These incredible images of old baseballs come in a remarkable range of shapes and appearances as years of decay have taken their toll.
For years keen photographer Don Hamerman walked his dog near an old baseball diamond where he would pick up discarded old balls.
He bought them back to his studio in Stamford, Connecticut, where they sat for years until he decided to start photographing them.
Out of this world: The patterns of decay on this old baseball look remarkably similar to the continents North and South America as seen in satellite photographs
Collection: For years keen photographer Don Hamerman walked his dog near an old baseball diamond where he would pick up discarded old balls. Then he finally decided to immortalise them in this unique set
Beaten: In this photo the baseball's wool windings are bursting out, perhaps after some mammoth strike
Curious: Mr Hamerman, who ironically hasn't been to a game for about ten years, admits he cares more about aesthetics than history. These two remarkable examples show the different kinds of balls in use
Home run! An official Major League basebal consists of a round cork centre, wrapped tightly in windings of wool and polyester or cotton yarn, covered by stitched leather
Innards: Wool is the most-used material for the windings because its natural resilience and 'memory' means it compresses when pressure is applied before rapidly returning to its original shape
Mr Hamerman, who ironically hasn't been to a game for about ten years, admits he cares more about aesthetics than history.
'I collected them more for the way they look than the sport itself - there is something quite fascinating about them,' he said.
'Some people have said it reminds them of connecting to their childhood. I just think what appeals to me is what appeals to other people too. They are just cool.'
n official Major League basebal consists of a round cork centre, wrapped tightly in windings of wool and polyester or cotton yarn and covered by stitched leather.
Wool is the most-used material for the windings because its natural resilience and 'memory' means it compresses when pressure is applied before rapidly returning to its original shape.
To be accepted for use in competition each must weigh between five and five-and-a-quarter ounces and have a circumference of between nine and nine-and-a-quarter inches.
Coming to pieces: To be accepted for use in competition each must weigh between five and five-and-a-quarter ounces and have a circumference of between nine and nine-and-a-quarter inches
Range of shapes: The battered baseball on the left looks like it could almost be a face. The one on the right looks like it might explode if you put a match to the stitching poking out from its top
Grotesque: This beaten baseball bears a remarkable resemblance to a Halloween monster, with it's mouth half stitched together and two unevenly placed, malevolent eyes peering back
Decaying: Mr Hamerman insists he doesn't manipulate anything about his found baseballs, although he does try to preserve some live moss when it appears
Running out: Mr Hamerman says he's exhausted the supply of baseballs from the old diamond near his home in Stamford, Connecticut, and now has to collect baseballs when he's travelling elsewhere
Just rubber composite: This cheaper model baseball would be unlikely to pass the Major League's criteria
The patterns of decay sprawl across Mr Hamerman's battered baseballs - with one bearing an uncanny resemblance to a map of North and South America.
But Mr Hamerman insists he doesn't manipulate anything about them, although he does try to preserve some live moss when it appears.
'I have exhausted the field near my house so now I have to collect balls when I travel,' he added.
'Although there is one half-buried and growing moss in a local park. I know right where to find it if I ever need to.'
For years keen photographer Don Hamerman walked his dog near an old baseball diamond where he would pick up discarded old balls.
He bought them back to his studio in Stamford, Connecticut, where they sat for years until he decided to start photographing them.
Out of this world: The patterns of decay on this old baseball look remarkably similar to the continents North and South America as seen in satellite photographs
Collection: For years keen photographer Don Hamerman walked his dog near an old baseball diamond where he would pick up discarded old balls. Then he finally decided to immortalise them in this unique set
Beaten: In this photo the baseball's wool windings are bursting out, perhaps after some mammoth strike
Curious: Mr Hamerman, who ironically hasn't been to a game for about ten years, admits he cares more about aesthetics than history. These two remarkable examples show the different kinds of balls in use
Home run! An official Major League basebal consists of a round cork centre, wrapped tightly in windings of wool and polyester or cotton yarn, covered by stitched leather
Innards: Wool is the most-used material for the windings because its natural resilience and 'memory' means it compresses when pressure is applied before rapidly returning to its original shape
Mr Hamerman, who ironically hasn't been to a game for about ten years, admits he cares more about aesthetics than history.
'I collected them more for the way they look than the sport itself - there is something quite fascinating about them,' he said.
'Some people have said it reminds them of connecting to their childhood. I just think what appeals to me is what appeals to other people too. They are just cool.'
n official Major League basebal consists of a round cork centre, wrapped tightly in windings of wool and polyester or cotton yarn and covered by stitched leather.
Wool is the most-used material for the windings because its natural resilience and 'memory' means it compresses when pressure is applied before rapidly returning to its original shape.
To be accepted for use in competition each must weigh between five and five-and-a-quarter ounces and have a circumference of between nine and nine-and-a-quarter inches.
Coming to pieces: To be accepted for use in competition each must weigh between five and five-and-a-quarter ounces and have a circumference of between nine and nine-and-a-quarter inches
Range of shapes: The battered baseball on the left looks like it could almost be a face. The one on the right looks like it might explode if you put a match to the stitching poking out from its top
Grotesque: This beaten baseball bears a remarkable resemblance to a Halloween monster, with it's mouth half stitched together and two unevenly placed, malevolent eyes peering back
Decaying: Mr Hamerman insists he doesn't manipulate anything about his found baseballs, although he does try to preserve some live moss when it appears
Running out: Mr Hamerman says he's exhausted the supply of baseballs from the old diamond near his home in Stamford, Connecticut, and now has to collect baseballs when he's travelling elsewhere
Just rubber composite: This cheaper model baseball would be unlikely to pass the Major League's criteria
The patterns of decay sprawl across Mr Hamerman's battered baseballs - with one bearing an uncanny resemblance to a map of North and South America.
But Mr Hamerman insists he doesn't manipulate anything about them, although he does try to preserve some live moss when it appears.
'I have exhausted the field near my house so now I have to collect balls when I travel,' he added.
'Although there is one half-buried and growing moss in a local park. I know right where to find it if I ever need to.'
