The Museum of Baseballs MLB League-Wide Events, Celebrations, Holidays, & Standard Game Balls
This section of the Official Game Balls Museum of Baseballs contains Major League Baseball’s special commemorative regular season game balls used for league-wide events and celebrations, and American national holidays, among other observances. We’ll also exhibit the few standard official ROMLB league balls here—those common gamers used in all regular season games.
MLB, AL & NL Opening Day Major League Baseballs
2000 MLB Opening Day Silver Millennium Ball. 2001 AL Opening Day American League 100th Anniversary. 2001 MLB National League NL Opening Day. 2002 MLB Opening Day. 2004 MLB Opening Day. 2005 MLB Opening Day ‘April 2005’. 2006 MLB Opening Day. 2007 MLB Opening Day. 2008 MLB Opening Day. 2009 MLB Opening Day. 2010 MLB Opening Day. 2013 MLB Opening Day. 2014 MLB Opening Day. 2015 MLB Opening Day. 2016 MLB Opening Day. 2017 MLB Opening Day. 2018 MLB Opening Day. 2019 MLB Opening Day. 2020 MLB Opening Day. (All commissioner Selig or Manfred signature stamped.)
MLB USA American Holiday Official Game Baseballs
2000 MLB July 4th Independence Day. 2001 MLB July 4th. 2002 MLB Memorial Day. 2002 MLB July 4th. 2002 MLB September 11th Memorial Games. 2012-2014 MLB Mother’s Day Ribbon (Selig). 2013-2014 MLB Mother’s Day MLB Logo Variant. 2015-2017 MLB Mother’s Day Ribbon (Manfred). 2017 MLB Memorial Day. 2017 MLB Father’s Day. 2017 MLB July 4th.
MLB ‘Legends’ Days’ League-Wide Official Game & Promotional Baseballs
For those few legendary players’ that have dedicated league-wide baseball holidays to honor them across the league and the nation. Jackie #42, Roberto #21, and Lou #4 are the only players to be memorialized with league-wide commemorative game-balls.
MLB Legends: Jackie Robinson Day #42, April 15th
1997 NL Jackie Robinson Day 50th Anniversary. 1997 AL Jackie Robinson Day 50th Anniversary. 2004 MLB JRD April 15. 2005 MLB JRD. 2007 MLB JRD 60th. 2000s–2010s MLB Prototype/Canceled Jackie Robinson Day Annual/Undated Ball.
MLB Legends: Roberto Clemente Day & Award, #21, September 15th
2004 MLB Roberto Clemente Day. 2024 Roberto Clemente Award Nominee (MLB Auctions). 2025 Roberto Clemente Award Nominee Baseball (MLB Auctions).
MLB Legends: Lou Gehrig Day #4, June 2nd (4ALS)
2021 Lou Gehrig Day (MLB Auctions). 2022-2023 Lou Gehrig Day Ceremonial 1st Pitch. 2022 Lou Gehrig Day Small Logo Version (MLB Auctions). 2024 Gehrig Day “4” (MLB Auctions).
MLB Signature Showcases & Special Events Official ROMLB Game Balls
2008 MLB Stand Up to Cancer SU2C (Use Unknown). 2008 MLB Welcome Back Veterans (Unused. Delivered Late!). 2010s MLB Welcome Back Veterans (Use Unknown). 2010–2013 MLB Civil Rights Game (1 game per season). 2014 MLB Civil Rights Game Astros & Orioles. 2015 MLB Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day Dodgers & Mariners (Not used). 2016 MLB Fort Bragg Game Marlins & Braves. 2017 MLB Naval Academy Baseball Classic Red Sox & Nationals. 2017 MLB Little League Classic Cardinals & Pirates. 2019 MLB in Omaha Game Royals & Tigers Official Game Ball. 2019 MLB in Omaha Game Large Logo (Retail). 2025 MLB Speedway Classic, Bristol, TN (Retail Only). (All commissioner Selig or Manfred signature stamped.)
The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Game at Doubleday Field, Cooperstown
Played at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York from 1939–2008. MLB’s HOF official game baseballs are not well tracked. There could be quite a few from the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s that most collectors have never seen. And we’d love to find them all. We’re unsure when the (nearly) annual event began to feature a special commemorative game ball. Possibly 1987.
