THE BALL PLAYERS' CHRONICLE, New York, Nov. 28, 1867  

* Very rare baseball publication
* Henry Chadwick "Father of Baseball"

A very rare & desired title by any baseball collection as this was the first magazine in America devoted primarily to baseball.
Edited by the legendary Henry Chadwick, this paper lasted but 30 issues, from June 6 thru December 26, 1867 before changing its name to the 'American Chronicle' (which in turn lasted only 31 more).
Featured is an elaborate masthead picturing baseball, croquet, and cricket matches in progress. The entire ftpg. is taken up with reports on baseball games including the box scores. This continues on pages 2 and 3, plus other reports headed: "The Annual Convention of the National Association - Official Circular from Recording Secretary"; "The National Convention" "Playing for Gate Money" "Meeting of the Committee on Rules" "A Notice to Delegates to the National Convention" and more.
There are also reports on the theater, chess, "Pedestrianism", skating, Billiards & "Quoiting" among other topics.
Complete in 8 pages, 11 by 15 inches, in great condition.
All issues of the seminal publication are very scarce.

Background: The Ball Players’ Chronicle was a pioneering weekly New York publication, first issued on June 6, 1867, devoted entirely to baseball and related field sports. Edited by Henry Chadwick, often called the “Father of Baseball,” it offered game scores, box scores, commentary on rules, and articles promoting the development of the sport, making it the first periodical in the United States dedicated solely to baseball. Although short-lived, running only about 30 issues through December 1867, it established the template for organized sports journalism, influencing later publications and the statistical recording of the game. After its initial run, it evolved into the American Chronicle of Sports and Pastimes and later merged into the National Chronicle, the official organ of the National Association of Base Ball Players. Today, surviving issues are extremely rare and highly valued by collectors and sports historians for their role in documenting baseball’s earliest organized years.