLDS (ATL vs. CHC, HOU vs. SD)
3. 2000 Japan Opening Series Opening Day Ball (CHC vs. NYM)

1. 2005 Washington Nationals Inaugural Season
2. 2008 DC Park Inaugural Season
3. 2012 Postseason Game Ball (Used in Wild Card, Division & Championship Series)

1. 1982 All-Star Game Baseball
2. 2004 Expos Puerto Rico Series Ball

1. 2001 Opening Day Ball “2001” (NL Only)
2. 1997 NL Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary (Opening Day)

1. 2001 100th Anniversary of American League (AL Only)
2. 1997 AL Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary (Opening Day)

1. 2010 Opening Day (Ceremonial 1st Pitch)
2. 2009 Opening Day
3. 2008 Welcome Back Veterans July 4th
4. 2008 MLB Opening Day
5. 2007 MLB Jackie Robinson 60th Ann.
6. 2007 MLB Opening Day
7. 2006 MLB Opening Day
8. 2005 MLB Opening Day “April”
9. 2005 Jackie Robinson Day
10. 2004 Roberto Clemente Day Baseball (All MLB 9/21/04)
11. 2004 Opening Day Game Ball
12. 2002 Memorial Day American Flag Ball (1st Pitch Ball)
13. 2002 July 4th American Flag (1st Pitch Ball)
14. 2002 September 11th, 2002 American Flag (1st Pitch Ball)
15. 2002 Opening Day American Flag (1st Pitch Ball)
16. 2001 4th of July American Flag
17. 2000 4th of July American Flag Ball
18. 2000 Millennium Edition Inaugural Game Ball
    
19. 2000 Hall of Fame Game (“2000″ – Use Unknown)
    
20. 1990s Spring Training Official MLB Ball (Years Unknown)
21. 1986 Red-Stamped All-Star Game Ball (Use unconfirmed. Houston Astros hosted)
    

CANCELED, UNKNOWN OR PRACTICE-USED

1. 2007 Tampa Bay Rays Launch Party “November 8 2007″ (Used in 2008 Spring Training Games)
2. 2003 Japan Opening Series OAK vs. SEA (Unused / Canceled)
3. 2001 World Series Version 1 (Unused / Redesigned after 9/11)
4. 2001 MLB Cal Ripken Final Game (Unused / Postponed)
5. 2001 Tony Gwynn Final Game Version 2 (Use Unknown)
   
6. 2000 World Series “Subway Series” with NYM, NYY Logos added (Game use unknown, Used in Practice)
   
7. 1994 World Series (Unused / Strike-Ended Season)
   
8. 1992 World Series Version 1 – Faye Vincent Commissioner’s stamp (Unused / Replaced)

2012 ROMLB-PS Rendering

We received big news from USA Sports Marketing two weeks ago that marked the end of a long-held request and recommendation to Rawlings and MLB by BigLeagueBaseballs.com: Bring back the playoff game balls.

Well, nearly a dozen years since the last special event postseason ball was used at Turner Field in Atlanta, Major League Baseball has brought it back, and with some changes. We were fortunate to see a picture of the new ball, but we kept our lips sealed until we could get better pics (we may or may not have leaked an image in the Big League Baseballs forum – another reason to sign up!). The new ball made its debut tonight in the St. Louis Cardinals – Atlanta Braves one game WildCard playoff, and it launched in the American League in the Texas Rangers-Baltimore Orioles Wild Card  Game (in the 8th inning as I write this).

A little official MLB Postseason game ball history first:

Postseason play in the Majors saw a dramatic change in 1994, with the addition of two playoff teams per league and the resulting NL and AL League Division Series (though it wasn’t truly implemented until 1995 due to the ’94 Baseball Strike).  National League and American League Division Series and League Championship Series game balls were born:

Official Rawlings Postseason balls were common for the most part in 1995 and 1996, though multiple misprints and double versions for certain series exist, such as these two 1996 NLDS balls (we’re still not positive which is the official on field ball, if not both – and if each one was used for one of the two NL Division Series). The same two varieties exist for the 1996 ALDS. Some misprints have even also been discovered, as you’ll see with the 1997 “Amercian League” Championship Series baseball above – note the typo on the location of the “I”. There is also a mispinrt 1997 ALDS with the same error, both are pictured in the Miscellaneous Misprints and Prototypes gallery of the hallowed Museum of Baseballs.