We’ve only recently found the 1995. And we were very fortunate to find the 1996, the 50th “annual” Hall of Fame Game, a 6-6 tie between the Montreal Expos & California Angels, pictured below! There are probably more undiscovered versions to be found. Has anyone seen any from the early to mid ’80s? 1991–1993, 1997–1999, 2004–2008?
1987 MLB Hall of Fame Game (Rawlings MLB ’87 All-Star Game Ball). 1988 MLB HOF Game (Rawlings MLB ’88 All-Star Game Ball). 1989 HOF 50th Anniversary (Image Missing, Official League Ball). 1990 MLB HOF Game (Rawlings NL Ball, Pres. White). 1994 MLB HOF Game (Official League). 1995 MLB HOF Game July 30, Cubs & Tigers (Official League). 1996 MLB HOF Game, Aug. 5th (50th MLB HOF Game). 2000 MLB HOF Game (V1 On-Field). 2000 MLB HOF Game (V2 Unknown). 2001 MLB HOF Game. 2002 MLB HOF Game. 2003 MLB HOF Game. (Unknown: 1939–1986, 1991–93, 97–99, 2004. Speculated: 2005–2008 games used common Rawlings MLB Selig HOF Balls.)
MLB Standard Regular Season Games & Miscellaneous League Baseballs
2000–2014 Rawlings ROMLB Commissioner Selig ‘Unfinished’. 2000s ROMLB Red & Blue Laced Selig (Promotional). 2015–Current ROMLB Commissioner Manfred. 2020 MLB Black Lives Matter Charities (MLB Auctions, Non-Game). 2021 MLB Draft Day Colorado (Exclusive: Draft Pick Signings, Non-Game).
MLB Spring Training – Grapefruit League, Florida & Cactus League, Arizona
1988 AL Miami Joe Robbie Stadium Inaugural Game, Dodgers vs. Orioles (Commemorative/After-market stamp?). 1994/95? MLB Spring Training. 2000 St. Patrick’s Day Dodgers (Rumored). 2008 LA Dodgers Memorial Coliseum 50th Anniversary Game March 29 (Use Unknown). 2011 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Inaugural Season D-backs Rockies. 2015 Salt River Fields 5th Season. 2016 Spring Training Games Arizona. 2016 Spring Training Games Florida. 2017 Spring AZ. 2017 Spring FL. 2018 Spring AZ. 2018 Spring FL. 2019 Spring AZ. 2019 Atlanta Braves CoolToday Park Inaugural Game. 2019 Spring FL. 2020 Spring AZ (Game-Used). 2020 Spring FL (Game-Used). 2021 2011 Salt River Fields 10th Season. (Selig & Manfred.)
Game-Used Examples: League-Wide Events
The following are extra images of baseballs that appeared in the galleries above. Unlike the mint, retail cubed and NIB examples through this gallery, these beat-up beauties were all used in actual gameplay. Many come direct from the MLB Auctions and are authenticated. We’re also lucky to have many contributors who attended these events and shared their images of their prize catches and snags!
(Game-used baseball images contributed by @zack_hample, @Leagues_Baseball, and @OfficialGameBalls)
We’ve sectioned the gallery to help organize by groups such as MLB Opening Day, national holidays including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4th / Independence Day; Hall of Fame Games, Spring Training, and a few special one-time-only series and matchups that take place in the US. Any other special occasion that the league’s 30 teams (or at times only AL or NL teams) celebrate and commemorate with on-field commemorative logo official game balls should fit in here. All international games and exhibitions (like season openers in Japan or Puerto Rico), and most individual player, team and stadium game balls get their own galleries elsewhere.
