Patent Application for a Baseball
1908–1909
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Benjamin F. Shibe, one of the original owners of the Philadelphia Athletics and for whom Shibe Park in Philadelphia was named, patented a cork-centered baseball on June 15, 1909. Use of this ball in all 1911 games led to powerful hits that went farther and longer. Shibe, as noted in his patent, had simply wanted increased strength and durability for his baseballs. Referred to as the “Edison of Baseball,” Benjamin F. Shibe received many patents related to baseballs. Text from "Baseball: The National Pastime in the National Archives," a free eBook from the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Patent and Trademark Office.
National Archives Identifier: 2524963
Full Citation: Patent Application for a Baseball; 1908–1909; 924696 - Baseball - Benjamin Shibe; Selected Patent Files, 1840 - 2005; Records of the Patent and Trademark Office, Record Group 241; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/baseball-patent, March 29, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.