That’s a beautiful example of the 1946 Official Baseball Guide published by The Sporting News and compiled by J.G. Taylor Spink — one of the most collectible postwar editions. The cover features Hal Newhouser, ace pitcher for the 1945 World Champion Detroit Tigers, and marks the first guide following the end of World War II.
Title: Baseball Guide – Official Rules and Averages, 1946 Edition
Publisher: The Sporting News
Compiler: J.G. Taylor Spink
Cover Subject: Hal Newhouser, Detroit Tigers, 1945 AL MVP and World Series Champion
Original Price: 50¢
Contents Highlights:
Complete 1945 MLB season stats and team standings
Coverage of the Tigers’ 1945 World Series victory over the Chicago Cubs
Player averages, pitching records, and league leaders
Return of many wartime players to MLB rosters
Size: Approx. 5.5" × 8"
This edition has strong historical appeal — the first postwar guide and a feature on Hal Newhouser, a Hall of Famer who dominated during the mid-1940s.
VG (Very Good): light edge wear, small crease — $40–$55
Excellent/Near Mint: minimal wear, tight binding — $65–$85
Fair: loose binding, stains, or heavy creasing — $20–$30
Your copy appears VG to VG+, placing it around $45–$55 on eBay.
1946 Baseball Official Guide Hal Newhouser J.G. Taylor Spink VG Sporting News
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