The Goldsmith company was making baseballs as early as 1875, and received a patent for their baseball-making machine in 1876.
In 1936, Goldsmith purchased the struggling McGregor company and changed its name to MacGregor. However, it wasn’t until after the war that the company’s baseballs began to feature the combined “MacGregor/Goldsmith” logo. By 1953, only “MacGregor” appeared.
In 1958 the company was purchased by Brunswick, and the “Brunswick/MacGregor” logo appeared.
This picture helps to date the various logos:
More information can be found at Keyman Collectibles.
Below are confirmed years and leagues for Goldsmith-only balls.
- 1937 – Alabama-Florida League, Bi-State League, East Texas League, Florida State League, Georgia-Florida League, Mountain State League, Northern League, South Atlantic League, Southeastern League, Southern Association, West Texas-New Mexico League
- 1940 – Alabama-Florida League, Coastal Plain League, Florida State League, Georgia-Florida League, Mountain State League, North Carolina League, Northern League, South Atlantic League, South Eastern League, Southern Association, Three-I League, Western Association, Wisconsin State League
- 1941-1945 Inter-State League
The next list is for MacGregor-only balls.
- 1941 – Southern Association
- 1953 – Appalachian League, Evangeline League, Florida State League, Gulf Coast League, Georgia State League, Northern League, Southern Association, Tar Heel League, Tri-State League, Wisconsin State League
- 1965 – Eastern League, International League
- 1970 – Eastern League
- 1972- Gulf Coast League, International League
- 1974 – Southern League (replaced Rawlings)
- 1975 – Southern League
- 1979 – Carolina League
- 1981 – California League
- 1986-87 – California League
- 1988 – Southern League
Finally, confirmed years for MacGregor/Goldsmith.
- 1946 – Southeastern League
- 1949 – South Atlantic League
- 1952 – Northern League, Southern Association