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
How Sports Fandom Became a 24/7 Digital Spectacle
Once, being a fan meant showing up on game day and turning off once
History Of Counter-Strike Skins
Weapon cosmetics turned online battles into a showcase of style and status. The changing
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
The Gambler Who Outsmarted the NFL: Inside the Mind of Haralabos Voulgaris
Every professional gambler has a story about the one big win. Haralabos Voulgaris has
Legends and Leisure: Stadium-Inspired Seating for Themed Restaurants
Sports culture has a powerful way of bringing people together, and themed restaurants are