Deck by Mark Lerner & Laura Philips - Artist Dan Gardiner

© 1999

One might initially wonder how baseball could possibly relate to the Tarot, but when considering how baseball has so many metaphors for life, it's a theme that is very much related to the experiences of real life.  Therefore, it's not only appropriate for use in Tarot, but it's also a fun deck to use!  Tarot tells us about life . . . just as the baseball metaphors do.

Here are some examples of what I'm referring to:

*"Life has handed me a curve ball."
*"Are you batting a thousand or in a slump?"
*"It's a whole new ball game."

Not to be confused with Tarot of Baseball by Robert Kasher and Beverly Ransom, this deck and book set, entitled Baseball Tarot, was done by the creators of the Inner Child Cards.  Mark Lerner and Laura Philips, the authors, have used a fresh and original style of correspondences that apply baseball analogies to the "game of life."  I find it to be an excellent system with interpretations that are meaningful enough to really "hit home."  -- another metaphor, it seems :-)

I find this to be a very intuitive deck to work with.  It's very easy to use, because the card titles and explanations are so clear.  Even a beginniner to Tarot could use this deck along side a traditional Rider Waite deck to enchance their understanding of the cards and broaden their meanings and concepts of Tarot and its relation to life.

The cards of Baseball Tarot are large, measuring 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" and have a glossy coating.  This can make shuffling a little difficult or awkward at first -- but through repeated use, you'll get used to them as they "break in."  Glossy-coated cards tend to stick together, especially when they are brand new.  However, I have found that this little "annoyance" wears off in time, and the cards then become easier to handle.

This deck is different from traditional Tarot systems in order to relate to the theme of baseball, but the card names are fitting, and can be compared to concepts from traditional Tarot themes.

Reversals are easy to incorporate into this deck as well.  The book which comes with this set of cards does not really go into the use of reversals, but it's certainly still an option just as in traditional Tarot for those who use reversals in reading the cards.  For example, card 12 of the Major Arcana is called "Slump" in Baseball Tarot.  This would be the Hanged Man in traditional Tarot.  The keywords offered in the book are "reversal, waiting, sacrifice, surrendering for the time being, accepting one's own flaws."  These keywords coincide with the traditional Hanged Man card.  It shows that you may be feeling like you're in a slump in life as you find you hve to wait on something or sacrifice in some way.  The Reversed Slump would mean to me the idea of coming out of that slump, sacrifices have paid off, and your wait is coming to an end.

The book which accompanies this deck (as a book/deck set) offers 324 pages of valuable information that does a very good job in explaining the cards.  Some layouts are also suggested at the beginning of the book, but you can use any of your favorite layouts with the Baseball Tarot.

Although you won't find traditional Tarot symbolism in Baseball Tarot, this is not a traditional Tarot deck.  It's a theme deck that actually does a very nice job in showing the overall purpose of a reading -- to help one gain meaningful, down-to-earth answers that can be used and applied in life.  The book is full of interesting insights into life . . . which is really what Tarot is supposed to be about.

One does not have to be a baseball fan to use this deck, but it'sone that may find a special appeal to the baseball fan who also enjoys Tarot.  The ideas, language, and information for the cards are easily accessible to almost anyone.  All in all, it's a somewhat different but very enjoyable way to work with the Tarot cards.

You won't find any frightening pictures in the cards and no nudity either.  So this is  adeck thqt can be used for a person of any age.

An interesting change with the court cards occurs in this deck when compared with traditional Tarot.  Instead of finding 4 courts cards, the Page and Knight are replaced with cards 11 and 12 for each suit.  The Queens are known as Coaches, and the Kings are known as MVP's.  Suit names also differ from traditional Tarot structures in order to keep with the theme of baseball.  But again, the names might be changed, but the value and usefulness is definitely there for Tarot readings!

Number of Cards in Deck:78 cards (22 Major/56 Minor)

Size of Cards:  3-1/2" x 5-1/2"

Included with deck: 324-page book which does an excellent job in explaing the cards, offers some Tarot layouts, and even includes a baseball quote for each card.  This is one of the most well-written books I have come across for Tarot, because it keeps things very "down-to-earth."

Major Arcana:
Rookie, All-Star, Coach, Natural, Legend, Manager, Team Control, Power, Reflection,
The Breaks, Umpire, Slump, Retirement, Hero, Goat, Whole New Ball Game,
Batting a Thousand, Catcher, Pitcher, Rule Book, World Series

Suit Names:  Bats (Wands), Mitts (Cups), Balls (Swords), Bases (Pentacles)

Court Cards:MVP (King), Coach (Queen), cards 11 and 12 replace the Knight and Page

Back Design of Cards:
 

BASEBALL TAROT This Tarot Deck/Book Set is Available from Amazon.com:

TAROT DECKS -- CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST Animals Art-Styled Celtic Decks Christian-Based Decks Cultures/Multi-Cultural Decks Historical Myths & Legends Other Traditional/Beginner Decks Whimsical Decks Wiccan-Based Decks Women