For a full list of all baseballs pictured on this page, please copy the “ghost” text below and paste into another document:
For a full list of all baseballs pictured on this page, please copy the “ghost” text below and paste into another document:
1995-96 Rawlings Major League Baseball Spring Training Official MLB Baseball (China). 1997 Rawlings NL Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary (Opening Day). 1997 Rawlings AL Jackie Robinson 50th Anniversary (Opening Day). 2000 Rawlings MLB Hall of Fame Game (“2000”). 2000 Rawlings MLB Hall of Fame Game Arizona vs. Cleveland (Dated + “2000”). 2000 Rawlings Major League Baseball 4th of July American Flag Ball (No date). 2001 Rawlings MLB Opening Day Ball “2001” (NL Only) (RARE). 2001 Rawlings MLB 100th Year Anniversary of American League. 2001 Rawlings MLB 4th of July American Flag. 2002 Rawlings MLB Memorial Day American Flag Ball (1st Pitch Ball) (RARE). 2002 Rawlings Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Game. 2002 Rawlings July 4th American Flag (1st Pitch Ball). 2002 Rawlings September 11th, 2002 American Flag (1st Pitch Ball). 2002 Rawlings MLB Opening Day American Flag (1st Pitch Ball). 2003 Rawlings Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Game. 2004 Rawlings MLB Roberto Clemente Day Baseball (All MLB 9/21/04). 2004 Rawlings MLB Jackie Robinson Day April 15th (Limited, New York Mets only?). 2004 Rawlings MLB Opening Day Game Ball. 2005 Rawlings MLB Opening Day “April 2005”. 2005 Rawlings MLB Jackie Robinson Day. 2006 Rawlings MLB Opening Day. 2007 Rawlings MLB Jackie Robinson 60th Ann. 2007 Rawlings MLB Opening Day. 2008 Rawlings MLB Opening Day. 2008 Rawlings MLB Welcome Back Veterans July 4th. 2009 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League-wide). 2010 Opening Day (Possibly a Ceremonial 1st Pitch Baseball). 2010 Rawlings MLB Welcome Back Veterans Version 2 WelcomeBackVeterans.org. 2010 Rawlings MLB Civil Rights Game (May 15th St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds). 2010-2012 Rawlings MLB Patriotic American Red, White & Blue Baseball Red/Blue Laced (Use unknown, possibly Chicago Cubs Promotional/Signing Ball).
2011 Rawlings MLB Civil Rights Game (Same as 2010). 2012 Rawlings MLB Civil Rights Game (Same as 2010). 2013 Rawlings MLB Major League Baseball Opening Day (League-wide). 2013 Rawlings MLB Civil Rights Game 8/24 CHI White Sox vs. Texas Rangers (Same as 2010). 2013 Rawlings MLB Mother’s Day Official Game Ball (League-wide) 5/12/2013. 2014 Rawlings MLB Major League Baseball Opening Day (League-wide). 2014 Rawlings MLB Mother’s Day Official Game Ball (League-wide. Same as 2013). 2014 Rawlings MLB Civil Rights Game Baseball Baltimore Orioles @ Houston Astros May 30. 2015 Rawlings MLB Standard Official Game Ball: New Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. Signature-Stamped Official ROMLB League Baseball. 2015 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League Wide). 2015 Rawlings MLB Mother’s Day Pink Laces & Stamping Baseball May 14 (New Manfred version). 2015 Rawlings MLB Civil Rights Game Jackie Robinson Day Baseball LA Dodgers vs. Seattle Mariners. 2016 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Arizona Cactus League. 2016 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Florida Grapefruit League. 2016 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League-wide). 2016 Rawlings MLB Mother’s Day (League-wide) (Same as 2015). 2016 Rawlings MLB Major League Baseball MLB Fort Bragg Game 2017 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Arizona Cactus League. 2017 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Florida Grapefruit League 2017 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League-wide). 2017 Rawlings MLB Naval Academy Baseball Classic Boston Red Sox at Washington Nationals. 2017 Rawlings MLB Mother’s Day (Same as 2015) (League-wide). 2017 Rawlings MLB Memorial Day Green/Brown Stitches Green Stamping (League-wide) 2017 Rawlings MLB Major League Baseball Father’s Day Baby Blue Laced & Stamped Ribbon Logo (League-wide. Only one season!). 2017 Rawlings MLB Major League Baseball July 4th Red/Blue Laced Blue Stamped MLB Logo (League-wide) 2017 Rawlings MLB Little League Classic St. Louis Cardinals Pittsburgh Pirates Williamsport, PA 2018 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Arizona Cactus League. 2018 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Florida Grapefruit League 2018 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League-wide). 2019 MLB Spring Training Arizona Cactus League 2019 MLB Spring Training Florida Grapefruit League. 2019 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League-wide) 2019 Rawlings Major League Baseball MLB in Omaha Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals. 2020 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Arizona Cactus League 2020 Rawlings MLB Spring Training Florida Grapefruit League 2020 Rawlings MLB Dominican Republic Game 2020 Rawlings MLB Opening Day (League-wide) 2021 Rawlings MLB Draft Colorado (Promo ball). 2022 Rawlings MLB Lou Gehrig Day 4ALS Ceremonial First Pitch Baseball June 2.