This is the first book to focus on a small but essential piece of every baseball game played during the last 100-plus years—the lineup card, used to record the full lineup and batting order for both teams. Drawing on input from dozens of memorabilia experts, collectors, team and league executives, umpires, coaches and managers, the author tells the story of the lineup card’s role in America’s pastime, from its history and usage to cards from famous games and the people who collect them. Nearly 200 illustrations include cards for Sandy Koufax’s 1965 perfect game, Cal Ripken’s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game and the final game of Boston’s first World Series title in 86 years.

Tom O’Reilly is a lineup card collector who lives in Southington, Connecticut. He spent 10 years as a trade magazine journalist and editor, and has also written sports articles for publications including the Connecticut Post, New Haven Register and Sports Collectors Digest.

Tom O’Reilly
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 263
Bibliographic Info: 203 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9160-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5086-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Lineup Cards Defined 5
How to Read a Lineup Card 25
The History of Lineup Cards 38
The Use of Lineup Cards in Other Sports 67
A Day in the Life of a 2022 Lineup Card 84
Famous Lineup Cards 88
Lineup Card Artistry 107
Minor League Lineup Cards 123
The Lineup Card Collectors 140
Signatures/Autographs on Lineup Cards 203
Authenticity: Caveat emptor (“Let the buyer beware”) 213
Lineup Cards: What Are They Worth, and Where to Buy/Sell 223
The Future of Lineup Cards 238
Notes 241
Bibliography 247
Index 251