The act of inserting baseball cards into the spokes of bicycle wheels is an iconic pastime that many who grew up in the 1950s through 1970s will fondly recall from their childhood. While the exact origins are unknown, putting cards in bicycle spokes became enormously popular among American youth during the post-World War II era when baseball card collecting and bicycle riding were at their peak.
The insertion of baseball cards into the spokes served no real practical purpose, but rather was done purely for entertainment and aesthetic value. As the bicycle wheel spun, the cards would flip rapidly from side to side, creating a rhythmic “swishing” sound mixed with the occasional “thwack” as a card made contact with the spokes. For children with active imaginations, it was mesmerizing to watch the colorful cards transform into spinning blurs.
At the root of the trend was the sheer abundance and affordability of baseball cards during this time period. In the postwar economic boom, the baseball card industry exploded with the introduction of modern mass production techniques. Cards could now be purchased in wax packs for just a penny, making them practically disposable items that kids amassed by the thousands. With so many readily available, they became the perfect novelty item to jazz up bicycle rides.
Another key factor was the immense popularity of bicycles themselves among American children in the 1950s-70s. In the automobile-centric suburbs that sprouted after World War II, bicycles were one of the main modes of independent transportation for kids. They were also a top toy and source of outdoor fun. Having a customized bicycle with baseball cards in the spokes was a display of personal style and part of the thrill of riding.
While the specific earliest adopters are unknown, putting cards in spokes seems to have really taken off in popularity in the late 1950s. This coincided with the peak of the post-war economic boom and the rise of youth culture. By the 1960s, it had become an everyday sight on suburban streets and paths across the United States. The trend even spawned its own slang term – kids would talk about “carding their wheels.”
Of course, there were some practical downsides. The cards created friction that could damage the spokes over time if not removed occasionally. They also flew out easily if riding over bumps. But part of the appeal for kids was the impermanence—after a few rides, the cards would be too tattered to stay in and new ones could be inserted. It was also risky, as cards spinning at high speeds had the potential to slice skin if they flew off unexpectedly. Still, the novelty far outweighed the dangers for most.
The aesthetic possibilities were endless based on a rider’s baseball card collection. Common strategies included grouping cards by team, player position, or even inserting entire teams’ worth of cards from that season. More daring kids experimented with as many cards as possible, even if it caused their wheels to become dangerously out of balance. Colorful frankensteined wheels with cards sticking out at odd angles became a point of pride or amusement.
In terms of specific cards that were most coveted, the usual suspects reigned supreme—rookie cards of all-time greats like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron were highly sought after. But any cards from recent seasons were fair game. Kids also got creative by folding cards in half or bending the corners to make them spin differently. Over time, the edges of cards inserted in the spokes became worn and tatty, adding another layer of personality.
The heyday of putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes coincided with the peak popularity of the sport in the 1950s and 60s. As baseball card collecting began to decline in the 1970s, so too did this novelty fad. By the late 70s and 80s, it had largely fallen out of fashion among a new generation. For those who came of age in the post-war era, memories of customized wheels whirring with colorful cards remain a nostalgic touchpoint of Americana. While an ephemeral practice, it underscored baseball cards’ status as a ubiquitous childhood pastime and the bicycle’s role as a symbol of youthful independence and summertime fun during a golden era.
