Anyone ever heard of these??

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Posted By: warshawlaw 

I picked up a couple of really interesting baseball books at lunch today that I've never seen before. If anyone else knows anything about them, I'd appreciate any info:

(1) "They Played The Game" by Harry Grayson. 1944. Has biographies of a ton of old-time players, forewards by Connie Mack and Grantland Rice. One tidbit I've already seen is a pronounciation for "Jajoie" straight from Nap's contemporaries: "Laz-ho-way" I always thought it was "Lajoy" like joie de vivre.

(2) "The Warren Spahn Story" by Milton J. Shapiro. 1958. Great dustjacket illustrations of Spahn.

Anything anyone knows about these two books (value, etc.) would be appreciated.

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Posted By: Jeff S

I referred to recent catalogs for two major baseball book dealers (W Greene and R Plapinger, for those of you keeping score).

Both have the Shapiro book priced at $200, each for a later printing. Greene's is a 1959 2nd printing described as "gorgeous." Oddly, Plapinger also offers a "later printing" dated 1958.

Here's what Plapinger has to say about the book: "Spahn sued Shapiro over this book, claiming it invaded his privacy since Shapiro wrote the book without Spahn's consent. According to [David Q.] Voigt, lower courts ruled in Spahn's favor, awarding him $10,000, but the Supreme Court reversed those rulings in 1976 allowing the careers of Shapiro, Schoor et. al., to flourish."

Neither catalog lists the Grayson book. Usually omission suggests a lack of interest or extreme rarity. (Both catalogs list over 1,000 items.) From your description, I'd assume that the book holds some interest. Comparable books, even fairly common ones in early printings, from the era can fetch at least $50 if they have some research value or pictures of the right guys. Could also be immensely rare...I don't know.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I guess the two were worth the $9 I paid for them. . . The Spahn book is "gorgeous", BTW; it has a DJ with a bright orange background with a nice B&W portrait and multiple in action images of Spahn in B&W around it. That's why it caught my eye.

I have a funny feeling I've seen the other book before, I just can't place where. Anyone else want to weigh in on this???

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Posted By: Julie

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Posted By: RobertS

I have a copy of this book (April, 1946 edition) -- bought it at a flea market for $15.

It's published by A.S. Barnes (predecessor to Barnes & Noble, I believe).

What I like about it is that like so many books it features profiles and photos of top ballplayers...but has one twist:

In addition to the usual suspects, there are a slew of more obscure non-HOFer names, such as Sockalexis, Donlin, Coveleskie, Adams, Fielder Jones, Altrock, Heilmann, Carl Mays, Chapman, Devore, Archer and Veach, to name a few.

Thin book, though at only 153 pages. I believe it used to be listed on the old SCD Memorabilia guide, before they acquired Tuff Stuff and began using the Tuff Stuff memorabilia guide book section in both guide books!

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Posted By: warshawlaw

are what appealed to me too.