Spalding's Athletic Library were a series of sports and exercise books published through "American Sports Publishing Company" from 1892 to 1941. Both brands were owned and founded by American sporting goods manufacturer Spalding. Books covered over 30 different sports and exercises, and over 20 different organizations.

Albert Spalding created the Spalding (company) in 1876. Spalding has sold sports equipment from late 1876 to present. "Spalding Athletic Library" sold sports and exercise books through the American Sports Publishing Company from 1892 to 1941. Both companies were owned and founded by Spalding. Spalding created the Spalding Athletic Library in 1892. and founded the American Sports Publishing Company, incorporated in New Jersey in 1892. American Sports Publishing Company used a New York address from 1892 to 1941.

James Edward Sullivan was President of the American Sports Publishing Company from 1892 to 1914 which published the Spalding Athletic Library. John Doyle (vice president) was another key executive for the publishing company from 1892 to 1941.

Spalding Co purchased Wright & Ditson Co in 1892 and AJ Reach Co. in 1889. For several years after the purchases, Wright & Ditson Co and AJ Reach Co continued to publish sports books separately from the Spalding Athletic Library name. Professional baseball player George Wright co-founded Wright & Ditson Co; and professional baseball player Al Reach founded AJ Reach Co. The Spalding Baseball Guides were published under AG Spalding & Bros until 1893–1894, and starting in 1894–1895 by American Sports Publishing Company (but not using the Spalding Athletic Library name).

1941, the American Sports Publishing Company (and Spalding Athletic Library) was sold to A.S. Barnes & Co. The books now sold under A.S. Barnes & Co. name. In 1941 A.S. Barnes & Co. took over publishing the NCAA sports rules and record books from Spalding.

Spalding produced mail order catalogues that provided a description, price and picture of their sports equipment, sports books, and exercise books. A couple of examples are How to Play Golf for 25 cents, How to Play Basketball at 10 cents, and How to Train for Bicycling at 10 cents.

Sports and exercise books (guide books and rule books) were produced by Spalding Athletic Library for numerous organizations.

Some of the organizations included: Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Association Football, Athletic League of the Young Men's Christian Associations of North American (YMCA), Inter-Collegiate Association of Amateur Gymnasts of America, Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IC4A), National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Indoor Baseball Association of the United States, National Roque Association of America, Olympic Games, Public Schools Athletic League, Pacific Association of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Pacific Northwest Association of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Public School Athletic Association of Jersey City, Public School Athletic Association of Newark, Texas Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association, United States Inter-Collegiate Lacrosse Association, and Young Men's Christian Associations of North American (YMCA).