The Official Major League Baseball Opus: Classic Edition

About
The Official Major League Baseball Opus tells the epic story of baseball on a scale unmatched in the history of illustrated publishing. From its humble origins in the mid-19th century to its present-day incarnation as a global force, baseball has a dramatic and colorful history.

Produced in association with the publishing division of Major League Baseball Properties, the latest title in the Opus Collection is the definitive tome on the sport and is filled with historic baseball photos never before seen in such a large and stunning format.

Measuring 20 inches square, weighing in at around 75 pounds and 790 pages, The Official Major League Baseball Opus Marquee Edition is a truly monumental publication. It features approximately 1,000 beautifully reproduced photographs, including many hidden jewels from MLB’s archives, accompanied by 110,000 words comprising excerpts from the memoirs of notable players and from classic literature about the sport. The Official Major League Baseball Opus also includes specially- commissioned features by leading writers such as Roger Kahn, Robert Creamer, Tim Kurkjian and Jayson Stark.

Content
With an introduction by Steve Wulf describing the thrill of Opening Day, photographs showing the earliest memorabilia of the game (including the original hand-drawn blueprints for the sport), first-person accounts of key moments, statistics galore and profiles of baseball’s legends, The Official Major League Baseball Opus tracks the development of the game over the past 150 years in spectacular style.

All the key figures in baseball history are highlighted: the marquee names (think Don Dysdale, Ernie Banks, Yogi Berra, Bob Gibson, Willie Stargell, Ken Griffey Jr. and Co.), the legendary performers (from Cap Anson to Steve Carlton, Honus Wagner to Rickey Henderson, Walter “Big Train” Johnson to Alex Rodriguez) and the game’s true icons (Cy Young to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig to Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson to Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle to Robert Clemente).

Complementing the chronological narrative of the Opus are interludes exploring baseball themes such as Spring Training, record streaks, ballparks, the All-Star Game, pennant races and, of course, the World Series. Dynamic photo essays showcasing the work of three of the finest sports photographers of all time — Charles Conlon, Ossie Sweet and Walter Iooss Jr. — add to the visual feast. Each of the 30 current Major League clubs is also featured with details of their best players and the historic moments that have shaped their franchise.

Editions
Marquee Player
A strictly limited edition of 1,000 copies worldwide, The Official Major League Baseball Opus Marquee Edition is a truly monumental and luxurious publication.
Opening up to over three feet wide, it showcases images on an unprecedented scale to tell the epic story of baseball in cinematic style.

Derek Jeter Limited Edition
A limited number of 222 copies of The Official Major League Baseball Opus Marquee Edition have been deemed the Derek Jeter Edition

Gatefold
The Official Major League Baseball Opus Marquee Edition includes a stunning six-feet wide gatefold of classic baseball trading cards.

Photo Greats
Exclusive to the Marquee Edition are a series of photo essays by three of the finest baseball photographers of all-time: Charles Conlon, Ozzie Sweet and Walter Iooss Jr.

First Time Ever
All the World Series Programs pictured together in one publication for the first time, only in the Marquee Edition of The Official Major League Baseball Opus.

Hall of Fame
All the plaques from National Baseball Hall of Fame reproduced in high resolution.

Exclusive Articles
The Marquee Edition features additional features written by distinguished baseball writers such as Tracy Ringolsby and Fred Mitchell.

Baseball Classic
A super-sized work in its own right, he Official Major League Baseball Opus Classic Edition delivers selected content from the Marquee Edition.

The Classic shares the same level of editorial, photographic and artistic quality but at a more accessible price point.

Classic Edition
Articles, photographs and memorabilia selected from the limited print run Marquee Edition, beautifully reproduced in a different format and smaller scale, making the Classic Edition a must-have publication for all baseball fans.

Marquee Edition
• Special Edition Strictly limited to 1,000 copies worldwide
• Length 790 pages
• Page size 20 x 20 inches
• Weight 75lb (34kg)
• Paper 200gsm Matt Art
• Images 1,000-plus images, each individually spot varnished
• Content Over 110,000 words
• Presentation Hand-bound leather Opus with embroidered logo and metallic lettering, plus silk-covered clamshell case

Classic Edition
• Initial print run 5,000 copies
• Length 428 pages
• Page size 18 x 13 inches
• Weight 26lb (12kg)
• Paper 180gsm Matt Art
• Images Over 400 images, each individually spot varnished
• Content Over 60,000 words
• Presentation Bookbinding leather cover with metallic lettering, plus clamshell case

Derek Jeter Edition
The Official Major League Baseball Opus Marquee Edition is a 20x20" tome that weighs over 75 pounds and includes more than 1,000 images and 110,000 words - making this the most definitive baseball publication ever created.
Within this 1,000 print run, a strictly limited number of 222 copies have been deemed the Derek Jeter Edition. What separates the Jeter Edition from the others is that Jeter has hand signed an authentic 4x6" piece of the old Yankee Stadium outfield wall which is sewn into the front of the Opus.
Authenticated by Steiner Sports, the Jeter signature just adds to the iconic Opus - especially as he joins the historic 3,000 hit club.