In 1892 Joshua Pusey secured a patent for the compact cardboard match, and then sold it to the Diamond Match Company. It took some time to catch on, but matchbook advertising became one of the most successful and cost efficient adverting mediums of all time. Reaching for a single matchbook given away to a patron exposes the advertisement 20-40 times. Baseball was a popular theme to attract customers to a product or service.

  Matchbook baseball schedules were often used by a variety of advertisers. The idea being after all the matches are used the baseball fan, will keep the schedule for their favorite team, saving the advertising on the other side. Distillers commonly used matchbook schedules, distributing them to bars where baseball fans gathered for a drink and a smoke. Taverns & lounges also used this medium to promote their establishment. At a time when smoking cigars & cigarettes at the game was permitted, cigarettes were also sold at the ballpark. Some teams printed their own complimentary matchbook schedules, and made them available at the ballpark.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Panel" - a section of the outside of a cover (i.e., front panel, back panel).

The Diamond Matchbook Co. produced four sets of baseball card like player matchbook covers from 1934-1937. The 1935-1936 Diamond matchbook covers measure about 1-1/2 x 4-1/8. The front of the matchbook feature a sepia tone baseball player picture pose. The borders can be found in red green, or blue. This issue does not feature the team name on the back below the players name, as with other Diamond matchbook covers issued later. The back also features a short career bio, and the inside is blank. Baseball Stars of the day featured in this set includes; Frankie Frisch, Dizzy Dean, Mel Ott, Paul Waner, Casey Stengel, and many other HOF players.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Full Book" - cover with matches; most collectors strip the matches out; hence, "match cover" the foldable cardboard covering for the matches in a matchbook; also used to describe a matchbook after the matches have been "stripped" out.

Established in 1913, the KREN BAT Co. traces it's roots to a little shop in the back of Joseph G. Kren's home in Syracuse N.Y. Early on Kren gained a reputation among major league ballplayers for turning out high grade baseball bats. Legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby and Frankie Fritch used Kren Bats during its heyday. The small bat company gave Louisville Slugger a run for its money, making sometimes upwards of 100,000 bats in a year. This book of matches which was produce in 1939 features the official 1839-1939 Baseball Centennial logo. The saddle of the matchbook which was manufactured by the Federal Match Corp. reads; "MATCHES TO STRIKE, KREN BATS TO HIT."

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Saddle" - the portion of a cover between the two central folds; it divided the front and back panels.

In 1950 Austin Nichols issued a set of 6 sports themed advertising matchbooks to promote their new line of Pedro's Rum. The Series titled “Names to Remember” which included; Boxers, John L Sullivan, Robert Fitzsimmons, James J. Corbet, Football's Knute Rockne, and baseball stars, Christy Mathewson - Ace Pitcher N.Y. Giants, and John McGraw - Manager N.Y. Giants. Each sports star is depicted with his name to the right, and a short career highlight note. Christy Mathewson "Won 3 games against the Phila, Athletics in 1905 World Series. Was noted strike-out artist." John J. McGraw "His teams won 10 National League pennants and three World's Series. He was a leader!"

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Safety First" - old footer used by several companies in 1920s and 1930s. (some examples in the 1940's)

WPIX channel 11 New York, first signed on the air, June 15, 1948. Twenty-one days later WPIX aired their first baseball game between, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The station first aired Giant games in 1949 and the Yankees in 1951. After 9 seasons on WPIX, the Giants moved to the West Coast, and the station quickly signed a record-breaking contract with the Yankees to televise over 140 ball games. The contract for over 400 programming hours was at the time the largest single time sale in the history of the medium. Done in a black & White TV format; the front of this '51-'57 WPIX matchbook made by the Lion Match Co. features the "WPIX11 New York" television logo.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Feature" is a Lion matchbook trademark for covers with pictures, and or printing on the match sticks.

Al Schacht was a Major League pitcher for the Washington Senators from 1919 to 1921. He later became a 3rd base coach, and his comedic antics from the coaching lines with fellow Washington coach Nick Altrock, earned him the nickname of "The Clown Prince of Baseball." Al Schacht opened a Restaurant in, New York City in Sept. of 1942. It soon became a popular destination for local sports stars and celebrities.

