Richter's History and Records of Base Ball: The American Nation's Chief Sport by RICHTER, Francis C - 1914

Philadelphia: Francis C. Richter, 1914. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition. 306pp., illustrated from photographs. A couple of small stains on the front fly, light discoloration from dampness on both boards, slight smudging in text, very good, internally near fine. A nice association copy of this classic baseball text Inscribed by Richter: "To Edward Martin Schoenborn, my friend and fellow lover of Base Ball with the compliments of the Author, Francis C. Richter. Philada., Pa. March 23, 1914." Schoenborn, who owned a successful cigar business, was the president of the Columbus (Ohio) Senators in the American Association. He is mentioned in the section "Leaders of Baseball" on page 285. In 1901 when it was impossible to raise money to keep a baseball team in Columbus, Schoenborn put his money behind the Columbus Senators, becoming president of the team in 1909. In 1923, Schoenborn was part of the group that purchased the Boston Red Sox. As a writer, Richter was an influent in the early development of the game. Beginning with the *Philadelphia Day* in 1872, then the *Sunday World* and *Public Ledger*, he was the first to set up a separate sports department for any newspaper. Richter was instrumental in the formation of the original American Association in 1882 and helped to place the Philadelphia Athletics in it. The next year he helped to organize the Phillies in the National League and started *Sporting Life*, a weekly newspaper, which became a force in baseball. In 1907 he was offered the presidency of the National League but turned it down. He edited the *Reach Guide* from its inception in 1901 to the 1926 volume, which he completed days before his death. A nice association copy.