America's National Game by AULICK, W.W - 1912

Mattoon, Illinois: F.L. Horn, 1878. Unbound. Near Fine. One quarto leaf folded to make four pages, apparently paginated with the previous issue: [1], 6-8pp. A small stain on the first page, else fine. An "amateur" newspaper. On page seven (the third page of the newspaper) is an advertisement that reads as follows: "Base Ball Cards! 25 for 20 cts. Special rates to clubs. State position and name of club when ordering. Agents wanted! Send 3 ct. stamp for samples. Franklin L. Horn, Mattoon, Ills." Within our own little circle of baseball scholars and enthusiasts, debate rages over the meaning of this advertisement. Some are convinced that this is an advertisement for business or trade cards, others that it indicates a previously unknown series of amateur baseball cards, and still others believing it was an advertisement for a stillborn project by the printer, abandoned with no takers. The definition of "baseball cards" is somewhat fluid. A few cabinet photographs were issued in the 1850s, and the… Read More

[Vernon, California?]: Pacific Coast League, 1911. Softcover. Very Good. Octavo. [8]pp. Stapled wrappers. One horizontal fold, the front wrap age-toned, some marginal tears on a couple of pages, very good. Program for a game between the Vernon Tigers of Vernon, California, and the Los Angeles Angels. The program features photos of several players, center score card/roster pages with pre-printed players' names, ballpark rules: "Bottle and cushion throwing prohibited," and some amusing baseball related advertising. Founded in 1903, the PCL was the highest level of western baseball until the Dodgers and Giants moved to California in the 1950s. Vernon was one of only two cities in Los Angeles County that was "wet," and with alcoholic beverages as an attraction, the Tigers attracted big crowds by the standards of the day. They weren't bad either, winning three pennants during their 17-year history. Very early memorabilia from the PCL is scarce.

New York: Office of the Commissioner Major League Baseball, 1989. Softcover. Near Fine. First edition. Quarto. Plastic comb-bound photo-duplicated pages with a clear plastic front cover and cardstock rear cover. 225pp. Handwritten copyright notice on the title leaf. A small chip and tear on the plastic front cover, page edges a bit thumbed, a near fine copy. The damning report prepared by attorney John Dowd for the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, which resulted in Pete Rose's lifetime ban from the league. This copy Inscribed by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball to a young attorney in Dowd's office: "To —, Thank you for all your help - Bart Giamatti." Purchased by us directly from the attorney, who reports that when Giamatti received the final report at Dowd's office, he offered to sign autographs for the staff, most of whom proffered baseballs. Our friend offered the report instead. Apparently later generation copies occasionally appear in the sports world, Signed by either Dowd or… Read More

New York: A.S. Barnes, 1957. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. First edition. Gift inscription dated 1959, boards a bit soiled, a very good only copy in a price-clipped, good or better dustwrapper with small chips and tears. Engaging reminiscences of the game by the creator of Studs Lonigan. This copy is Inscribed at a later date to Joe DiMaggio: "To Joe DiMaggio with kind regards. James T. Farrell. Aug. 17, 1978 N.Y." DiMaggio, who is mentioned in the text, may have been forced to seek out a used copy to have it signed, and this copy has an old bookseller's price in it. Several of the books from DiMaggio's library had receipts from his hometown used bookstore, Moe's Books, in San Francisco. With a letter of provenance signed by DiMaggio's two granddaughters. *Shannon 100*.

Boston: (Boston Union Printers Baseball Association), 1912. Hardcover. Very Good. A complete run consisting of issue numbers 1-7, dated August 19 - August 25, 1912. Quarto, bound into marbled endpapers, with three-quarter morocco and cloth. Some pages with closed tears, some loose, covers worn, otherwise a very good copy. This free periodical was the official paper of the Boston Union Printers Baseball Association, published to promote the fifth annual Printers National Baseball Tournament. *OCLC* locates a single run, at the Boston Public Library.

Mattoon, Illinois: F.L. Horn, 1878. Unbound. Near Fine. One quarto leaf folded to make four pages, apparently paginated with the previous issue: [1], 6-8pp. A small stain on the first page, else fine. An "amateur" newspaper. On page seven (the third page of the newspaper) is an advertisement that reads as follows: "Base Ball Cards! 25 for 20 cts. Special rates to clubs. State position and name of club when ordering. Agents wanted! Send 3 ct. stamp for samples. Franklin L. Horn, Mattoon, Ills." Within our own little circle of baseball scholars and enthusiasts, debate rages over the meaning of this advertisement. Some are convinced that this is an advertisement for business or trade cards, others that it indicates a previously unknown series of amateur baseball cards, and still others believing it was an advertisement for a stillborn project by the printer, abandoned with no takers. The definition of "baseball cards" is somewhat fluid. A few cabinet photographs were issued in the 1850s, and the… Read More

[Vernon, California?]: Pacific Coast League, 1911. Softcover. Very Good. Octavo. [8]pp. Stapled wrappers. One horizontal fold, the front wrap age-toned, some marginal tears on a couple of pages, very good. Program for a game between the Vernon Tigers of Vernon, California, and the Los Angeles Angels. The program features photos of several players, center score card/roster pages with pre-printed players' names, ballpark rules: "Bottle and cushion throwing prohibited," and some amusing baseball related advertising. Founded in 1903, the PCL was the highest level of western baseball until the Dodgers and Giants moved to California in the 1950s. Vernon was one of only two cities in Los Angeles County that was "wet," and with alcoholic beverages as an attraction, the Tigers attracted big crowds by the standards of the day. They weren't bad either, winning three pennants during their 17-year history. Very early memorabilia from the PCL is scarce.

New York: A.S. Barnes, 1957. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. First edition. Gift inscription dated 1959, boards a bit soiled, a very good only copy in a price-clipped, good or better dustwrapper with small chips and tears. Engaging reminiscences of the game by the creator of Studs Lonigan. This copy is Inscribed at a later date to Joe DiMaggio: "To Joe DiMaggio with kind regards. James T. Farrell. Aug. 17, 1978 N.Y." DiMaggio, who is mentioned in the text, may have been forced to seek out a used copy to have it signed, and this copy has an old bookseller's price in it. Several of the books from DiMaggio's library had receipts from his hometown used bookstore, Moe's Books, in San Francisco. With a letter of provenance signed by DiMaggio's two granddaughters. *Shannon 100*.

Boston: (Boston Union Printers Baseball Association), 1912. Hardcover. Very Good. A complete run consisting of issue numbers 1-7, dated August 19 - August 25, 1912. Quarto, bound into marbled endpapers, with three-quarter morocco and cloth. Some pages with closed tears, some loose, covers worn, otherwise a very good copy. This free periodical was the official paper of the Boston Union Printers Baseball Association, published to promote the fifth annual Printers National Baseball Tournament. *OCLC* locates a single run, at the Boston Public Library.

Unbound. Very Good. Typed Letter Signed by Mickey Mantle on New York Yankees, Inc. stationery, and dated July 28, 1953. Folded as mailed, a small section of bleed-through from a piece of tape on the verso (since removed), some finger smudges, a very good or better example. A brief letter to a fan providing an autograph and noting: "It sure is encouraging to know of your interest in me and the Yankees." A relatively early autograph. 1953 was Mantle's second full season with the team, and this letter has a certain nostalgia factor seldom found in the many post-career autographs that the Yankee legend provided.