This collection contains more than 1,200 programs and scorecards published for games in the American League. Major League teams and other publishers printed programs and scorecards for purchase by fans attending the games. The programs and scorecards usually contain at a minimum roster and lineup information and space for attendees to keep score of the game. The programs tend to become larger, longer, and more substantial over the years and sometimes contain additional information about the teams, players, coaches, and other subjects. Many programs also include advertisements. Most of the programs in the collection date from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, with scattered examples from earlier and later years.

For many years, teams issued substantially the same program or scorecard for every game of the season. When holdings of a team’s programs/scorecards from one season include examples of more than one type of program, the various program types are indicated in the scope and content note. To qualify as an alternate type, programs/scorecards must show either a substantial difference in content (other than in the scorecard insert) or have been produced for an alternate venue (such as a spring training program).

Some programs in this finding aid are indicated as either "scored" or "partially scored." "Scored" programs must meet two criteria. First, they must be scored completely, with an entry for each batter that appeared in the game. Second, they must employ a notation specific enough to allow for a reasonably thorough recreation of the game's play-by-play. A key point in this regard is the attribution of putouts and assists; no program utilizing a notation with generic out markings is categorized as “scored.” Programs indicated as "partially scored" have been scored either incompletely or in a notation that leaves obvious questions regarding the game's play-by-play. Thus, "partially scored" programs may have only the lineups entered, or they may be scored completely but ambiguously. "Scored" games have, almost without exception, been dated; "partially scored" games usually lack dates. Other features that may characterize individual programs - autographs, for example, or ephemera like ticket stubs - are present as noted.

Formats include programs and scorecards.