The history of baseball cards in New Jersey spans over 100 years, dating back to the late 19th century when the hobby first began. Some key people and events that helped shape the baseball card collecting scene in the Garden State include:
In the late 1800s, the first baseball cards started appearing as promotional inserts included in packs of cigarettes. Companies like American Tobacco Company and Goodwin & Company began producing these non-sport related inserts that featured images of baseball players on the front. New Jersey was among the early adopters, as many young collectors in cities like Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson began amassing these rudimentary cardboard pieces of memorabilia featuring their favorite players.
In the early 20th century, the baseball card collecting craze began in earnest. Companies shifted to making sport-specific cards that were sold in packs similar to today. Two of the most iconic early card sets – T206 and E90 – included many New Jersey-born players or those who spent time playing in the minor and major leagues in NJ. Stars like Walter Johnson, Nap Lajoie, and Honus Wagner could be found in wax-wrapped packets sold for a penny in stores across the state.
During the 1930s-1950s “Golden Age” of baseball cards, production expanded and regional sets highlighted many New Jersey players. The 1936 Goudey set included cards of NJ natives Mickey Cochrane and Lefty Gomez. In 1951, Bowman released highly coveted cards of New Jersey native Richie Ashburn and other Philadelphia Phillies. The 1950s also saw the rise of “local” sets produced by companies like Dan Dee, Topps, and Leaf featuring players from the International, Eastern, and Atlantic Leagues, which had many minor league teams based in NJ.
Through the middle of the 20th century, baseball card collecting flourished as a mainstream hobby in New Jersey. Stores in every town sold wax packs alongside bubble gum. Many card shows started popping up showcasing the vintage stars. Two of the biggest annual multi-day shows were held each year at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus and Atlantic City Convention Hall. Major League teams like the Yankees and Giants also drew fans from all across NJ eager to collect cards of their favorite players.
In the 1970s, the specifications and quality of modern cards began to take shape. Companies like Topps were producing highly illustrated cards on thick, glossy stock perfect for collecting and trade. New Jersey native Dave Winfield’s rookie card from 1973 is one of the most valuable from the decade. The 1980s saw the rise of entertainment cards that broadened the hobby. In 1984, Topps released the first Star Wars trading cards igniting sci-fi and pop culture card collecting.
The 1990s marked another boom period for baseball cards in New Jersey fueled by the rise of the internet. Websites, online auctions, and message boards connected collectors across the state and country in new ways. Jersey-born players like Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Mo Vaughn had popular rookie cards during this decade alongside global stars like Ken Griffey Jr. Card shows in NJ drew record crowds hunting for vintage gems and rookie cards of the next generation of players.
In the 2000s to present day, the baseball card market experienced both highs and lows. The financial crash of 2008 greatly impacted sales of packs and boxes. Dedicated collectors in New Jersey have kept the hobby alive through thriving online communities and large annual card shows. New Jersey native Mike Trout has become one of the most widely collected active players with valuable rookie cards from 2009, 2011, and 2012 Topps sets.
While the means of collecting have changed, the passion for baseball cards remains deeply rooted in New Jersey. From vintage tobacco cards to modern parallels and autographs, generations of collectors have enjoyed amassing pieces of their favorite players’ careers and experiencing history through the cardboard. The tradition looks set to continue engaging fans across the Garden State for many years to come.
