Between the Covers

Hardcover. Small archive of material related to the short-lived American Baseball Academy founded in New York City by Malcolm Child and Phil Rizzuto in 1951. Child was apparently a bit of a hustler, and pitched the concept as part of a program to combat juvenile delinquency in Manhattan. The Academy was heavily staffed with professional ballplayers, mostly New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers, with Phil Rizzuto serving as president. According to an article published in a 1951 issue of *Reader's Digest*, the academy was "divided into Manhattan and Brooklyn branches, [with] 2400 boys from 13 to 18 doing nothing but learn baseball." The article was apparently overly hopeful; virtually no record of the academy exists after 1951 aside from four books published in The American Baseball Academy Library series.

List:

1. [Book]: CHILD, Malcolm, edited by. *How to Play Big League Baseball*. New York: Harcourt (1951). First edition. Part of the front fly cut away, removing the signature (but not the inscription) of Gil Hodges, else very good in very good dustwrapper. Includes articles by Rizzuto, Roy Campanella, Eddie Waitkus, George Kell, Joe Gordon, Andy Pafko, Dom DiMaggio, Enos Slaughter, Eddie Sawyer, and Harry Brecheen.

2. [Book]: CHILD, Malcolm. *Catching*. New York: A.S. Barnes (1953). First edition. 12mo. Near fine in near fine dustwrapper. One of four books published in The American Baseball Academy Library series.

3. [Pamphlet]: *American Baseball Academy, Inc.* One page gate-folded to make six pages. Fine. Illustrated. States the purpose of the Academy and announces the faculty: Rizzuto, Campanella, Hodges, Ralph Branca, Monte Irvin, Gene Woodling, and Sid Gordon. Illustrated with pictures of boys playing baseball while knocking out "heroin," "marijuana," "gang wars," and "petty thievery."

4. [Invitation and Program]: *Luncheon on Behalf of the American Baseball Academy*. New York 1951. One card leaf folded to make four pages. Near fine. Sponsors include Rizzuto, Woodling, Hodges, Lopat, Branca, and Yogi Berra.

5. [Invitation and Program]: *First Annual American Baseball Academy "Dinner of Champions."* New York 1952. One card leaf folded to make four pages. Horizontal fold (as mailed) else very good, with original envelope. Toastmaster was Ed Sullivan. Special guest was Jackie Gleason. Faculty guests included Rizzuto, Woodling, Hodges, Lopat, Branca, and Gil McDougald. Other listed guests include Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Henrich, Joe Louis, Steve Owen, Lou Little, Joe Lapchick, Frank McGuire, and Craig Wood.

6. Typed Letter. Dated 1 May 1951 from Bernard M. Baruch to Phil Rizzuto. Two copies, one ribbon copy, the other a carbon, both Signed only in type to Rizzuto lending his support to the Academy.

Item #390095