Constitution and Playing Rules of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs. 1887.

Original Wraps. Chicago: A. G. Spalding and Bros. 1887. First Edition. Near Fine.


First edition. Original publisher's cream wrappers, lettered and decorated in black with a Spalding advertisement to rear. Very good, with a tiny closed tear to head of spine, longer closed tear to foot of spine, small chips to bottom edge and left corner of front wrapper, and light soiling to front wrapper. Overall, a well-preserved example of an early baseball publication. This official booklet contains the National League's 1887 Constitution which is divided into these broad sections: "Membership," "Officers," "League Club, Umpires, Managers and Players," "Disputes and Complaints," "Playing Rules," "Championship," "Annual Meeting," and "Amendments." The booklet also contains an in-depth list of sixty-seven updated playing rules, batting and fielding averages for the eight 1886 NL teams, and team standings from 1876 to 1886. The National League was founded in 1876 by businessman William Hulbert and quickly grew to be the dominant league in professional baseball. The American League was founded 25 years later, and as a result the National League is sometimes referred to as the Senior Circuit while the American League is referred to as the Junior Circuit. Notably, this booklet was published by A. G. Spalding & Bros., a sporting goods company founded in 1876 by Albert Goodwill Spalding, a prominent baseball player and executive in the earliest days of the sport. Now known simply as Spalding, the company still thrives today.

Item #BBCHIC002

Price: $2,500.00