Ballet for Opening Day

Description

Ballet for Opening Day: The Swede Was a Hard Guy

by Nelson Algren

Featuring eight etchings by Tony Fitzpatrick

This is Nelson Algren’s story of the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal, as told by Nelson Algren: sympathetic to the players, distasteful towards owner Comiskey, full of admiration for Buck Weaver, the one who “couldn’t bear to lose.”

The book was proposed by artist Tony Fitzpatrick, who has completed eight etchings, each a “baseball card” depicting a figure from the story. The etchings, printed from original plates, are individually sewn into the book using red thread.

This extremely limited edition of 50 copies was designed by Bob McCamant and set in Monotype Walbaum by Michael and Winifred Bixler of Skaneateles, New York. The book was printed in two colors by Martha Chiplis on Twinrocker papers, including a custom-made paper made of cotton rag and flecks of Indiana corn husk. Fitzpatrick’s Big Cat Press printed the etchings, also on Twinrocker handmade. Trisha Hammer designed the non-adhesive, long-stitch binding with an Abaca paper cover. It comes with a special slipcase, covered in pinstripe fabric with bookcalf strip.

51 text pages, 11×10 inches, numbered and signed by the artist and bookmakers. Published in 2002.

From the book’s colophon:

… edition limited to 50. The type is Walbaum, cast by Michael and Winifred Bixler of Skaneateles, New York. The etchings were pulled by Teresa S. Mucha, master printer, Big Cat Press. The paper was handmade by Twinrocker of Brookston, Indiana. The book was designed by Robert McCamant, printed by Martha Chiplis, and bound by Trisha Hammer.

Copies are signed by Tony Fitzpatrick, Martha Chiplis, Trisha Hammer, and Robert McCamant.