Current Events & Trends | March 31, 2023 | Alex Johnson

Five Rare Books for Collectors: Baseball

Capitol Hill Books

Highlights from Capitol Hill Books' latest acquisitions of rare baseball books including:

* America's National Game: Historic Facts Concerning the Beginning, Evolution, Development and Popularity of Base Ball, With Personal Reminiscences of its Vicissitudes, its Victories and its Votaries by Albert G. Spalding and Homer C. Davenport. New York: American Sports Publishing Company, 1911. First Edition. Black and white photographs and illustrations, with fold-outs, complete though three panels from the Polo Grounds and Forbes Field double-side fold-out and two panels from the Athletics and White Sox fold-outs detached but present.

Spalding was a baseball pitcher and manager and would go on to found the National League with William Hulbert. Even with flaws to fold-outs, an attractive copy of this important early history of the game.

* Wright & Ditson Base Ball Goods Season 1911. First Edition. Black and white photographs and illustrations throughout.

Scarce trade catalog from the early sporting good store. Includes uniforms, mitts, bats, and everything else a 1911 baseball player could want.

Capitol Hill Books

Wright & Ditson Base Ball Goods Season 1911

Capitol Hill Books

The Battle of Base-Ball by C.H. Claudy. Including How I Became a Big-League Pitcher by Christy Mathewson

Capitol Hill Books

Touching Second: The Science of Baseball by John J. Evers and Hugh S. Fullerton

Capitol Hill Books

Pilgrimage: A Memoir of Poland and Rome by James A. Michener (Inscribed and Signed by Stan Musial)

* The Battle of Base-Ball by C.H. Claudy. Including How I Became a Big-League Pitcher by Christy Mathewson. New York: The Century Co., 1912. First Edition. Black and white photographs including frontispiece with tissue guard, complete.

An exceedingly scarce history of baseball from the early 20th century. Includes a chapter from Christy "Big Six" Mathewson and a section on Spalding's rules.

* Touching Second: The Science of Baseball by John J. Evers and Hugh S. Fullerton. Chicago: The Reilly & Britton Company, 1910. First Edition.

Scarce first edition of this early baseball history from the Chicago Cubs second baseman, part of the famous "Tinker-to-Evans-to-Chance" double play combo.

* Pilgrimage: A Memoir of Poland and Rome by James A. Michener (Inscribed and Signed by Stan Musial). Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1990.

Inscribed and signed by the 1950s baseball outfielder Stan Musial (1920-2013), who accompanied Michener on his trip to Poland and Rome where the two men met with Pope John Paul II. Musial apparently signed a number of copies, this one addressed "To Godfrey & Betty / Michener detailed our trip very well / Stan Musial."