Baseball cards have been an iconic part of American culture since the late 19th century. While the hobby began in larger cities on the East and West coasts, smaller towns across the country also developed vibrant baseball card collecting communities. Charleston, West Virginia provides a unique case study of how the pastime took root and flourished in an unlikely setting.
The earliest documented baseball cards in Charleston date back to the late 1880s, around the same time tobacco companies began inserting cards into cigarette packs as promotional items. Local tobacco shops would receive shipments containing the newest baseball stars featured on cards from companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge. Kids in Charleston eagerly awaited these deliveries and would trade amongst themselves to build up their collections.
In the early 1900s, Charleston saw the rise of its first dedicated baseball card shop. Run by a former minor league ballplayer named Earl Jenkins, his store quickly became a hub for collectors. Jenkins organized the city’s first card shows in the 1910s, drawing collectors from around the region. He also published the first price guide specifically tracking the values of cards from the Charleston area. This helped collectors locally determine the relative scarcity and demand for certain players.
As the first half of the 20th century progressed, Charleston developed baseball talent of its own to admire on cardboard. Native son Earl Clark enjoyed a 14-year major league career in the 1920s and 30s, appearing on dozens of cards over his time in the big leagues. Clark Cards became highly sought after by collectors in Charleston proud to showcase one of their own. Other early Charlestonians to make the majors like Billy Rogell and Johnny Rizzo also gained strong local followings through their baseball cards.
The post-World War 2 era marked the golden age of baseball cards in Charleston. Production expanded dramatically with the entrance of Topps in the 1950s. Their colorful, photo-heavy designs were an instant hit with collectors. Production of regional sets by Bowman and Leaf also ensured Charlestonians could find cards featuring minor league stars playing for local teams. Stores like H&B Sporting Goods and Card Kingdom amassed impressive inventories. Shows drew record crowds.
Perhaps the most legendary Charleston card collector from this period was 13 year old Bobby Thompson. Starting in 1949, Thompson embarked on an ambitious quest to put together a complete set from every Topps series to that point despite living on a paper route income. After three years of relentless trading, Thompson’s collection was the envy of the city. He went on to become a prominent dealer and show promoter himself in later decades.
The 1960s saw Charleston riding the wave of new collectors entering the hobby as the baby boom generation came of age. Innovations like the first color photos and gum-less cards from Topps kept the market vibrant. The rise of the Cincinnati Reds dynasty of the 1970s further fueled local interest, as the beloved Big Red Machine racked up wins on Sports Illustrated covers and Topps cards annually.
While the direct marketing era of the 1980s-90s brought consolidation to the sports card industry, Charleston maintained its collector culture. Local shops endured and the city hosted some of the earliest baseball card shows on the east coast. In the 1990s, Charleston collector Steve Hartzell amassed one of the finest vintage collections in the country before donating it to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Today, Charleston continues to have an enthusiastic baseball card community. Annual vintage and modern card shows are still major local events. Independent online dealers like Charleston Cards keep the hobby accessible for collectors around the world. And generations of Charlestonians have grown up enjoying America’s pastime in cardboard form just as kids did over a century ago when the city’s baseball card history began. The story of cards in Charleston serves as a testament to how deeply embedded the hobby can become even in less traditional hotbeds.
