You heard it here, BASEBALL IS BACK! With baseball back, our commemoratives are back too. As always, before the season starts I get to work on finding out what we’ve got going on this year, and bringing that news directly to you, before anyone else, all in one place!
2025 is expected to be slow. For those of us who have been snagging and collecting since 2015, we remember that was a very slow year, and commemoratives mostly function off of a few things: Anniversaries, new openings, closings, and celebrations, as well as special MLB events. This year we have less anniversaries, less special events, and celebrations than most, just a factor of the “5s and 0s”. Specifically I am disappointed in MLB’s lack of international play this season, a true bummer and hoping 2026 is a bounce back. But, we will have lots of fun, and we will have lots to chase.
As always, I will update this article throughout the season with more baseballs, details, and pictures, especially as I get in the flesh photos and on field game used baseball photos. Since we always get surprises, I know there will be multiple updates, and I will have some speculation (clearly noted, of course) to project at least a few of these surprises.
As a general statement to start, as I have made for a few years now, MLB has decided to forego league wide commemoratives for 2025, which is just another year, another disappointment. As a reminder, this means no Spring Training, Opening Day, as well as any holiday/league wide celebrations. This will be another year WITHOUT, these baseballs being used on field. The only league run commemoratives will be for international series, the All Star Game, and the World Series.
As for me, I’ll be attending most international games going forward, and special events. In 2024 I did the London Series and the Rickwood game and they were spectacular, and in 2025 was in Tokyo for the opener, and will be at the Bristol Speedway Classic. For the site, I am considering various options moving forward to improve, and potentially combining forces with a brain on commemoratives as big (likely even bigger) than mine.
Here they are, your 2025 commemorative baseballs!
Overview
2025 Tokyo Series – On March 18/19 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, the Cubs and Dodgers will face off for a two game Tokyo Series Opener, using this baseball. Honestly a very boring logo, with the Tokyo Series Wordmark, MLB World Tour, and the MLB Logo (as well as 2025). But regardless, I am glad it got made and happened at all. A special one for me! The ball pictured is Shohei Ohtani’s 6th inning strikeout from Game 1, which I personally snagged. The series was incredible, and a lot of fun to attend. You can get this ball here, on eBay from a trusted Rawlings dealer.
2025 Padres Opening Day – The San Diego Padres used this Opening Day commemorative baseball on Opening Day at home, with the Opening Day logo the league has been using, as well as a Padres logo at the top. I really dislike this. I’m glad someone’s doing it, but one team using an Opening Day baseball and the rest of the league not, is strange, dumb, confusing, and just a bit of a mess for collectors to understand. I’ll be clear that it’s a nice ball though. The Padres have 3 baseballs this season, at least, and it’s likely due to the special relationship that Padres ownership, the Seidler family and Seidler Equity Partners actually own a large portion of Rawlings alongside Major League Baseball. So the Padres have the in, and can seemingly do whatever the hell they want. Which is cool, but also weird, if they’re the only ones doing stuff like this. Will update with purchase link when available, which I hear is soon from Rawlings dealers.
2025 Padres City Connect – Fun ball! We’ll see more and more city connect logos this year, and here’s the first “surprise” one. It’s just the city connect wordmark, simple, and IMO, how these city connect balls should be, simple. The Padres have 3 baseballs this season, at least, and it’s likely due to the special relationship that Padres ownership, the Seidler family and Seidler Equity Partners actually own a large portion of Rawlings alongside Major League Baseball. Will update with purchase link when available, which I hear is soon from Rawlings dealers.
2025 Padres Military Appreciation – This is a REALLY fun logo. This ball will be used on Sundays at home when the Padres wear their Military Appreciation uniforms, and from what I can tell, this is a new logo used for the ball. Some pilot stripes and a Padres logo. Really fun! The Padres have 3 baseballs this season, at least, and it’s likely due to the special relationship that Padres ownership, the Seidler family and Seidler Equity Partners actually own a large portion of Rawlings alongside Major League Baseball. Will update with purchase link when available, which I hear is soon from Rawlings dealers.
