Philadelphia: The Athletic Publishing Company, 1888.
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Hardcover. First edition, wrappered issue. 149pp. Bound in black cloth covers with the wrappers bound in. A couple of old professional paper repairs, slight wear, a near fine copy. Ward was one of the game's great pitchers; when he injured his arm, he became a star shortstop for the New York Giants. Unlike most players of his day, he was a college graduate, earning a law degree from Columbia while playing. He was the first president of the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players (the first players' union), and in 1890 helped form the Players' League, which folded after one season. The future Hall of Famer retired at 34 as player-manager of the world champion Giants. One of the first truly important books on baseball as a game.
Item #350218