These balls are much more scarce from 1998-1999, with some 1999s still eluding even the most fervent collectors. (I myself still need the 1999 National League Division Series Game Ball, and I’m willing to pay a nice sum if any of our readers has one to spare: email us here.)

Introducing your new 2012 Rawlings MLB Postseason Game Ball:

The 1999 NLCS ball was technically the last AL/NL ball ever used. Although there was no real reason for Postseason balls to disappear, we can likely it tie to the removal of individual League President positions for the American and National Leagues. Starting in 2000, as baseballs collectors know, the Big Leagues switched to the current universal league ball, with Selig’s commissioner stamp and signature. So it’s only fitting that, with the expansion of MLB playoffs from four to five teams per league, we once again see the addition of a Postseason game ball. Behold:

The 2012 Rawlings Official Major League Postseason Baseball

In the past I’ve argued that just because you couldn’t stamp a league president signature on the ball, doesn’t mean you couldn’t have a special ball just for postseason play, and use the typical Selig Commissioner signature and MLB league stamping. Well this is exactly what they’ve done. The difference is for one, instead of “*OFFICIAL* – MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL” these are more inline with All-Star Game and World Series text and stamping. We now have “*OFFICIAL BALL* – 2012 POSTSEASON .” Makes us think we’ll see a new version every year – which we will gladly make space for on the shelves of our commemorative game ball displays.

I must speculate once again, that perhaps someone in MLB front offices or at Rawlings is listening to the fans and reading our site (hey it’s possible, we’re important too right?). Call me crazy but I’m pretty sure we’ve discussed using silver stamping on such a ball as well, somewhere within this site. I’m just saying, if it’s a success, maybe a little kickback our way – how about a dozen of these, new in box, to give away to our dedicated forum members, Mr. Selig and Mr. Rawlings? Right. I’ll try to track down that reference for proof.

According to the original official company rending, the ink is “cool gray.” I dig that. Essentially silver – a first for an MLB ball since the 2000 Millennium Ball and the ill-fated silver-sparkle ink for several Stadium Inaugural Game/Season balls. The picture does not so the ball justice. We’ll have better images once we receive a few of these balls. In the meantime, ballhawks, collectors, autograph seekers and fans in general now have all the more reason to snag a ball in this year’s playoff games. And if you want a pearl white version, new in box, please support the guys who support us and pick one up from Shop USA Sports for only $17.95!

Rawlings 2012 Chipper Jones Final Season Commemorative Game Ball

Chipper Jones announced at the start of the 2012 MLB Season that this would be his last year in the Majors. Major League Baseball has made that official – no turning back now – with this Official Rawlings Chipper Jones Retirement Baseball. It isn’t known yet wether or not this ball will be used on the field

UPDATE: It has been confirmed by our site sponsor, USA Sports Marketing, that this ball has in fact made the cut and will be in the starting lineup for Chipper’s Final Home Series — September 28, 29 and 30 — a weekend series with the New York Mets. If you can’t make it to Atlanta for one of these games to ballhawk and snag a gamer, this ball will be available from BigLeagueBaseballs.com supporter Shop USA Sports / USA Sports Marketing. We’re guessing it will be fairly rare.

The Braves have all but confirmed the potential use of this ball. The logo is on the official Chipper Jones Final Season page within their team site. Check out the festivities planned for the first game of the final home stand Friday:

Friday, September 28

Mets vs. Braves at 7:35 pm

  Chipper Jones Retirement Ceremony: The Atlanta Braves will honor Chipper Jones in a pregame ceremony before the start of his final home regular-season series.

  The first 45,000 fans at the Friday, September 28 game vs the New York Mets will receive a commemorative Chipper Jones print presented by SunTrust.

  Friday Night Fireworks: When the last pitch is thrown, don’t get up! Stay in your seat and watch our very own fireworks show light up the Atlanta sky.

Standing room only tickets available.

