February 2021 Auction Ends Thursday, February 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/25/2021
An important newspaper in the history of baseball, a beautiful copy of ''Porter's Spirit of the Times'' from 28 February 1857 reporting on the first baseball convention held three days prior, with the first printing of the new baseball ''Rules and Regulations'' passed therein. Prior to this convention - considered by some as the most important meeting in the history of baseball, clubs operated by their own set of rules, with disparate rules precluding any sort of competitive play; it wasn't until this 1857 convention attended by 16 New York City area clubs that the modern era of baseball was launched. The coverage takes up almost one full column of the 10.75'' x 16'' paper on page 420, titled ''Base Ball'' and reading in part,
''The Base Ball Convention And Their New Rules...This body, which consists of delegates from most, if not all, of the Ball Clubs in this vicinity, held their adjourned meeting on Wednesday...when the following report was to be submitted from the Committee on Rules and Regulations for the government of all the matches...At the hour we go to press it is impossible for us to say whether the report was accepted or not. We have taken but a hasty glance at the rules--24 in all--and if we can form an opinion about them in their present shape, we should say they are too diffuse & that the pruning-knife will be necessary before a final adoption...'' A letter from the Chairman of the Committee then follows, along with the ''Rules and Regulations'' that were recommended containing 34 sections, the first printing of the new, formalized rules, almost all of which were ultimately adopted, including a 30-yard distance between the bases, and 9-man teams.
In addition to acting as the first convention formalizing the rules of the game, the 25 February 1857 meeting also became the basis for the National Association of Base Ball Players. Newspaper is complete in 16 pages, measuring 10.75'' x 16''. In unusually bright, near fine condition.
Significant Newspaper in the History of Baseball -- The First Printing of the First Baseball Convention in 1857 and ''Their New Rules''
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