This variety may have been reported as growing on Orcas as early as 1891, under the name Fall Pippen (S.R.S. Gray reported that Fall Pippin was being "erroneously called Golden Ball"). Fall Pippin is a distinct variety, but we haven not yet found it growing in island orchards. We have documented a living Golden Ball tree growing in one of the oldest orchards on Orcas: planted by Mary and Louis Cayou at Deer Harbor in the 1860s. This variety originated in Maine sometime before 1837. It is a seedling of Drap d'Or de Bretagna, an ancient French variety brought to Maine in the 1600s. Golden Ball is a large, sweet green apple, and good for baking.
You can view a watercolor of Golden Ball in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection.