[Rarebooks] FS: THE FIRST NOVEL PUBLISHED TO PROMINENTLY FEATURE THE SPORT OF BASEBALL, 1869

[Charles Agvent]

EVERETT, William. CHANGING BASE; OR, WHAT EDWARD RICE LEARNT AT SCHOOL. 
Boston: Lee And Shepard, 1869. First Edition. Small octavo (4-1/8" x 
6-7/8") in original purple cloth with a gilt spine decoration consisting 
of a banner, a bat, and a ball; [5], 6-282 pages. THE FIRST NOVEL 
PUBLISHED TO PROMINENTLY FEATURE THE SPORT OF BASEBALL. Illustrated with 
four full-page plates, including one action depiction of a baseball 
game. Published the same year as the first professional team was born, 
the Cincinnati Red Stockings, this book for young readers follows its 
hero through school where he joins a "base ball club," otherwise known 
as "the nine." Although baseball had been mentioned previously, though 
sparingly, this was the first book where the infant sport was central to 
the story. It wasn't until 15 years later (1884) that a book was 
published that was entirely devoted to baseball (OUR BASE BALL CLUB AND 
HOW IT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP.) There are some fascinating references in 
CHANGING BASE to the still evolving sport, including the "new" rule of 
calling balls and strikes. The author, who was elected to Congress in 
1893, was the son of a more famous politician, Edward Everett, best 
known for giving the "other" speech at Gettysburg. Significantly cocked, 
but tight and still Very Good.                        $1,500.00	

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