Description

This copy is in good condition, intact, with some damage to one cover corner, and obvious signs of wear.

Here’s a nice little summary of the Little Sports Library’s Pro Football books published in1948 by Ziff-Davis, written by Chris Willis, NFL Films, and published by Pro Football Journal, March 25, 2016 on line at nfljournal.blogspot.com:

In 1948 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company published a set of  four small books on how to play pro football under the series “Little Sports Library.”

The Ziff-Davis Publishing Company was founded in Chicago by two friends- William Ziff and Bernard Davis. 

In its early years the company published mainly magazines, including well-known titles such as Popular Aviation, Radio News and science fiction-fantasy titles Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures. But in 1948 they published several sets of “little” how-to-play books covering such sports such as football, baseball, golf, and table tennis.

The Little Sports Library books measured 5 x 6.75 inches and were usually between 90-127 pages in length. In 1948 Ziff-Davis published both a hardcover and a paperback version with the hardcover costing $1.25 and the paperback 50 cents. Since Ziff-Davis was located in Chicago they stuck to the two NFL teams in the Windy City and their players to help write their little books. The four football titles consisted of:

Playing the Line by “Bulldog” Turner (Chicago Bears Center)

Passing for Touchdowns by Sid Luckman (Chicago Bears Quarterback)

Tricks in Passing by Paul Christman (Chicago Cardinals Quarterback)

Backfield Play by Charles Trippi (Chicago Cardinals)