2025 Coors Field 30th Years – On April 26th vs the Reds, the Rockies will be honoring 30 years of Coors Field with this simple, sleek logo on a commemorative baseball! Looking forward to seeing this one in the flesh, but if It’s as nice as this logo, it should be another classic fantastic Rockies logo baseball! Will update with purchase link when available.
2025 Astros City Connect – The first “City Connect 2.0!” the Astros have revealed a new City Connect jersey, (internally dubbed City Connect 2.0) and with it comes a new ball! I personally love this ball, it might be one of if not my favorite city connect baseballs! The “Stros” will be using this ball on all Monday home games, and any other games they may wear their City Connect jersey (such as City Connect weekend April 11-13). Will update with purchase link when available.
2025 Phillies City Connect –In 2025 the Phillies on all Friday home games will wear their “City of Brotherly Love” city connect jerseys, and use this commemorative baseball. First of all, what a horrible logo. The jersey font is rough, It takes a while to even see that this ball says “Love” with the o being the Phillies liberty bell logo. I like the liberty bell, but nothing else. You can get these here, on eBay, from a trusted Rawlings dealer.
2025 Toronto City Connect – This was the one that sparked a lot of intrigue last season, as I had a heads up on it early on. Inspired by the Toronto subway system, this Maple Leaf with a big T is the same logo the Blue Jays wear on their hats! Will be used on select dates this season, mostly Fridays. You can find these from a trusted Rawlings dealer on eBay, here.
2025 Rays City Connect – This one really really strays from the average. A logo that seemingly has little to do with the jerseys, this logo is an alternate for the city connect branding package. 3 Palm trees and a pelican, as well as a little Rays logo for the pelican’s eye that if you squint a lot you can make out. I snagged this ball the first game the Rays used them. Used on Saturdays at home, and some other games as well. You can get these here, on eBay, from a trusted Rawlings dealer. Pic is the one I snagged! **Currently unsure of the status of this one with the Rays temporary move to Steinbrenner Field**
2025 Mets City Connect – It’s nice to have my home team do a commemorative for the first time in a while, and I was just able to snag this one. Pic is mine, a Francisco Alvarez groundout. The NYC is the exact center jersey wordmark worn on the Mets city connect jerseys. Used on every home Saturday, and the occasional other home game where they wear the jersey as well. You can get these here, on eBay, from a trusted Rawlings dealer.
2025 Futures Game – 2024 had a change in the Futures Game baseball, removing the years of ads that came with the logo. Hoping that trend continues in 2025, and we should see this ball shortly before the game itself. The font slightly changes year to year in line with that All Star Game’s wordmark, and this one is a bit boring. Will update with purchase link when available.
2025 Home Run Derby – Since 2016, MLB has used the same logo for the Home Run Derby, the trophy, a T-Mobile ad, and the year. In 2018 they reduced the size of this logo to be consistent with other logo size changes, and it has been identical ever since. In 2023 the balls started to be signed under the logo for the first few rounds (the players only sign 100 or so of these, so the later rounds usually do not feature autographs) and in past years the baseballs were signed on the sweet-spot. Will update with purchase link when available.
2025 Home Run Derby Moneyball – Since 2016, MLB has used the same logo for the Home Run Derby, the trophy, a T-Mobile ad, and the year. In 2018 they reduced the size of this logo to be consistent with other logo size changes, and it has been identical ever since. Always the exact same logo as the normal HRD ball, with the exception of one of the two panels (the “Official Major League Baseball” panel) being a pink dyed leather. Will update with purchase link when available.
2025 All Star Game Batting Practice – Since 2022 MLB has used an alternate version of the ASG baseball in batting practice for the Home Run Debry and the All Star Game. These baseballs are NOT available at retail. The idea behind it is that a mix of MLB wanting to give ASG balls to fans but also being cheap at the same time lead to these. Pic is an example from years past.
