Hmmm…

“and in 1974 horsehide covers were abandoned in favor of cowhide. The supply of horsehides had dropped sharply over the years as workhorses were replaced by motorized vehicles and farm equipment. People still ate plenty of beef, so cowhide was an obvious substitute.” Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader commenting on how the economic fundamentals of supply/demand and substitute goods affected the evolution of the baseball. Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Takes a swing at Baseball. The Bathroom Readers’ Institute, Bathroom Readers’ Press, 2008.