| BALL MANUFACTURER: Spalding BALL TYPE: Official Continental League COMMENTS / CONDITION: Offered is a Spalding No. 166 "Official Continental League" baseball produced in 1960 in anticipation of the establishment of baseball's THIRD Major League, the Continental League, which was supposed to begin its first season in April, 1961. As we know now, plans for the Continental League were abandoned when the National League pre-emptively decided to expand to 10 teams, yet the proposal of the CL remained influential as expansion teams were eventually added in many of the cities proposed to host Continental League franchises. No doubt having a reasonable expectation of extending their dominance as official producer of baseballs to this third Major League, Spalding added this "No. 166" model "Official Continental League" baseball to their catalogs in 1960. The ball remains sealed in its original "zip top" box (in Spalding's standard red/white/blue design) as shown, and is presumed to be a mint condition ball within. I will also include the original "dozen" box which this ball came in which appears to be one of Spalding's other standard boxes with a "166" sticker on it, noting the new product line within. I do not have, nor do I know where the other 11 balls in the original box are today. Please see the photos for further details. BIO: The Continental League was a proposed league that had its beginnings in 1958. As a response to the moves by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles and the New York Giants to San Francisco, William Shea proposed a new league to bring a second team to New York. Shea was backed by Branch Rickey, the legendary executive, who had resigned as president of the Pittsburgh Pirates to become president of the league. On July 27, 1959, the The Continental League of Professional Baseball Clubs was announced. The five founding cities were New York, Houston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Toronto, and Denver. Shea announced the league would begin its first season in April, 1961. Each of the five founders deposited $50,000 in the league treasury and pledged to have $1,500,000 available. Joan Payson was involved in the New York franchise, Jack Kent Cooke in the Toronto franchise, and Bob Howsam in the Denver franchise. Rickey was named president of the league August 18. Atlanta was added to the loop December 8, two weeks later Dalas-Ft. Worth was awarded a franchise. Buffalo was given the 8th spot in January 1960. The Continental League presaged several major league expansions as clubs would eventually be added in Houston, Toronto, and Denver. Clubs would also move to Minneapolis, Dallas, and Atlanta by 1972. On July 18, 1960, the National League agreed to expand to 10 teams. With a franchise for New York secured, the Continental League abandoned their plans on August 2, 1960 without playing a single game. SKU: BL0230
Item: BL0230
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