One of the earliest baseball collectibles in the world. Civil War era, predating the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Though no definitive history of the Trophy balls once displayed in the Unions' trophy case exists, it is believed that many years ago (it is believed prior to the 1940s), that the team's trophy balls were broken up from their original display case and scattered to the collecting winds. Today, it is very rare to find even a single example, and it is likely that many have not survived. A few can be found in the hobby's most advanced collections. A few have found their way over the years to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. All are extremely desirable and significant. The gold ball reads ‘AWARDED TO H. MANOLT, FOR THE BEST FIELDING IN THE UNION GAME OF MAY 21, 1864’. We found an article from protoball.org, which references the game and Manolt. The article states in part: ‘The first prize for fielding, a gilt ball, to H. Manolt of the Eckfords – Manolt made two excellent catches, threw in every ball that came to him well, and fielded throughout without an error..’. The title of this excerpt is: “The Prize Base Ball Game at South Brooklyn. OVER 2,000 SPECTATORS PRESENT. A LIVELY AND WELL-PLAYED GAME”. This lot is being sold as is.