Spalding Official Baseball Guide (4-CD Set)
	This fascinating set of CDs provides a unique opportunity to examine 15 rare and historic Baseball guides produced by the American Sports Publishing Company between the late nineteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries!

Between the late nineteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries, the American Sports Publishing Company issued works that are widely used by researchers and sports historians - the annuals. These Publications summarized both narratively and statistically, the previous year's history, accomplishments, and records for several sports among which was baseball. Known as Spalding Guides, these publications included guides, advertisements and a fascinating history of the development of everything from baseball gloves, tennis racquets, and ice skates to golf clubs and football cleats.

The Spalding's Official Base Ball Guides currently presented in this set of CDs are examples of the annuals described above. It is hoped that with the digitalization of the remaining guides, many more Spalding Baseball Guides will be available from this source. The first CD in this historic set contains guides from the years 1889, 1894, 1895 and 1906. The second CD includes four guides published between 1910 and 1913, while the third CD has guides from the years 1915, 1917, 1922 and 1929. The fourth CD presents three guides from the years 1930, 1934 and 1939.

Spain without its Matadors would seem just as strange as Rome stripped off its amphitheatres and gladiators. Olympic boxing without the Cubans would surely seem odd. Soccer World Cup without Brazil would be downright bizarre. But baseball without the Americans? - Surely that is as unthinkable as stars without stripes.

The passion with which Americans embrace baseball finds few parallels in the world of sport barring the few mentioned above. Everybody in the America loves his or her baseball. For well over a century, baseball has occupied an important place in American culture.

While the exact origins of baseball are unknown, most historians agree that it is based on the English game of rounders. The first recorded baseball contest took place in 1846. In 1858, a convention of amateur teams was called to discuss rules and other issues. Twenty-five teams from the northeast sent delegates. The following year, they formed the National Association of Base Ball Players, the first organized baseball league.

In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings decided to become a completely professional team. Some wanted baseball to remain an amateur endeavor, but there was no way they could compete with the professional teams. The amateur teams began to fade away as the best players became professionals.

During his more than twenty-one years' involvement with baseball’s Major Leagues, A.G. (Albert Goodwill) Spalding (1850-1915) was a baseball player, manager, and executive. With his brother he began the sporting-goods manufacturing and retail business that still bears his name and is known to millions. He also founded a publishing house, the American Sports Publishing Company.

A2ZCDS.com is presenting this rare collection of the Official Baseball Guides published by the American Sports Publishing Company for the millions of sports fan across US.

Sample thumbnails taken from the collection. Click on image to view larger picture.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Thousand of fans crowding into a stadium, devouring tons of hot dogs and shouting themselves hoarse, charming cheer girls egging their teams on. Delight and despair, celebration and anguish - this describes a typical scene at a baseball game, as it has for several decades.

Baseball is so popular with Americans that it survived a civil war and two world wars not to mention the many scandals that rocked the game from the earliest days. This set of CDs captures in a very original style, historical records of the game- complete with copies of original documents and list of award winners, not to mention guides on how the game should be played.

Photographs, miraculously well preserved enhance the value of these extraordinary CDs. In all 15 guides are seen, each one as edifying as the one before.

A2ZCDS, a well-known name in History CDs has done a wonderful work in collecting these guides and making this historical treasure available to the millions of fans across North America. These CDs provide a delightful feast for baseball fans - especially those interested in its history and records! The level of detail the legendary Spalding Company put into their guides will certainly amaze you!

CUSTOMER'S REVIEWS:

"A2ZCDS seems to score a home run each time they bring out a set of CDs, and this one on the Spalding Official Baseball Guides is no exception! I am certain that this set of CDs will provide a delightful study of historical records on baseball. Hats off to Spalding and to everybody at a2zcds for this feast! I sure did relish it."

Customer's Name: Al Greene (New Ark, New Jersey)