 This Al Schacht Restaurant advertising matchbook, was manufactured by the Lion Match Company, famous for their patented match sticks which were made wider to feature artistically printed designs on them. The colorful green tip match sticks here feature baseball bats alternated between the name of Al Schacht. The back features an "odd-striker" in the shape of a baseball diamond.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Odd-Striker" - Lion trademark for covers with striker in an unusual location and shape; 1942- 1962.

In 1953 the Rum & Maple Tobacco Corporation advertised a matchbook baseball contest to promote their line of tobacco products. The Grand Prize winner won; round trip air transportation, box seats for the entire 1953 World Series for two, deluxe hotel accommodations, meals and all expenses while away from home. The 2nd prize winner received $100. and $50. went to the 3rd prize winner. 

The contest rules: 1- Predict final position of each team in American & National leagues 1953 baseball season. 2- Name the leading batter in each league, listing their final batting average. 3- Send as many entries as you wish. Print each entry on back of wrapper from any tobacco or cigarette listed (above) 4- Entries must be post marked not later than midnight, July 4thm 1953.

The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodger in the 1953 World Series, for the teams 5th straight title. (1949-1953) Washington Senator Mickey Vernon won the AL batting title with a .337 average. Brooklyn Dodger Carl Furillo won the NL batting title with a .344 average.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "20-Strike" (30 or 40) - generic term for covers with 20 matches, 30 matches, 40 matches, or that sized cover. 

Intended to be mailed in to request information on opening an account, this over-sized Trust Company of North America adverting matchbook doubles as a postcard. When opening a savings, special or commercial checking account with $25.00 or more, you may obtain two reserve seat tickets. The inside cover mentions; "Obtain TWO TICKETS to see your favorite major League Team play ball at either: EBBETS FIELD, POLO GROUNDS, YANKEE STADIUM, for any home game during the 1957 season..." The following panel has the postcard form portion of the matchbook. The back has the Business Reply Card "Postage paid" permit and Addressee.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Poster Feature" - Lion Match Co. trademark for its postcard-width covers, AKA "Giant Feature" match book.

The Autographed Ball Company was founded in 1947 by Richard B. (Dick) Culler in High Point, North Carolina. Culler played baseball in the major leagues from 1936 to 1949, for the Philadelphia A's, Chicago White Sox, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, and New York Giants. Dick Culler had invented a technique to stamp facsimiles of players' signatures on baseballs, so team-autographed balls could be mass-produced. It allowed a baseball to be hand-stamped with a spherical stamp six times, once for each panel on the ball.

The front panel of the matchbook illustrates a 1959 LA Dodgers autograph baseball with Duke Snider and Gil Hodges on the sweet spot. The back depicts Dick Culler wearing a Boston Braves baseball cap, and reads; "Dick Culler Shortstop for the Athletics, White Sox, Braves, Cubs, and Giants (1936-1948) Says: "Dad, get your boy this baseball, autographed by the World's Champion Dodgers ! Send me the coupon inside TODAY!"

 Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Pressing" - the process of flattening stripped covers, often in some sort of vise-like device.

In 1959 the 1st Federal Savings and Loan Association of Washington D.C., issued a set of 20, baseball series advertising matchbooks named "Famous Senators." The matchbooks feature "famous Senators" of the 20th century. The outer-back panel has a Black and white player portrait photo, with the (years) associated with the team, to the left, the Washington Senators team logo above, with "Famous Players" to the right.

On the inside, the "1st Federal Savings and Loans presents" the "Name" of the Player pictured on the front, "Position" and a tidbit about the player such as lifetime batting average or as with Walter Johnson "Elected to Hall of Fame, 1936, followed by "This is One of Twenty." Key players include Walter Johnson, Sam Rice, and Harmon Killebrew. When the Franchise moved to Minnesota the same format was used for the 1961 Twins.

Matchbook Collecting Terminology: "Full-Length" - cover which has the design/text running the full length of the cover; there are two types: 1) horizontal Full-length; 2) vertical Full-length