Iowa City has a rich history with baseball cards that spans over 100 years. Some of the earliest documented baseball cards produced specifically mentioned Iowa City. In the late 1890s, local tobacco and baseball card company Middleton and Company began producing trade cards that featured images of baseball players on one side and advertisements for their tobacco products on the reverse. These early trade cards helped market the company’s brands while also promoting the growing popularity of professional baseball across the country.
One of the earliest known Middleton trade cards to mention Iowa City was issued in 1897 and featured the portrait of Cincinnati Reds catcher Perry Werden. The back of the card advertised Middleton’s brand of chewing tobacco and plug tobacco while also stating the products were “For Sale By All Dealers in Iowa City.” Finding these early local trade cards from over a century ago has become a prized hobby for baseball card collectors in the area. While production of the Middleton cards ceased in the early 1900s, they helped plant the roots for Iowa City’s longtime connection to the pastime.
In the post-World War II era, Iowa City saw a boom in youth and amateur baseball as the Baby Boom generation came of age. Local dime stores and drug stores began stocking wax pack baseball cards produced by Topps, Bowman, and other major companies. Kids could purchase packs for a dime apiece and potentially land rookie cards of future baseball superstars like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, or Sandy Koufax. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, collecting and trading these colorful cardboard treasures became a popular summer pastime for many Iowa City youth.
A locally owned hobby shop called B&H Sportscards opened its doors in downtown Iowa City in 1979 and soon became a mecca for collectors across Eastern Iowa. Owned by longtime hobbyists Bill and Hap Knapp, the store sported aisles of newly released baseball, football, and basketball cards along with back issues, supplies, and other collectibles. B&H Sportscards helped spark renewed passion among collectors for the nostalgia and intrigue of the vintage cards from childhood. They also assisted local collectors by having keys for most sets readily available to easily identify player names.
One of the most significant finds in Iowa City baseball card history came in 1989 when a cache of unopened 1909-1911 T206 baseball cards was uncovered in an abandoned tobacco barn near Coralville. In pristine condition after nearly 80 years hidden away, the 109 card “Iowa Barnfind” discovery included rare portraits of superstars Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson. Besides generating national media attention, the barnfind find cemented Iowa City’s place in the lore of vintage sports collectibles. The rare T206 cards were eventually sold off individually at auction for six figures each.
In more recent decades, Iowa City has emerged as a Minor League Baseball hotbed. The Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, have called downtown Iowa City’s Duane Banks Field home since 2008. With future MLB stars routinely passing through on rehab assignments or before getting the call to the Show, the I-Cubs have given fans opportunities to watch tomorrow’s talents up close. This proximity to Minor League ball has maintained local enthusiasm for collecting today’s modern baseball cards featuring potential future all-stars that may have suited up at Banks Field.
Organizations like the Iowa City Area Sports Card Collectors Club, founded in 2004, have helped foster communities of enthusiasts. With monthly meets, group breaks, and educational programs, the ICASSCC keeps the tradition of card collecting alive for both nostalgic veterans as well as youth just starting their collections. They’ve also assisted with displays at local libraries and museums showcasing the rich history of Iowa City and baseball cards. As the pursuit endures into its second century, the heritage of baseball cards remains deeply woven into the fabric of the Iowa City community. From those earliest tobacco trade cards to today’s immaculate rookies, cardboard has long provided a connection between America’s pastime and the people of Eastern Iowa.
