The early-day baseball was composed of a melted rubber center around which yarn was wound, and generally included a sewn-on cover. The weight of the ball was three ounces and because of its size and construction it was a much livelier ball than the baseball of today. Scoring of over 100 runs in a game was not too uncommon until, in 1846, the rules were amended to provide that the first team to score 21 runs was the winner. (It was not until 1857 that 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.
In 1854 the weight of the ball was increased to five and one-half to six ounces and the diameter to two and three-quarters to three and one-half inches (a variance in circumference from eight and five-eighths inches to 11 inches). Four years later, as a result of the larger and less lively ball, the "first bounce" rule was abolished. In 1860 the specifications were amended to provide for a weight of five and three-quarters to six ounces and a circumference of nine and three-quarters to ten inches. In 1872 the tolerances on the weight and circumference of the baseball were reduced to those of today. (five to five and one-quarter ounces in weight and nine to nine and one-quarter inches in circumference).
With the changes in weight and size of the baseball in 1854, 1860 and 1872, the ball became less lively and more uniform but there was still some variation in the composition of baseballs. The so-called "lively" ball did not disappear completely as the home run record for one team (140) established by the 1884 Chicago White Stockings withstood the assault of all teams until the 1927 Yankees, paced by Babe Ruth with 60, set a new mark of 158 home runs.
In the early years of organized professional baseball, beginning with the National Association in 1871, baseballs were noted for their lack of uniformity. As the home team was responsible for furnishing the ball, strategy entered into the determination of the type of baseball to be supplied. A team with a lot of batting power furnished a lively ball while a good defensive club could be expected to put into play
