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Baseball Guides
5 Lots
 Lot 248. 15 “Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guides.” Some annual guides began publication earlier than Spalding, but none that originated in the 19th century ran longer or was more successful. The Spalding annuals had a run from 1876-1941. These 15 original guides and three reprints are from Bert Randolph Sugar’s estate and personal reference library. They come with a letter of authenticity, signed by Mrs. Sugar, saying they are from the Bert Sugar collection. The two earliest guides are from 1882 and 1883. Both have been re-bound in hardcovers. The 1882 edition has reproduction covers; the title page and several pages at the end are missing. The 1883 original covers have tape on them. This guide is complete, and the pages are ex, except for four at the front that have tape on them. Here is a list of the other guides: 1896 p, missing covers and pages; 1899 f-g, complete, decent pages, significant chips in the front and back covers, which are loose (back) or held on by tape (front); 1910 g, covers taped on; 1911 g, loose and taped covers; 1914 f, no back cover, last page loose; 1915 g-vg; 1916 vg; 1923 f; 1926 p, front cover and at least 18 pages missing; 1929 g+ to vg; 1935 p, Dizzy Dean cover; 1939 p+, front cover missing, otherwise complete; and 1940 g+, Spalding and Reach combined. Reproduction guides for 1884-86 are nm.
Winning Bid $225.
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 Lot 249. 2 of 3 Baseball Guides Produced by Napoleon Lajoie – 1906 and 1908. The future Hall of Fame second baseman was responsible for “Napoleon Lajoie’s Official Base Ball Guides” issued from 1906-08. They were unique in their use of Horner and Van Oeyen photographs. The 1906 edition is g-vg. The 1908 issue lacks the back cover and a couple of pages toward the center are loose. F-g.
Winning Bid $227.
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 Lot 250. 22 Reach “Official American League Baseball Guides,” 1907-38.” Like the Spalding and other guides, the Reach Guides cover the National and minor leagues, but they give more emphasis than the others to the early years of the American League. In general, they also provide considerably more information than competing guides. Here is a list of the issues: 1907 g-vg; 1908 vg+; 1910 vg; 1911 p-f, missing back cover; 1912 g, front cover loose; 1913 p-f, back cover and possibly some advertising pages missing; 1914 g-vg; 1918 p, no back cover or index; 1919 p-f, missing back cover; 1922 vg to vg-ex, Black Sox coverage; 1923 g+ to vg, more Black Sox information; 1924 vg+; 1925 vg; 1926 p, covers and pages missing; 1928 g-vg; 1930 vg+; 1931 vg; 1932 vg+ to ex; 1933 vg+; 1934 p-f, no back cover and possibly some advertising pages missing; 1937 g+, back cover loose, Lou Gehrig cover; and 1938 vg, Charlie Gehringer cover. These copies are loaded with history, photos and statistics. This group of 22 has significant potential break-up value.
Winning Bid $218.
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 Lot 251. “Wright & Ditson’s 1911 Base Ball Guide.” In 1871, baseball pioneer George Wright opened the Wright & Ditson sporting goods company in Boston. Three years later, he entered the baseball guide competition. Over the next 30+ years, Wright & Ditson guides appeared sporadically. Tim Murname, a sportswriter and teammate of Wright’s in Boston, edited the 1910-12 versions. The 1911 edition has photos of the four surviving members of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings, including Wright; Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Frank Chance, Johnny Evers and other stars of the period. Many high school teams are pictured. The back cover of this guide absent; the front cover is held in place with tape. The pages are ex, and the guide appears to be complete. If anything is missing, it would be advertising for Wright & Ditson sports equipment. The cover features excellent artwork.
Winning Bid $152.
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