2025 All Star Game – On July 15th at Truist Park, the 95th Midsummer Classic will be held! This year, we have a pretty weak logo for the All Star Game commemorative, unlike last year. It’s missing so much, and nothing about it says Atlanta at all. It’s also nothing like the official logo they’re using to promote the game. Blue and Red stitching, an MLB logo, the All Star Game wordmark in “Braves” font, and “Atlanta 2025”. Sad and disappointing! You can get this baseball here, on eBay, from a trusted Rawlings dealer.
2025 Phillies Wall of Fame – On August 1st at Citizens Bank Park for Phillies v Tigers, as in years past, the Phillies will be inducting new Wall of Fame members Jimmy Rollins and Ed Wade, and using this WOF commemorative baseball. Used yearly since 2018 (sans 2020) this is still a great looking ball and I have always enjoyed it. They will have game used authenticated versions of it after that game. The Phillies have the small logo version in stock, and also keep large version autographed versions in stock as well. I have these in stock currently, so feel free to shoot me an email to purchase, or check it out on my eBay here.
2025 Ichiro Hall of Fame Celebration – On August 9th vs the Tampa Bay Rays, the Seattle Mariners will be likely using a baseball with this logo to celebrate Ichiro’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame! What a great logo, Ichiro’s iconic stance, his name and number, the Mariners logo, Mt Rainer, and the Seattle skyline! Excited to see this one in the flesh soon. Will update with purchase link when available.
2025 World Series – We’ll get the leak of the 2025 World Series Logo soon, and I expect a ball to follow in about September. Last season’s was very nice! Will update with purchase link when available.
Not confirmed/doubtful: MLB Speedway Classic, Nationals 20th Anniversary, David Wright # Retirement, Billy Wagner # Retirement
Questionable: Giants 25th Anniversary at Oracle Park?
Retail/Exhibitions
2025 Lou Gehrig Day – In memory of my friend Adam Wilson, I am glad Lou Gehrig Day is celebrated and will be for years to come. I expect a retail ball for charity, sold through MLB Auctions later this year.
2025 Roberto Clemente Day – I expect a retail ball for charity, similar to last years, sold through MLB Auctions later this year.
2025 WBC Qualifiers – A repeat from last World Baseball Classic, nothing notable here, undated is lame! Not available at retail.
2025 Home Run Derby X – Last year they changed it up, opting for a more traditional logo but with orange stitches, and making the money ball more like the normal home run derby money ball, with orange dyed leather. I expect the same for this season’s events. These are not available at retail at the moment. I have 2023’s version if you may be interested.
Recap
Sadly a lack of new stuff this season, and that’s a bummer. MLB has only one international series, so there’s less of those, and more city connect action. Overall, a quiet year. That being said, we should see more city connect balls pop up this season.
I do hear that there are some very very unique retail balls in the process of being made, and that side has heated up in recent years. I wish more teams would do full season commemoratives, and I will continue to push for more to get used in the future. Regardless, as always, I am looking forward to what surprises this season brings. There is ALWAYS something new and interesting that catches me by surprise!
Here’s a link to my EHA Collectibles eBay store, where I currently have in stock lots of rare commemoratives and where I am listing more all the time (as well as autographs and other fun items)! Here’s my full commemorative inventory right now, email or message me to purchase.
Here is a link to Rawlings’ Amazon page where you can always find commemoratives (or standard ROMLBs) from 2025 and other years! Here’s a link to SportsProStop on eBay where you can find loads of newer commemorative baseballs from an official Rawlings Dealer.
My full commemorative master list is a bit out of date from last season, and mostly need to fix retail, WBC, and 2022/2023 stuff. I am still working on hosting the database of photos, hopefully to be completed within a few months.
I hope to bring more interesting content this year, and hear more feedback from my great readers. I still host this site at a net loss yearly, and I do it out of personal enjoyment as well as a commitment to having this information in a centralized place for historical purposes. I really hope you enjoy reading and get something out of it.
Of course, I will be updating this post throughout the season with more pics, more info, and more baseballs! As always, thank you for reading, and you can always contact me: via email at abnerieric@gmail.com, Instagram @EricAbneri, Twitter @thefrownyface, or even in the Just Baseballs Facebook group which I administrate. if you have any questions, comments, or just want to chat!