A Line-Up Card Wallet

Sometimes small things are the only things that come in small packages.  Other times you are pleasantly surprised!  Take for instance what was simply identified as a “Wallet w/ hard backing” found on the Lester’s Upstate Sports web site.  It is one of those things you say to the David Prong as he is taking your order, “Yeah, you might as well throw on of those in too, it will save me special ordering one later in the season.”

If you umpire games that require you to manage lineup cards then probably you have purchased a similar one of the items in the past.  They are simply a 3 ½” by 5” vinyl mini-writing board.  Nothing spectacular.  Some have a metal clip on the top, the one from Lester’s didn’t but after all, hey, it was just to fill out the box. Right?

Well, that afterthought deserves the Big Improvements to Small Items Award.  The “Hard backing” description from the web site is not really accurate ... ballistic would have been a better choice for a word.  The flexy cardboard of previous versions was completely gone from this wallet, providing a firm, unbendable, writing surface.

Also missing from the wallet was the metal clip I have come to dislike in other wallets.  A straight-forward black foldover cover, white inside and two inside clear pockets replaces the clip that seemed to get stuck in every seam, every time.  No more fidgeting with papers that would not come out from under the clip, or return to the clip after the changes are made.  Open, unfold, mark, refold, tuck it back in either my shirt pocket, or second ball bag.

There is even an full external flap to place a bullet pencil in. The entire wallet drops neatly into my second ball bag, and comes out, pencil in place ready for use. With a bullet pencil included this is one of those winning combinations.

Simple, effective, inexpensive ... Perfect!

BTW ... a small suggestion when I carry this in my shirt pocket I reverse the wallet so that the hard back section is in the pocket facing out towards the pitcher.  Some think it is an optical thing, trying to hide any trace of white but in reality my experience is that it simply goes in and comes out of that shirt pocket easier if the harder side is towards all of the pocket seams.  The pencil, the cover, nothing gets caught or bent when transferring the wallet.

The Wallet w/ hard backing, available from www.lestersupstatesports.com - Lester’s Upstate Sports for $5.00.

.... reviewed on March 4, 2001