Sporting goods manufacturer A.G. Spalding and Co. published a guide for every Major League baseball season from 1877-1941. Beginning in 1894 the guides were published by Spalding’s own publishing arm, The American Sports Publishing Company. Following Spalding’s acquisition of their rival AJ Reach in 1934,the 1940-1940 editions became known the Spalding-Reach Baseball Guide. Beginning in 1941, the publication became known as The Sporting News Baseball Guide.
The guide features statistical, historical and biographical information regarding Major League Baseball players, leagues and clubs, as well as advertisements for baseball equipment sold by Spalding.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.