Select-a-Card

Select-a-Card was a groundbreaking electro-mechanical pinball machine released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1958, during the golden age of mechanical pinball. The machine introduced an innovative card-themed gameplay mechanic that would influence future pinball designs for decades to come.

The game's standout feature was its unique card-selection mechanism, where players could attempt to complete poker hands through skillful shooting. The playfield featured various card-themed targets and holes, with illuminated backglass displays showing different playing card combinations. This combination of poker and pinball proved to be a winning formula that appealed to both pinball enthusiasts and card game fans.

Select-a-Card represented a significant advancement in themed pinball design, demonstrating how traditional card games could be successfully adapted to the pinball format. The machine's success helped establish card games as a viable theme for future pinball machines, influencing later designs like Gottlieb's 'Royal Flush' (1976) and other card-themed games. While production numbers aren't definitively known, the machine is considered relatively rare today, making it a sought-after collector's item.