Spalding's Official Baseball Guides were published by Albert Goodwill Spalding beginning in 1877. A former pitcher (the first professional to win 200 games) and manager, Spalding turned entrepreneur to open a sporting goods business and manufacture baseballs. His company, Spalding and Bros., produced the official league baseballs. The Spalding Baseball Guides were a supplement to the official league rule and regulation book (also published by Spalding), and besides records, season overviews and advertising, included editorials that were important in shaping public opinion on the sport. The Harwell Collection contains dozens of other baseball guides, such as Beadle's Dime, The Little Red Book and Bull Durham guide. On view are the covers from the 1881, 1889, and 1912 Spalding Guides. For an inside look at the guides, visit the Library of Congress, American Memories site, Spalding Base Ball Guides 1889-1939.