[bgar3]

It was not uncommon for publishers to bind copies for presentation to baseball players or executives, there are examples of Spalding and Reach guides and others. It is also possible that this was bound by the owner to help preserve it.(the cloth binding is typical of an inexpensive rebind). You probably know this, but Mrs. Durocher was Laraine Day, in 1956. She was a famous actress and their marriage in 1947 may have played a role in Durocher not being able to manage Jackie Robinson in 1947.