Talk about an oldie but goodie. This incredibly rare sheet music for the ditty “Western League March” dates all the way back to 1896, and was composed by John Lipman to glorify the league, which was formed in 1893 by Ban Johnson to challenge the supremacy of the National League. Toward that end, Johnson granted the St. Paul franchise to Charlie Comiskey, the great first baseman-manager of the American Association’s St. Louis Browns, who would move the team to Chicago in 1900, as the White Stockings -- a cornerstone of the new American League. Comiskey, whose penury would nearly bring the game down by leading to the “Black Sox” scandal in 1919, is pictured in a facial illustration along with the other WL managers including Larry Twitchell (Milwaukee), Thomas Loftus (Columbus) and John Carney (Grand Rapids) arrayed on the cover. Bottom reads: “Compliments of The home Brewing Company.” Back cover has 4 great period ads including one for saddles. 6 pages, 11 x 14”, G-VG w/browning, light foxing and corner/edge damage. Middle page loose. A chart-topper when it comes to baseball history.