August 31, 1909 – A. J. Reach Co. patented the cork-centered baseball. Previously the balls had a hard rubber core to them. It sounds harmless enough, after all the core is buried under a leather cover and inner bindings. The stats tell a different story though.
According to ThisDayinBaseball.com the number of .300 hitters jumped from eight in 1910 to 27 a season later in the American League. The league’s earned run average will go from 2.53 to 3.34. We have heard about the corked bat, but the corked ball may have had an even bigger impact in the game. The modern ball has a core composed of cork and rubber.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
1970s Minnesota Vikings : Would A Better QB Helped Them Win A Super Bowl?
Here’s a question I often hear, especially from Minnesota Vikings fans: Would the 1970
The 7 Most Successful Athletes From Delaware in the Last 20 Years
Delaware may stand as the second smallest state, but it has delivered some of
Jim Finks: A Builder of Winners
Jim Finks could have spent his life as the answer to this trivia question,
1975 Baltimore Colts: A Year In Review
From 1957 to 1971, the Baltimore Colts never experienced a losing season. They played
Betting on Week 10: Why Eagles vs Packers Could Define NFC Playoff Picture
As NFL Week 10 unfolds, few matchups capture the playoff stakes and storylines like
Exploring the Career of Hall of Fame Offensive Guard Larry Little
As many of you may know, I recently wrote a book about Miami Dolphins
Some of the Most Iconic Soccer Rivalries and the Stories Behind Them
Soccer is more than a game. It’s passion, pride, and pure obsession. Across the
“Dem Bums” No More: The Story of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
From 1939 to 1954, the Brooklyn Dodgers had only one losing season and won