[Cuba]. [Baseball]

Estatutos de la Liga General de Base Ball de la Ysla de Cuba [manuscript caption title]

[Havana: November 14, 1889]. 19pp., on ten sheets of sealed paper, each 12½ x 8½ inches. Stitch holes at gutter margin. Uneven toning and staining, scattered worming. Tape reinforcement at edges. Contemporary and later ink stamps. Accomplished in a legible, secretarial script. About very good. Item #6224

A complete set of rules and regulations for the 19th-century Cuban baseball league, comprising a total of 185 articles. Cuba was the first place to embrace baseball outside of North America and launched their professional league in 1878. The present document is evidently an effort to formalize and codify the organization. The purpose of the league is given in Article 2 -- "Estimular la aficion por el juego de Base Ball al estilo norte-americano" (To stimulate the passion for the game of American-style baseball). The same article goes on to state that it will be in charge of enforcing the rules contained herein, of distributing whatever prizes are established, and of protecting the interests of league clubs and players.

As a result, the bulk of the statutes relate to the league's administration, contracts, player eligibility, and similar codicils affecting organization. The first section of articles, therefore, addresses the duties of league officials, the administration of finances, and the conduction of league meetings. Another central section deals with player contracts and eligibility, as exemplified by Articles 116 & 117 -- "Todo club participará por escrito à la Liga, cuando haya expulsado à un jugador, los motivos de su resolucion. El jugador expulsado, podra apelar de esta resolucion ante de Liga, dentro de los diez dias siguente" (...The expelled player may appeal this decision to the League within the following ten days). A third large group of regulations near the end of the manuscript expounds on the process for challenging results and protesting games, such as Article 163: "Todo umpire que a la una de la tarde no se encuentre en el lugar donde se celebre el de safio, sin causa justificada sera destituido de su cargo" (Any umpire who is not present at the place where the challenge is being held at one o'clock in the afternoon, without just cause, will be dismissed from his position). These are but three examples from a manuscript rich in detail and extensive in its instruction. In all, fascinating very important document of the codification and development of organized baseball in late 19th-century Cuba.

Price: $14,500.00