Getting your very own official leather MLB game ball isn’t for mere mortals. Consider this list of current MLB Hall of Famers, the only players to ever have their name or likeness stamped on the cowhide of a true game ball – to be used in the field of play:

1. Cal Ripken Jr.: 1995 Streak Record “8″ ball.
2. Mickey Mantle: 1996 Yankee Stadium Mickey Mantle Day (Statue Unveiling)
3. Jackie Robinson: 1997 NL & AL Balls – Jackie Robinson Day / 50th Anniversary of breaking color barrier. Three more balls for Jackie Robinson Day 2004, 2005, 2007.
4. Joe DiMaggio: 1998 Joe DiMaggio Day at Yankee Stadium
5. Hank Aaron: 1999 25th Anniversary of 715th Home Run
6. Cal Ripken Jr.: 2001 Retirement Baseball for Final Home Game (A second Canceled Ball Exists)
7. Tony Gwynn: 2001 Retirement Baseball for Final Game (A second version exists)
8. Reggie Jackson: 2002 Reggie Jackson Day – Monument Park Plaque Dedication (Use unconfirmed)
9. Roberto Clemente: 2004 Roberto Clemente Day

There are also official game-style promo baseballs for the following players, though none of these are believed to have been used, or intended for use in game play: Roger Clemens (300th win), Barry Bonds 600th Home Run, Don Larsen / Yogi Berra (Two balls for World Series Perfect Game Anniversary, one features just Larsen), Ken Griffey Jr. (First return to Seattle), Derek Jeter (300th hit) and Mariano Rivera (602 Record Saves).

This puts the Braves’ star in some very rare company. We’d like to see these types of baseballs become the norm for player retirements and final games, at least when the player has made a significant impact or played his entire career with one team.

Unnamed Reds player holding mud-rubbed commemorative baseballs. (2010 Civil Rights Game, Cincinnati).

The Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game first took place in Spring Training in 2007, in Memphis, Tenn. To date, the host city has received two consecutive Civil Rights Game events, moving to Cincinnati from 2009-10 and now Atlanta.

Jackie Robinson

The true nature of this event is to “embrace baseball’s history of African-American players” and celebrate the game’s connection to the nation’s civil rights movements. Other sources see it as a way to promote the game to all potential minority players and groups, while a few media outlets have jumped at the opportunity to point out the decline of African American players in the Majors, and increase in other minority groups.

We recommend the following reads to learn more about this annual game and the notable events taking place this weekend: First MLB.com story on today’s game and a good clip of a mid-game interview with Hank Aaron.

Check in around the 1 min. 40 sec. mark for Aaron’s discussion on the importance of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, and some interesting insight on the importance of Robinson’s success on the field.  Additional sources worth a look: MLB dedicated page on its brief history and “Why you should care about the Civil Rights Game,” by AJ Willingham on HLNTV.com.

We of course are here to focus on the Rawlings MLB Official Commemorative Baseball set to be used throughout the game (we assume) by the Braves and Dodgers.

After hours of research through images and articles, we’ve still never seen a reference or picture of a special event ball being used in the 2007 or 2008 spring training iterations of this game, or the 2009 match-up. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist, as many baseballs sneak by us at first, (if not for years) but it’s unlikely.

The first time Major League Baseballs granted the game its own designated ball was in 2010 in Cincinnati. I’d also attached pictures of the 2011 and 2012 version of this ball, but they’re the exact same:

Rawlings 2010, 2011, 2012 MLB Civil Right Game Baseball

Most commemorative game ball collectors always prefer something new for each event, even just minor changes. But for autograph collectors? Maybe using the same logo is beneficial. And there’s no reason to change the main Civil Right Game logo each year aside from perhaps noting the host city, teams, and year or full date.

Unfortunately, that really isn’t really the logo on the game ball. It’s just the text. We’ve been hoping to see the real logo (below) from this event to be used for two years, but I suppose we’re just not reaching the right people. Sure, the logo is probably too wide to reproduce on the small canvass that is a baseball. But you could easily split it up, with the design MLB Civil Rights Game Logo portion on top, and text below, right?

Major League Baseball's Civil Rights Game Logo

Perhaps we’ll come up with our own design to recommend for next year’s game. Worth noting – when first made and used, these commemoratives were nearly impossible to find. It was a game-used variety only if you wanted one, and that likely meant attending the game and being lucky/skilled enough to snag one yourself. We had one small special order available in 2010 – and several dedicated collectors were able to pick them up.

Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron

By 2011, rumors were Atlanta at least offered a small amount at souvenir stands in Turner Field. This season? Everybody wins, thanks to our friends at USA Sports Marketing. They have special ordered and stocked this (moderately) rare Official Game  Ball for fans and collectors. Check them out, and keep an eye out for their 2012 World Series Baseballs, as well as a few surprises from the past that we here at Big League Baseballs have never seen before!

