This hardcover version of this classic tome is one of the rarest baseball books of all. One of the smartest men ever to play the game -- as well as one of the most talented -- "Monte" wrote this, one of the first definitive baseball history/handbooks, "Base-Ball: How To Become a Player", in 1888 when he was nearing the end of his illustrious career. An unbelievable pitcher in the early days of the game (he won 47 games in 1879 with Providence), who switched to shortstop as captain and manager of the New York Giants (leading them to pennants in '88 and '89), Ward was a real student of the game's roots and master of its strategies, which he described in detail in the classic 149-page book -- citing in the introduction no less than Homer, Herodotus and Corcyra. He also cited the Knickerbockers as the original baseball team -- not, as Al Spalding falsely claimed later, Abner Doubleday, and ranged over chapters such as "Theory of the Game -- A Chapter For the Ladies", "Training", "The Pitcher', and "Curve-Pitching". The book came at a critical time for Ward and the game. Working toward a law degree, he became a strong player-rights advocate, standing against the reserve rule, and after forming the 1st players "union," the Brotherhood, led a walkout of NLers to the Players' League in 1890. When the PL failed, he returned to the Giants, winning another title in '94 before quitting at age 34 to practice law fulltime, and though his mission to win players' rights was a lost cause (and would be for many more years), Ward gets props for being a visionary. This book is the incredibly rare hardcover version with green cloth covers with the title “Base-Ball” in gold. Published by the Athletic Publishing Company of Philadelphia. A few illustrations, mostly text. Condition is overall EX with some spine damage and loose binding. The cloth covers are real nice with there being some rubbing on the outer edge the title in gold near perfect. Inside is a bit browned. We would say overall 7/10 condition.