Check out my E-Bay Store for High Grade Vintage Coins and Pins!

1877 Constitution and Playing Rules National League Official Rule Book Spaulding 

NEAR MINT CONDITION

A similar book in poor condition sold for $600 IN Goldin Auctions in 2021

The National Association is widely regarded as the first professional baseball league, and was founded in 1871, continuing operations through the 1875 season. After it dissolved, several of its clubs created the succeeding National League, which began play in 1876 and is still going strong in its 139th season of major league baseball.

Offered is an extremely rare and highly desirable original rule book for the 1877 National League season, the second year of its existence. This 3-3/16” x 5-7/8” book is officially titled, “Constitution and Playing Rules of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs.” This book was published by famed sporting goods magnate Albert Spalding, who also was still pitching at that time. Price for this Official Rule book was 10 cents. The 70 pages contain mostly rules, with several pages of advertisements for various businesses located in the cities where the team might play, plus ads for equipment and a few pages of batting averages from the National League’s inaugural 1876 season. However, beginning on page 41 are printed minutes from the December 7, 1876 meeting of the executive board, and also minutes of the owners meeting same day. This was the meeting in which the financially troubled Philadelphia Atlantic and New York Mutual were expelled from the National League for refusing to play Western road trips late in the season.

This example is in Near Mint condition with a very tight spine that was rarely used. This book is a fantastic historical reference to the rules of the day, and the thoughts of the owners over league matters, all during the second official National League season.

Shipping is $3.95 for the first coin and $1 each additional coin. Insurance is automatically added free of charge on orders over $100.