This volume compiles biographical sketches of over 800 individuals central to 19th-century American baseball. The New York Clipper, a prominent sports weekly of its era, featured these portraits, offering a unique window into the sport's formative years. The collection is organized alphabetically, presenting detailed accounts of players, managers, owners, umpires, and writers who shaped the game.

This compilation offers a comprehensive look at the figures who defined 19th-century baseball, drawing from the rich archives of The New York Clipper. The inclusion of over 600 line-art drawings alongside the biographies provides a visual dimension to the historical accounts. The foreword by John Thorn, a respected baseball historian, lends further authority to the collection. This book serves as an invaluable resource for historians and enthusiasts of early American baseball.