|
|
Rawlings AB Premium Autograph Baseball Dating Guide |
|
| |
|
|
| |
The Rawlings AB premium autographed baseballs were produced during the 1960s, and
into the early 1970s. The balls displayed 8 player
stamped signatures, and were used in
a number of promotions, but not exclusive to one.
In 1960 Rawlings started to use a new "Rawlings" script logo with the words
"Made In U.S.A." below, until about 1965, when the AB balls were made in Haiti,
and "Made In U.S.A." was removed. The Mickey Mantle "old style" autograph was
used until 1963, when in 1964 his "new style" autograph was used.
The Rawlings AB baseballs below are dated to promotions as advertised. The
dating of balls that are yet to be connected to an ad, are estimated based on
the information above, and will be updated when they can be attributed to a
dated advertisement. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
This
1960 Rawlings AB
baseball is dated by the lack of the Words "Official League" which
appears every year after until 1967 when just the word "Official" was just
used. The ball features Mickey Mantle's old style autograph, and the "Made In
U.S.A." Rawlings logo.
Stamped autographs includes eight players: Stan Musial
Sweet Spot; Mickey Mantle Johnny Podres, Warren Spahn, Duke Snider, Ken Boyer,
Lew Burdette, Hank Bauer. At this time there are no advertisements to connect
the ball as being used as an adverting premium, and might have been used as an
in-store Rawlings dealer promotion. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 1961
Players: Stan Musial Official League Sweet Spot; Mickey Mantle Johnny Podres, Warren
Spahn, Duke Snider, Ken Boyer, Lew Burdette, Roy Sievers. The ball features
Mickey Mantle's old style autograph.
The "Made In U.S.A." Rawlings logo was not used on this ball,
which would have been placed on the top panel, that features Mickey Mantle, and
Johnny Padres.
At this time there are no advertisements to connect the ball as to an adverting
premium, and might have been used as an in-store Rawlings dealer promotion. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 1962
Players: Stan Musial Official League Sweet Spot; Mickey Mantle Johnny Podres, Warren
Spahn, Duke Snider, Ken Boyer, Lew Burdette, Roy Sievers. The ball features
Mickey Mantle's old style autograph, and the "Made In U.S.A." Rawlings logo.
Pop-Ice offered the Rawlings AB autographed baseball for $1.00 ($1.95 retail
value) through a mail-in coupon.
The ball was also offered by
Frito's Corn Chips by sending in $1.00 ($2.50
value) and
the coupon at the top of the large size Frito's Corn Chips bag.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
1963 Players: Stan Musial Official League Sweet Spot; Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn,
Brooks Robinson, Dick Groat, Tommy Davis, Ken Boyer and Ray Herbert. The
ball features; the old style Mickey Mantle Autograph and the "Made In U.S.A."
Rawlings logo.
Haleyville Laundry &
Cleaners in Alabama, offered the baseball for $1.00 (Reg.
$2.00 Value) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
1964 Players: Stan Musial Official League Sweet Spot; Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn,
Brooks Robinson, Dick Groat, Tommy Davis, Cletis Boyer and Ray Herbert. It
features; the new style Mickey Mantle Autograph and the "Made In U.S.A."
Rawlings logo.
The Ball was used for a
Kellogg's cereal offer, for $1.00 and two box tops
from regular size Corn flakes, or Rice Krispies.
"So Good" Potato Chips also offered the ball for $1.00, and the coupon on the
package. A baseball player statuette was inserted inside each package of potato
chips. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
1965 -1967 Players: Mickey Mantle Official League Sweet Spot; Bill White, Jim Lefebvre, Tom Tresh,
Tony Conigliaro, Ken Boyer, Billy Williams, and Brooks Robinson.
The dating of the ball is estimated based on the new style Mickey Mantle Autograph, and the new Rawlings
trademark logo, with "Made In U.S.A." below the Rawlings script logo
being removed. "Official League" also ties it in with the pervious AB
baseballs, as the baseballs made later only have the word Official" |
|
| |
|
|
| |
1967- 1968 Players: Mickey Mantle Official Sweet Spot; Brooks Robinson, Jim Lefebvre, Tim McCarver,
Billy
Williams Willie Stargell, Luis Tiant Rocky Colavito.
The dating of the ball is estimated based on the new style Mickey Mantle Autograph, and the new Rawlings
trademark logo, with "Made In U.S.A." below the Rawlings script logo
being removed in 1965. "Official" also ties it in with the later AB
baseballs, as the baseballs made earlier have Official League" on the sweet
spot. The thinner font used on the ball also matches the balls made here after.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
1969 Players: Mickey Mantle Official Sweet Spot; Rick Reichardt, Tony
Conigliaro, Billy Williams, Tim McCarver, Brooks Robinson, Willie Stargell and
Jim Lefebvre. The ball features the Rawlings new 1965 logo, with "Made In U.S.A." below " Rawlings" removed.
The ball was offered by the fast food chain Burger Chef for $1.50, with
anything you ordered. A specially priced Rawlings baseball bat and glove was
also made available. Every Burger Chef food bag had a MLB emblem on it. Cut the
emblem, and save them to get a Rawling Bat and glove. Send in 5 emblems + $2.99
for the bat, 10 emblems + $5.99 for the glove. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
1970 Players: Tony Conigliaro Official Sweet Spot; Billy Williams, Reggie
Jackson, Rick Reichardt, Dal Maxvill, Rusty Staub, Johnny Bench, and Brooks
Robinson. Listed in the 1970 Rawlings catalog as "AB2," the ball feature the Rawlings
new 1965 logo, with "Made In U.S.A." below " Rawlings" removed.
Humble Gas Station offered the baseball for .96¢ with the minimum purchase
of 8 gallons of gas and a newspaper coupon, from June 30, thru July 5, 1970. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
1971 Players: Tony Conigliaro Official Sweet Spot; Billy Williams, Reggie Jackson, Rick
Reichardt, Dal Maxvill, Rusty Staub, Johnny Bench, and Brooks Robinson.
The ball feature the new Rawlings logo. "Made In U.S.A." below " Rawlings"
removed.
The Rawlings "AB" ball was offered by Harts Family Shopping Center for
.88¢ It was also available at Big 5 Sporting Goods stores for .99¢... "A
$2.50 Value"
Kats Drug Store offered the Rawlings AB2 Baseball for .88¢ |
|
| |
|
|
| |
KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES RELATED RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
