Credit for e-text: The Library of Congress, Joshua Hutchinson, David King, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team SPALDING'S OFFICIAL ATHLETIC LIBRARY BASEBALL GUIDE 1913 EDITED BY JOHN B. FOSTER PRICE 10 CENTS PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN SPORTS PUBLISHING CO., 21 Warren Street, New York City. [Advertisement] AMERICA'S NATIONAL GAME By A. G. SPALDING PRICE, $2.00 NET A book of 600 pages, profusely illustrated with over 100 full page engravings, and having sixteen forceful cartoons by Homer C. Davenport, the famous American artist. The above work should have a place in every public library in this country, as also in the libraries of public schools and private houses. The author of "America's National Game" is conceded, always, everywhere, and by everybody, to have the best equipment of any living writer to treat the subject that forms the text of this remarkable volume, viz., the story of the origin, development and evolution of Base Ball, the National Game of our country. Almost from the very inception of the game until the present time--as player, manager and magnate--Mr. Spalding has been closely identified with its interests. Not infrequently he has been called upon in times of emergency to prevent threatened disaster. But for him the National Game would have been syndicated and controlled by elements whose interests were purely selfish and personal. The book is a veritable repository of information concerning players, clubs and personalities connected with the game in its early days, and is written in a most interesting style, interspersed with enlivening anecdotes and accounts of events that have not heretofore been published. The response on the part of the press and the public to Mr. Spalding's efforts to perpetuate the early history of the National Game has been very encouraging and he is in receipt of hundreds of letters and notices, a few of which are here given. ROBERT ADAMSON, New York, writing from the office of Mayor Gaynor, says:--"Seeing the Giants play is my principal recreation and I am interested in reading everything I can find about the game. I especially enjoy what you [Mr. Spalding] have written, because you stand as the highest living authority on the game." BARNEY DREYFUSS, owner of the Pittsburg National League club:--"It does honor to author as well as the game. I have enjoyed reading it very much." WALTER CAMP, well known foot ball expert and athlete, says:--"It is indeed a remarkable work and one that I have read with a great deal of interest." JOHN B. DAY, formerly President of the New York Nationals:--"Your wonderful work will outlast all of us." W. IRVING SNYDER, formerly of the house of Peck & Snyder:--"I have read the book from cover to cover with great interest." ANDREW PECK, formerly of the celebrated firm of Peck & Snyder:--"All base ball fans should read and see how the game was conducted in early years."