Cracker Jack has long been associated with baseball. Since the early 20th century, the caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts snack included a small plastic prize inside – usually stickers, temporary tattoos, or other small toys. In 1909, Cracker Jack began including baseball cards as prizes. For decades, these original Cracker Jack cards provided a fun and affordable way for many children to start a baseball card collection.
While the original Cracker Jack cards from the early 20th century are highly collectible today, in the 1970s and 80s, the company began producing card reprints as prizes instead of original vintage cards from that season. These reprints featured images of baseball stars from past decades on thinner stock card stock than original vintage issues. Though not true collectibles, the reprints ignited the baseball card collecting hobby in many young fans.
The first Cracker Jack reprint sets began appearing in 1973 and featured cards from the 1930s to the 1950s. Top players included Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Jackie Robinson. The reprints were a simpler design and production quality than original vintage issues but served their purpose of providing affordable baseball cards to spark children’s interest. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Cracker Jack released many reprint sets themed around different eras of baseball history.
A major reprint set released in 1975 was “Cracker Jack Champions.” This 100-card set spanned baseball history from the 1890s to the 1960s and included stars like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Mickey Mantle. Standout cards included the first cards ever issued of baseball legends like Honus Wagner and Nap Lajoie. While not true collectibles, these reprints introduced many young fans to the early stars of the game.
In 1979, Cracker Jack marked their 70th anniversary of including baseball cards as prizes with the “70th Anniversary All-Time Greats” set. This premium 102-card reprint collection focused entirely on player portraits and stats without ads or coupons on the reverse. Superstar cards included Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. The high production quality made these attractive reprints that captured the nostalgia of baseball card collecting.
Throughout the 1980s, Cracker Jack released many reprint sets themed around specific decades, teams, and players. Notable releases included the 1984 “Cracker Jack Stars of the 50s” set featuring Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and early career cards of Hank Aaron and Sandy Koufax. In 1985, they issued the “Cracker Jack World Series Champions” set honoring great World Series moments from baseball history.
One of the most iconic Cracker Jack reprint sets was the 1986 “Cracker Jack Wax Pack Experience.” Designed to replicate the experience of opening a wax pack from the 1950s and 60s, these reprints came in foil wrappers with gum and were packed eight to a box. Top cards included reprints of rookies of Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Johnny Bench. The nostalgic packaging design made these a highly popular reprint release.
In the 1990s, Cracker Jack transitioned to primarily issuing reprints of stars from the 1980s and 90s to reflect the players of the current generation. Notable releases included 1991’s “Cracker Jack Super Stars of the 80s” with Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens and the 1995 “Cracker Jack All-Stars of the 90s” with Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., and Greg Maddux. These final reprint runs helped younger collectors experience the baseball card hobby.
While the original Cracker Jack cards sparked generations of baseball fandom, the 1970s-90s reprints helped reignite interest in the hobby during its boom period. By showcasing the greats of baseball history, these affordable reprints introduced many young fans to the stars of the game from decades past. Even if not true collectibles, the Cracker Jack reprints hold nostalgia for those who experienced the joy of finding baseball cards in their snack as a child. The reprints remain an important part of the history of Cracker Jack’s long association with America’s pastime.
