Above is a 1906 advertisement for an Atlanta hardware store offering the inaugural edition of “Napoleon Lajoie‘s Baseball Guide.” The Lajoie Guide was intended to compete with the well established Spalding and Reach Guides, and sold for 10 cents, but despite Lajoie’s popularity the guide failed to catch on and was only published for three years.
In addition to the standard recap of professional baseball leagues across the country, and many photos, the Lajoie guide included a significant amount of information specific to its name sake. An advertisement for the Cincinnati-based Queen City Tobacco Company said:
Lajoie Chews Red Devil Tobacco
Ask him if he don’t
Grantland Rice wrote for the guide, and the first edition included a Rice-penned poem called “For Lajoie’s in Town:”
We’ve gazed on Mr. Roosevelt,
Who rules this whole wide land.
We’ve looked at Carrie Nation,
And shook Jim Corbett’s hand
We’ve eaten bread with Robert Fitz
And chummed with George Tebeau.
We’ve drank out beer with Mr. Schlitz.
Great notable we know.
We’ve interviewed Friend Morgan,
Thrown talk at old John D.
We’ve opened wine with Sullivan
And seen Prince Hennery.
King Edward is a bosom pal,
Langtry our school-day girl.
Dick Croker smiles in our face,
We’ll give Boss Fame a whirl
* * * * * * * *
Around the shrine of heroes
There’s little we’ve not seen.
We’ve talked to all, both great and small,
Of high and lowly mien.
But this group pales beneath the looks
Of one of far renown.
Hats off!The greatest comes today,
For Lajoie’s in town.
T. Roosevelt’s backed off the boards,
A plater is king Ed.
Langtry a chorus lady now,
The others are all dead.
For Lajoie, pride of several leagues!
Lajoie, the mighty man!
Lajoie, his bat and fielding glove
Knocks out the wholes blamed clan.
The 1906 Lajoie Guide
Baseball History Daily 
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