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History Of Major League
A look from the beginning and facts
about the world series and all star games. Also some facts
about the ROMLB.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. More
specifically, Major League Baseball MLB refers to the entity that
operates North America's two top leagues, the National League and the
American League, by means of a joint organizational structure which has
existed between them since
1920. On an
organizational level, MLB effectively operates as a single "league", and
as such it constitutes one of the major professional sports leagues of
North America.
Major League Baseball
is governed by the Major League Baseball Constitution, an agreement that
has undergone several incarnations since 1876, then called the NL
Constitution, with the most recent revisions being made in 2005. Major
League Baseball, under the direction of its Commissioner, Bud Selig,
hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates
marketing, labor, and television contracts. As is the case for most
North American sports leagues, the 'closed shop' aspect of MLB
effectively prevents the yearly promotion and demotion of teams into the
Major League by virtue of their performance.
MLB also maintains a
unique, controlling relationship over the sport, including most aspects
of
minor league baseball. This is due in large part to a 1922 U.S.
Supreme Court ruling in Federal Baseball Club v. National League
which declared baseball is not considered interstate commerce (and
therefore not subject to federal antitrust law), despite baseball's own
references to itself as an "industry" rather than a "sport."
The
production/multimedia wing of MLB is New York-based MLB Advanced Media,
which oversees MLB.com and all 30 of the individual teams' websites. Its
charter states that MLB Advanced Media holds editorial independence from
the League itself, but it is indeed under the same ownership group and
revenue-sharing plan. MLB Productions is a similarly-structured wing of
the league, focusing on video and traditional broadcast media.
Facts About The (ROMLB)
Rawlings Official Major League Baseball
Supplied exclusively by Rawlings® for over a quarter-century,
each ball comes
carefully crafted, weighed, measured, tested, inspected, and
re-inspected. 5 ounces.
108 stitches. Absolute Perfection.
Rawlings-Costa Rica produces 80,000 dozen major league game
balls a year, Minor
league baseballs are made at the Rawlings plant in China.
Six-seven dozen baseballs are used in a typical Major League
game.
The average life of a baseball in the Majors is 6 pitches.
It takes about 10 minutes for a sewer to sew the 108 stitches
on each baseball. The
first and last stitches are perfectly hidden.
The terms "live" and "dead" have been applied to baseballs for
more than 100 years.
In the early years, the home team was often expected to
provide the ball, and a good
hitting team might wind its balls tightly, for a "lively"
effect, while a team of
defensive specialists might create looser, softer, or "dead"
balls.
In 1857 the length of a game was
set at nine innings, pitching was underarm from a
distance of 4
History Of The All Star Game
The first Major League All-Star Game was played on
July 6, 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. It was initiated at the
insistence of Arch Ward, a sports editor for the Chicago Tribune,
to coincide with the celebration of Chicago's Century of Progress
Exposition. For over seventy-three years, the "Midsummer Classic" has
remained a fan favorite showcasing the top talent in baseball.
All-Star teams were originally selected by
the managers and the fans for the 1933 and 1934 games. From 1935 through
1946, managers selected the entire team for each league. From 1947 to
1957, fans chose the team's starters and the manager chose the pitchers
and the remaining players. From 1958 through 1969, managers, players,
and coaches made the All-Star Team selections. In 1970, the vote again
returned to the fans for the selection of the starters for each team and
remains there today.
History Of The World
Series
Before the birth of the World Series in 1903, there were other
postseason championships that took place as early as 1884.
Although they are not officially recognized as part of World
Series history, they provide a basis for the establishment of
what has become recognized as "The Fall Classic."
The Fall Classic has provided us with many magical moments.
The first World Series, in 1903, was a best-of-nine affair
arranged between the champions of the older National League
(founded in 1876) and the American League. The AL's Boston
Pilgrims upset the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3.
The 1904 NL champion New York Giants refused to play Boston
the following year, so there was no Series. But the league
presidents smoothed out their differences, and the Series
resumed in 1905, when the Giants agreed to play Philadelphia
in a best-of-7 game series.
Since then the World Series has followed the best-of-seven
format -- except from 1919-21, when it returned briefly to
best-of-nine.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Rawlings: History Of The Company
1887
George and Alfred Rawlings announce opening of retail sporting
goods store in downtown St. Louis
1920
Rawlings introduces historic Bill Doak glove. This
revolutionary glove featured a multi-thong web laced into the
first finger and thumb with a natural formed deep pocket.
Becomes the prototype for all-purpose gloves of the future.
1941
Rawlings hears fielders' plea. Develops the Trapper - a
three-fingered, deep well pocket glove that changes the design
of first base mitts and sets the standard for Major League
specifications.
1946
The Rawlings glove line expands to include a glove for each
position - with a name, position and number.
1947
Rawlings introduces The Playmaker, a new three-fingered glove.
1957
Rawlings establishes the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® to
recognize fielding excellence.
1959
The Trap-Eze, or so-called "six-finger" glove, is introduced
by Rawlings and quickly becomes a favorite of many major
league players.
1970
Rawlings joins with Adirondack to supply the Major League bats
with the distinct Pro Ring design.
1976
Rawlings is awarded the contract as exclusive supplier of
baseballs to the American and National leagues.
1985
Rawlings awarded the contract to become the "Official Uniform
Supplier to Major League Baseball" and named an "Official
Sponsor of Major League Baseball".
Facts about the (ROMLB) Rawlings Official
Major League Baseball
Supplied
exclusively by Rawlings® for over a quarter-century, each ball
comes
carefully crafted, weighed, measured, tested, inspected, and
re-inspected. 5 ounces.
108 stitches. Absolute Perfection.
Rawlings-Costa Rica produces 80,000 dozen major league game
balls a year, Minor
league baseballs are made at the Rawlings plant in China.
Six-seven dozen baseballs are used in a typical Major League
game.
The average life of a baseball in the Majors is 6 pitches.
It takes about 10 minutes for a sewer to sew the 108 stitches
on each baseball. The
first and last stitches are perfectly hidden.
The terms "live" and "dead" have been applied to baseballs for
more than 100 years.
In the early years, the home team was often expected to
provide the ball, and a good
hitting team might wind its balls tightly, for a "lively"
effect, while a team of
defensive specialists might create looser, softer, or "dead"
balls.
In 1857 the length of a game was
set at nine innings, pitching was underarm from a
distance of 45 feet and the batter was out if a fielder caught
the ball on the first
bounce.
A great baseball
for the serious sports
collector.
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Major League Baseballs
World Series Baseballs
All Star Baseballs
Special Event Baseballs
Display Cases
Baseball Bats
Baseball Jerseys
Signed Memorabilia
Unsigned Memorabilia
Shows/Signings
NFL Footballs
Super Bowl Footballs
Pro Bowl Footballs
Display Cases
Football Jerseys
Football Helmets
Signed Memorabilia
Unsigned Memorabilia
Shows/Signings
NBA/WNBA Basketballs
Display Cases
Signed Memorabilia
Unsigned Memorabilia
Shows/Signings
Display Cases
Signed Memorabilia
Unsigned Memorabilia
Shows/Signings
Display Cases
Signed Memorabilia
Unsigned Memorabilia
Shows/Signings
Display Cases
Signed Memorabilia
Unsigned Memorabilia
Shows/Signings
Display Cases
Memorabilia
Display Cases
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