The tradition of baseball players appearing on football cards may seem strange at first glance. It makes sense when considering the history and business of trading cards. In the early days of the modern sports card industry in the late 1880s through the 1930s, card manufacturers like American Tobacco produced packs that contained an assortment of athletes from various sports. Football was not yet the massive business it is today, so including baseball stars helped drive sales.
The first notable baseball players to appear on early football cards include Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth in the 1930s. Wagner was already a superstar for the Pittsburgh Pirates by this time and one of the most collectible figures in sports. Upper Deck, which had acquired the rights to produce the classic T206 tobacco cards, released Wagner in sets alongside stars from other sports to increase interest. Ruth appeared on 1933 and 1934 football cards from National Chicle, as his home run records had made him a household name across America.
In the post-World War 2 era as the NFL began to take off, football cards grew in popularity but were still not a huge business on their own. To attract new collectors, the major card companies of the time like Bowman and Topps included baseball players who were current or recent stars. This helped drive sales of packs that may have otherwise only appealed strongly to football fans. Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays all appeared on 1950s football cards despite never playing a down of pro football.
The trend continued strongly through the 1950s and into the 1960s as football gained more mainstream attention but baseball remained America’s pastime. Superstars like Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, and Sandy Koufax could be found in packs alongside Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, and Joe Namath. Even into the 1970s as the NFL became a juggernaut, Topps and others still saw the strategy of mixing in baseball legends and active players as a way to move more product.
Perhaps the most famous example is the 1973 Topps football card of Nolan Ryan, showing him in an Angels uniform despite being solely a baseball player. This card has become one of the most sought-after and valuable from the 1970s due to Ryan’s pitching dominance and the curiosity of his football inclusion. Other 1970s baseball stars like Reggie Jackson, Tom Seaver, and Steve Garvey also received common football cards from Topps and others during this decade.
In the 1980s as football cards exploded in popularity, the strategy of including baseball players lessened but did not disappear entirely. Stars in the prime of their careers like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Ryne Sandberg could still be found. And nostalgia plays featuring legends like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron from their playing days endured into the late 1980s issues. The baseball/football crossover began to fade in the 1990s though and essentially ended after the sport achieved its status as the most popular American professional sport.
Today, vintage baseball stars on football cards from the early days through the 1970s are highly sought after by collectors. Prices have soared for the rare Wagner, Ruth, and other early 20th century players who broke new ground. 1970s stars like the Ryan card are especially valuable in high grades. While the strategy of including baseball players may seem odd now, it made sense historically when card companies wanted to attract any sports fan to their product lines. The baseball/football crossovers help tell the story of the evolving business and popularity of trading cards in America.
Baseball players appearing on football cards was a tradition that developed due to the history of the trading card industry and sports business in America. In the early to mid-20th century, before football was the massive entity it is now, including baseball stars helped drive sales of card products. Even as football rose to prominence by the 1960s-1970s, the strategy endured as a way for companies to move more packs by attracting any sports collector. While unusual by today’s standards, the baseball/football cards provide an insight into the evolving marketplace and help add historical value and interest for collectors and fans.
