This “MLB Official Promo & Miscellaneous” Museum of Baseballs gallery is a catch-all for a mix of mostly on-field-greade ROMLB-style baseballs. This section features official game-style balls made for retail and a number of promotional purposes, plus custom special orders from third parties. There are additional sections at the end of this gallery for a range miscellaneous baseballs. Those are also high-grade leather, often pro-level baseballs. Some were even used in exhibtions and tounaments affiliated with the Major Leagues.
MLB Official AL, NL & ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 1900s–2000
1920s Spalding NL Unknown (K-C). 1985 Rawlings AL (Pres. Brown) MLB-Rawlings Sporting Goods Official Game Ball Contract Renewal. 1993 Rawlings MLB Hall of Fame Shirley Povich Tribute, NL and AL balls (2). 1995 AL Budig, Class of ’99 (Added stamp). 2000 MLB Kenesaw Mountain Landis MVP Award (Side-stamp). 2000s AL & NL MLB Kenesaw Mountain Landis Balls. 2000 MLB World Series “Subway Series” 3 Retail Variations (5 Images).
Make no mistake: The bulk of these are real leather MLB official game-style baseballs. Most are indeed on-field-grade Rawlings official AL, NL and ROMLB balls, but were not intended for use in regulation MLB games. We’ll try to organize first by type (professional regulation ROMLB models vs. non-pro, non-ROMLB models) and we’ll separate by time periods just to keep photo captions from getting out of hand.
MLB Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2001–2005
2001 Fotoball (K2 Rawlings) Leather Logoball replica Reach AL Cronin, HBO “61” Movie Prop. 2001 MLB Roger Clemens 6-Time Cy Young, American Flag Variant. 2001 MLB Shot Heard Round The World 50th Anniversary NY Giants Bobby Thomson HR (Signed & Unsigned). 2001 MasterCard Memorable Moments (Luis Gonzalez Signed). 2003 SF Giants Barry Bonds 600th HR. 2003 NY Yankees Roger Clemens 300th Win. 2003 STL Cardinals Tony LaRussa 2000th Win (Selig). 2002–2011 Projekt Revolution Linkin Park Tour. 2003 Lollapalooza Revival Final Tour Staff Giveaway. 2000-era White House Presidential Seal Official Baseball (X2). 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series Champions. 2005 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (MLB Road Show). 2005 Vans Warped Tour Music Festival (MLB Road Show).
The baseballs in this first category are on-field-grade official Major League baseballs—the same as those used in regulation MLB games. This includes ROMLB, OAL/RO-A and ONL/RO-N models. Most of these were stamped and used for retail-only or special promotional purposes. They rode the bench, but never made it into the game. There may be a few exceptions.
The best way for us to categorize and separate these, is to limit this section to baseballs with official league stamps — official league stamping in the center panel, containing a league president’s or commissioner’s stamped signature. There are a TON of these out there, and we’re certainly going to miss some. It’s particularly difficult to track down vintage examples and limited run, dealer special orders and other obscure examples.
MLB Promotional Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2006–2010
MLB Promotional Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2011–2015
MLB Promotional Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2016–2017
MLB Promotional Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2018
2018 saw a new concept in the MLB official game ball evolution: retail and game ball pairings. Meaning, when a Major League special event game required a commemorative game ball for actual gameplay, a counterpart retail version was also produced—purely for sales. The difference? Logo size. The league-mandated (pathetic) logo size limitations rendered specially marked balls nearly moot, but Rawlings was clever to introduce a larger-logo edition that was far more appealing to the eye, and to autograph and game ball collectors. (Continues…)
MLB Promotional Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2019–2020
For most of us overzealous collectors at OfficialGameBalls.com, these official game ball & official retail ball combos just meant we’d need to purchase multiple baseballs for every special occasion. The arrangement appears to have ended in 2021 or 2022. We’re only including the retail versions here in the MLB Promo Baseball galleries. The official on-field counterparts can be found in other galleries, particularly MLB Team Milestones and Anniversaries and MLB Player Milestones & Recognitions.
MLB Promotional Official ROMLB-Grade, Game-Style Balls: 2021–2025
Official MLB Miscellaneous Balls, Tournaments & Exhibitions
There are MLB-affiliated events and exhibitions that often feature current and former MLB players (MLB Pitch, Hit & Run; Big League Home Run Challenge; Cracker Jack Old Timers’ Classics; MLB team old timers’ day games; and the new Home Run Derby X). They often get their own specially stamped game balls too. The main difference here is, these were actually used in games or at least in some form of baseball related competition. Many are official stamped with commish signature that could fall into the ROMLB promo category above. And a few are nearly official just a step below ROMLB-grade, such as the Rawlings Official League models. Look closely and you’ll find that not all are manufactured by Rawlings.
1979–1980s Rawlings MLB Pitch Hit & Run Compeition (Burger King). 1980s MacGregor MLB Pitch Hit & Run Compeition (Burger King). 1982 (est.) Rawlings Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic. 2001–2003 (est.) Rawlings MLB Big League Home Run Challenge (Pemmican Beef Jerky). 2001, 2002 & 2003 Rawlings MLB Big League Home Run Challenge. 2021 MLB Cup International Amateur Tournament (AIG). 2024 Rawlings Home Run Derby X Orange Bonus Ball. (Missing: 2023–2024 Rawlings Home Run Derby X Standard White Ball.) 2025 Rawlings MLB Home Run Derby X Standard & Orange Bonus Balls (Manfred) .
Section Three: Official MLB Promo & Miscellaneous Balls – Non-Game
Some of the examples pictured here were made for retail only, perhaps for player signings, and purely for collectors. And in some cases, they’re for amateur leagues, or commissioned for special occasions and celebrations, movie props, TV show props, manufacturers’ material tests (orange leather), salesmen samples, and who knows what else. The primary differentiator here: No MLB commissioner or league president’s stamped signature (okay, there are always exceptions to every rule!). To summarize: this is a catch-all for oddballs that just need a home and deserve to be featured in the esteemed Museum of Baseballs, despite having no chance of seeing game action!
Note, similar baseballs and a few repeats might be found in the Rawlings Corporate Gallery.
There are many random, not-quite-pro-level leather, but still leather and MLB-related official baseballs. And, at times, official style baseballs that are indirectly related to, or not-so-directly related to Major League Baseball. Feel free to suggest a more concise description for this lovely mess!