A nticipating the present ten ency of the A mericanpeople toward a healthfu l method of living ’ and e o me t S a d s A t et nj y n , p l ing hl ic Library was established in 1892 for the purpose of encouraging ath letics e er formnot o in v y , nly by publishing the official rules and records pertaining to the various astimes bu a so i r p , t st u t l by n c ing , ’ u ntil to-day Spalding s A thletic Library is unique inits ownpar ticular field and has been conceded the greatest edu cational series on athletic and physical training sub ec ts t at has e er ee om ed j h v b n c pil . The publication of a distinct series of books devoted to athletic Sports and pastimes and designed to occupy the premier place in A merica inits class was anearly dea of Mr. A a d . G. S wh o i p l ing, wa n h s o e of t e first inA merica to publish a handbook devoted to ’ a o s n A P DI t et Sp rt , Spa d g s Offi a . G. S A L NG hl ic l i ci l Base Ball Guide being the initial numer was fo o ed at ter a s with ot er ha d oo s onthe b , which ll w in v l h n b k ’ S orts rom e he p p in nt in t 7OS . ’ S a d s A t et c L ra h d he ad ce and coune of Mr r A . p l ing hl i ib y as ha t vi s l . G Spa di inall of its u derta s and art u ar all oo s de oted l ng n king , p ic l ly in b k v ’ to the nat o a ame T s a es es e a to S a d s Ofiicial i n l g . hi ppli p ci lly p l ing ’ Base Ba uide and a d Offi a Base Ba Re ord ot of w G S s ll p l ing ci l ll c , bh hich rece e th er o al tte t o of Mr A . G . S a d o to his ear e s a . iv p n n i n p l ing. wing ly connectionwith the game as the leading pitcher of the champion Boston and C a o am f 2- i i terest does not sto o e er w te s o 187 76. H s t hic g n p, h w v , i h matters ere is not a S ort t at Mr a S d pertaining to base ball; th p h . p l ing does n om fam ar wt and a h ot ma e it his bus ess to e e t t t e k in b c ili i h , h ’ L rar wa s a reme a e with Mr a d a a m ta nits r . S s e ib y ill lw y in i p i pl c , p l ing bl c ou se at a d oes thout sa n l h n , g wi ying. The entire series since the i ssue of the first number has beenunder o the di re ers a u s o r ame E u i anPres de t t o s er of M s . S c p n l p vi i n . J ll v , i n of the A mer a S or s Pu s Coma and the total ser es of ic n p t bli hing p ny, i c onsecutive numbers reach anaggregate of con siderably over three “ ” h u dred c uded are ma a ua s t at rea o st tute n , in l in which ny nn l , h lly c n i the s or of t eir art u ar s ort A mer a ear ear a o es hi t y h p ic l p in ic y by y , b ck c pi of are e ennwea er sou t for o st tut as t e do the o which v g ly gh , c n i ing h y really first authentic records of events and official rules that have ever ee o se ut e com ed b n c n c iv ly pil . ’ r was fou ded se e teenears a o W enS a d ns A t et L ar a h p l i g hl ic ib y n , v n y g , track and field athletic s were practically u nknown outs ide the larger co e es and a fewat et c u s the ead t es a e o a ll g hl i cl b in l ing ci i , which g v cc r was a su e o om sional meets e ane r s t of 250 omet to s t f c , wh n nt y li c p i bj c ment ; golf was knownonly by a compara tively fewperson s; lawntennis h ad some vogue and base ball was practically the only establis hed field s ort ant t a rof ss o a wa as e a u d a e t had st ee e p , h in p i n l y; b k b ll j b n inv nted — at et cs for the s oo o and s oo r — ere a most u o and hl i ch lb y ch lgi l w l nkn wn , anadvocate of clas s contests in athletics inthe s chools could not get a n -d e find he rea od f e h ri . To a w t te t o at te a g y s y s in the or d is . g b hl w l fePu c S oo s A t et c Lea ue of Greater NewYor g has ha bli ch l hl i k , which d an a u ame o w ehtr st at its a s f o er t o t ou sa d and ose y li nn l g v h n , in wh “ " elementary series mbase ball last year 106 schools competed for the t ro ema of the am o s phy embl tic ch pi n hip . ’ While Spalding 8 A thletic Library cannot c laimthat the rapid grow th of at et s t s cou tr is due to it so e the fact ca ot be de ed hl ic in hi n y l ly, nn ni t at the oo s a e had a great dea t o do t its e oura eme t h b k h v l wi h nc g n , by printing the official rules and instructions for playing the various games at a om a r e the rea of e er o e t the so e o e t n in l p ic , within ch v y n , wi h l bj c t hat its series might be c omplete and the one place where a person could look with absolute certainty for the particu lar book inwhich he m es e ight be inter t d. r nd wr ters f r the var1ous oo s Inse e t the ed to s a o the ead l c ing i i b k , l in aut or t his ar u ar e has eeno ta ed the resu t g h i y in p tic l lin b b in , with l t hat no collection of books onathletic subj ects cancompare with ’ S palding s A thletic Library for the prominence of the various auth ors and their ability to present their subjects in a thorough and practical manner e wh A sh ort s ketch of a fewof thos o have edited some of the lead ’ ing numbers of Spalding 3 A thletic Library is given herewi th A ME J S E U LLIV N . S A President A merican Sports Publishing pany ; entered the publishing house of Frank Les e m1878 and has ee o ected o t u li , b n c nn c n in ou sly with the publishing business s ince then and also as athletic editor of various New Y ork papers ; was a competing athlete; one of t he organiz ers of the A mateur A thletic U nion of the U nited S tates ! has been actively onits board of governors smee its organiz ation until the rese t t me and Pres de t for t wo suc p n i , i n cessive terms: has attended every ch ampion ship meeting inA merica s ince 1879 and has officiated in some capacity in c onnection wi th A merican amateur championships track and field games for ear t e t -five ears ; as s sta t A mer a d re tor O m Games n ly w n y y i n ic n i c ly pic , Par s 1900 d re tor Pan-A mer a Ex os t o at et de artme t 1901 i , ; i c ic n p i i n hl ic p n , ; ef de artme s a u re Lou s ana Pur ase x os o t tu E t St .