Baseball Cards in Frankfort, Kentucky: A History of the Hobby
Frankfort, the state capital of Kentucky, has a rich history with the hobby of baseball cards that spans generations. From the early days of tobacco cards in the late 1800s to the modern era of online auctions and card shows, Frankfort residents have been avid collectors and traders of these iconic pieces of Americana.
The earliest precursor to modern baseball cards in Frankfort were tobacco cards, small promotional cards inserted into cigarette and chewing tobacco packs starting in the 1880s. These included images of baseball stars alongside other athletes and celebrities. Local tobacco shops would stock packs and young collectors began amassing and swapping these early cards. The cards helped spread interest in professional baseball across the country during this era.
In the early 1900s, candy companies like American Caramel began inserting baseball cards into their products, further popularizing the new hobby. Stores in downtown Frankfort like Meyers Five and Dime would stock caramels, gum, and crackers that sometimes included bonus baseball cards inside. Kids would eagerly await finding an exciting new player to add to their growing collections. Trading between friends was already a big part of the hobby.
The first true “set” of baseball cards was issued by the American Tobacco Company in 1909 as part of its T206 series. Known as the “White Border” set, it featured over 500 different players in colorful illustrations. Finding a complete set became the dream of collectors in Frankfort and beyond. In the 1910s, companies like Topps, Bowman, and others began regularly issuing new card sets each year, helping to standardize the format that is still used today.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the hobby reached new heights in Frankfort as drug stores and five-and-dimes stocked the newest card sets and local newspapers regularly reported on baseball and card collecting. Kids would ride their bicycles around town, visiting stores and trading with each other in parks and playgrounds. Some early “card shows” began to pop up, where collectors could meet, trade, and show off their prized collections.
World War 2 temporarily slowed the production of cards during the 1940s due to rationing, but GIs overseas helped spread the hobby internationally. When production resumed after the war, new sets featuring the latest stars reinvigorated collecting. In Frankfort, the postwar economic boom allowed many families to spend spare change on cards. By the 1950s, the modern baseball card collecting hobby was in full swing.
Card shops first began appearing in Frankfort in the 1960s, catering specifically to collectors. Stores like Topps Comics and Collectibles and Frankfort Sportscards stocked the latest sets and singles, hosted trading sessions, and organized shows. Magazines covering the rapidly growing hobby also became available. The first national conventions attracted collectors from across the country, including many from central Kentucky.
In the 1970s, star cards of superstars like Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson reached new heights in value. The rise of special “oddball” issues from minor leagues and independent companies added variety. Meanwhile, as inflation rose in the late 1970s, the penny-per-pack price of cards also climbed. The 1980s saw a boom in speculation as investors piled into the hobby. Icons like O-Pee-Chee and Donruss issued sets alongside the sports card industry leader Topps.
The early 1990s witnessed a massive speculative bubble in the hobby that eventually burst. Many shops in Frankfort couldn’t withstand the collapse and closed their doors. The advent of the internet allowed collectors to easily buy, sell and trade cards online. Sites like eBay made virtually any card accessible. Meanwhile, national conventions continued to be attended by many Kentuckians.
Today, the hobby remains strong in Frankfort, with collectors of all ages. While online activity dominates, local card shops have adapted to this new era. Frankfort Sportscards now focuses more on supplies, memorabilia and events. Regional shows still draw crowds while national conventions are true spectacles. Meanwhile, some of the earliest tobacco cards remain highly prized by collectors worldwide, a reminder of the hobby’s roots in this Bluegrass State capital city. Baseball cards have been a constant thread connecting generations of Frankfort residents to America’s pastime for well over a century.
