1946 SPINK’S OFFICIAL FOOTBALL RULE BOOK, WITH BIOGRAPHY OF AMOS ALONZO STAGG

SPINK, J.G. Taylor. Official Pro Rules [cover title]. St. Louis: C.C. Spink & Son, 1946. 12mo, original pictorial wrappers. $160.

First edition of Spink’s early football rule book, featuring a biography of Amos Alonzo Stagg by Francis J. Powers, with numerous photographs.

“John George Taylor Spink began his journalistic career as a teenage copyboy at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Within months he moved to his father’s sports weekly, The Sporting News, and quickly progressed through the ranks until, with his father’s passing in 1914, Spink took over as publisher, editor, and advertising manager of the paper. He also wrote weekly columns, stories, and editorials. Spink’s passion for baseball earned him the nickname “Mr. Baseball” and his accomplishments are voluminous” (Baseball Hall of Fame). During World War II, he sent free copies of Sporting News to U.S. service men overseas, and expanded the content to include all sports, mainly boxing, football, basketball, and hockey. In 1942, Sporting News took over from Spalding the publication of baseball’s annual Official Record Book and Guide. This spurred the newspaper into even greater publication pursuits, including this official football rule book, which appeared from 1945 to 1950, then changed title to Football Register.

Fine condition. Rule books of this vintage are very hard to find in this superb condition.