Spalding Guide

Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide was published from 1878 until 1939. Published by Albert Spalding's sporting goods company, it was the official publication of the National League for its entire history.

From 1908 to 1924, the Guide carried only major league statistics and recaps, with abbreviated narrative and standings for the minor leagues, while the separately published Spalding's Official Record Book carried the complete statistics for all professional leagues, plus a chronology of the previous year and information on semi-pro and college teams. In 1925 the two books were combined.

The Spalding Guide competed for many decades with the Reach Guide. The Spalding Company bought out the Reach Company in 1934, but the two guides continued to be published separately until 1939, after which they merged into the Spalding-Reach Guide for two more years, replaced by The Sporting News Baseball Guide after the 1941 publication.