[Rarebooks] FS: THE FIRST NOVEL TO FEATURE PROMINENTLY 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. Scarce early printing, 
first published in 1868. THE FIRST NOVEL TO FEATURE PROMINENTLY 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. (#013168)        $900.00

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