Oh and, don’t forget to watch the game tonight. You really should. (Check MLB Network in most markets).

Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali and Bill Cosby. 2009 Civil Rights Game

It’s just one of many times in recent years that the gaming world has beat everyone to the punch. We’ve seen many 3rd jerseys and special event logos in the NHL and MLB first unveiled via video game releases. So we’ll track this trend in the future. (Tip of the cap to Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos and Paul Lukas of ESPN.com and the Uni-Watch Blog for their coverage.)

Now, we see what the red white and blue “Fall Classic” logo looks like in gold stamping on Major League’s Official Game Ball:

More “Fall Classic” branding, more autumn foliage, though not nearly as much as what we saw on the 2011 World Series Logo and its subsequent game ball pictured on the right. I always wonder if we’d appreciate these logos on the baseball more if they remained in color, but this is one example where I think the logo is improved by the shiny gold palette – that’s a very bold logo at least.

These official game balls will be available for sale from Big League Baseball’s supporter USA Sports Marketing in the coming weeks. This is likely the last commemorative / special event ball to be released during the 2012 Major League Baseball season.

The 2012 Civil Rights Game coming up later this month in Atlanta will also be played using a commemorative, but that ball has most likely already been released, as it’s reportedly the same as the 2010-2011 version.

http://www.shopusasports.com/blb

Regular sale prices are from $149-$159, (down from $180) but with the Big League Baseballs discount, select dozen baseballs are available for the best price we’ve seen in years. Great opportunity for autograph collectors to stock up on some popular commemorative gamers from All-Star Games, one World Series and a few special events. FYI the 2012 Rawlings World Series Major League Baseballs will be available soon for collectors. We’ll post pictures soon!

Rawlings 2012 Home Run Derby Baseball. (Photo: USA Sports Marketing)

Rawlings 2012 All-Star Futures Baseball (Photo: USA Sports Marketing)

2012 Home Run Derby Gold Money Ball Replica Baseball. (Photo: USA Sports Marketing)

In my unduly judgmental opinion, some creative director within MLB’s marketing arm must have been on vacation the week these logos were due. Simplistic design is fine and can still be visually appealing, if not an absolute home run. But in most cases I feel it must include some form of artwork, like this year’s Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium 50th Anniversary logo (right).

It should not be just plain text, we’ve seen that quite a few times now. It doesn’t work with the Civil Rights Game Balls, but I feel with the right font and a little garnishing if you will, it’s pretty appealing on the 2012 Japan Opening Series ball. We must bear in mind, translating a colorful jersey patch or main event logo to a one-color logo on tiny leather canvas, sometimes you’ve got to make sacrifices.

Regardless, in the 13 seasons we’ve had Futures Game balls and the 15 years of Home Run Derby baseballs, this has got to be the most lackluster effort yet. Compare each year’s version for yourselves in the Special Events Commemorative Baseballs section of our Museum of Baseballs. Now that I look, the 2012 Futures ball logo is a complete infringement of the 2008 Futures game logo from Yankee Stadium. For shame!

If I were in control, I’d have a simple plan. If we don’t have brand each event and stick with the same general design annually, then there are two options. One: create an entirely new, one time event logo, using the host city/team or event itself for inspiration; or two: use that season’s main All-Star Game logo as the base design and tweak it for each sub-event. The 2012 All-Star Game logo (left) is fantastic – use it! The crown and/or bunting provides a great background or border for a logo.

Okay enough boohooing. One minor change to note this year (that I won’t whine about): State Farm, which sponsors the HR Derby, and Sirius XM – Futures Game – have a bit better billing with their respective logos. And In case you missed it, the 2012 Home Run Derby 24-Karat Gold Surface ball was unveiled a few weeks ago, photos were first released here by  Big League Baseballs. If you haven’t seen it yet here is the $150 24K Home Run Derby Gold Baseball (same commemorative logo as the White version).

After looking again I just noticed the HR Derby logo need a little bit more kerning. “HomeRun” should be two words. Maybe that’s just a hip design choice…

2012 Home Run Derby 24 Karat Gold Ball. (Photo: Gold Sports Collectibles)