Who better than "Father of Baseball" Henry Chadwick to provide the intro here, which begins, "The inauguration of the last decade of the Nineteenth century finds athletic field sports in the very zenith of their popularity, alike in republican America as in the colonial provinces of the British empire." Measuring 7-1/2" x 9-1/2", the tome features a full-color lithographic frontispiece scene of game action and carries this lengthy description on its title page: Athletic Sports in America, England and Australia. Comprising History, Characteristics, Sketches of Famous Leaders, Organization and Great Contests of Baseball, Cricket, Football, La Crosse, Tennis, Rowing and Cycling. Also Including the Famous 'Around the World' Tour of American Baseball Teams, Their Enthusiastic Welcomes, Royal Receptions, Banquets, Great Games Played Before Notables of Foreign Nations, Humorous Incidents, Interesting Adventures, Etc., Etc. The gilt-edged interior pages are EX-MT/NM overall except for the brittle first flyleaf. Cover are GD.