1897 Baseball Publication, Rare

A Brief History of the Lee Base Ball Teams for the Past Two or Three Years Compiled by Kinnie A. Ostweig. Chicago: W.B. Conkey Company, [1897]. Original staples and printed wrappers, mild wear, a couple of spots. Softcover, 138pp, 5.25" x 7.5". Portrait frontis of the author, other full-page portraits of his fellow ballplayers throughout the book. Near Fine.

This rare book illuminates the early years of baseball in the American midwest. Ostewig was born in Lee, Illinois, "eighteen years ago," graduated "with high honors" from the High School of Shabbona Illinois in June 1895, at the age of sixteen, and remained in the Lee area for the rest of his life. He would become active in local politics, a member of the Lee City Council; in 1912, he would lose the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois by a substantial margin.

Writing here, he is the pitcher and Manager of the Lee Liners, which was organized in August 1895. His book describes the exciting games played by and against the Liners, and a biography, with photo illustrations, of each of his teammates.

OCLC 14076788 [2- Chicago History Museum, Rockford Pub. Lib.], 61772259 [2- Baseball Hall of Fame, Clements] as of November 2020.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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