First Field Hockey Ball 1869 - Cask Bung

Image from the Every Boys Book 1869

Balls have been used in Hockey before this, but this is the earliest image found so far of a ball that is not a Cricket Ball.

Cricket Balls have been used in Stick and Ball games for centuries.
The first written Laws of Cricket in 1744 said the ball must weigh 5 oz. to 6 oz. In the 1770s, the weight became 5 1/2 oz. to 5 3/4 oz., and the circumference was 8 13/16 inches to 9 inches.