NFL game balls - why so much darker than store footballs?

[jrhoads23]

Re: NFL game balls - why so much darker than store footballs?

I have a game used ball from Week 17 of this year (2013). The letters on the fill hole panel under "MADE IN USA" are "CU" (might be "CV")

Anyone else have any game used footballs from this year? What letters are on those?

[jrhoads23]

Re: NFL game balls - why so much darker than store footballs?

I have a game used ball from Week 17 of this year (2013). The letters on the fill hole panel under "MADE IN USA" are "CU" (might be "CV")

Anyone else have any game used footballs from this year? What letters are on those?

Crap... looking at a lot of the game used footballs for sale on eBay, there appears to be no pattern with the two letter stamp. So it might have something to do with what shift of workers made them or something. If anyone knows... please share

[BrianK]

Re: NFL game balls - why so much darker than store footballs?

Refer to this post for Wilson date codes.

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=49404

In summary,

A - last digit of the year is 8 (eg, 1998, 2008)
B -9
C -0
D -1
E -2
F -3
G -4
H -5 (Note: There is no "I" in this code)
J -6
K -7

O=January
P=February
Q=March
...
X=October
Y=November
Z=December