Baseball cards have long been an integral part of America’s pastime for the game of baseball. From the late 19th century when the earliest cards were produced up to the modern era, baseball cards have captured the players, teams, and moments that have defined generations of fans. The small coastal town of Plymouth, Massachusetts has its own rich history with baseball cards that spans over 100 years.
Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1880s by companies like Goodwin & Company and Old Judge tobacco brands. These original cards featured individual players and were primarily included as promotional materials inside cigarette and tobacco products to help advertise the companies’ brands. In the 1890s, Plymouth was home to the J.S. Adams Cigar Company who began experimenting with including baseball cards in their cigar products that were popular among local residents. Some of the earliest Adams cards to feature in Plymouth featured stars of the day like Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, and Amos Rusie.
Into the early 20th century, tobacco cards continued being the main distribution method for baseball cards across the country. In Plymouth, the American Tobacco Company became a leading producer of cards in the first decades of the 1900s. Their iconic T206 collection from 1909-1911 has become one of the most valuable sets of cards ever produced. Several pristine condition T206 cards have been uncovered in old attics and basements in Plymouth, much to the delight of local collectors. In the 1920s, the rise of gum companies distributing cards led to new sets like Goudey Gum’s 1933 collection that had iconic images of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx that are still treasured today.
The golden age of baseball cards arrived in the post-World War 2 era as production exploded. Topps Chewing Gum took over the market and produced hugely popular high quality sets on a annual basis. Their 1952 and 1954 issues are considered some of the most collectible in the hobby. In Plymouth, children could be found trading and collecting cards on street corners and in school yards. Local card shops also emerged as hubs where kids could browse racks of cards and assemble their collections. Families would attend Red Sox games at Fenway Park in Boston and stops would often be made to shops in Plymouth to look at the newest releases.
Into the 1960s, the culture surrounding baseball cards only intensified. Topps continued to be the dominant force with their iconic designs and photography. Their 1968 set featured the iconic “rookie” card of Boston’s own Carl Yastrzemski that holds significant value today. In Plymouth, the 1960s saw a boom in little league and youth baseball as the baby boom generation came of age. Having the latest cards of stars was a badge of honor and source of competition. Some local card shops like Rocky’s Sportscards even began hosting weekend card shows where collectors from across the region would gather.
The 1970s was arguably the pinnacle of baseball cards popularity in America. Production and collecting skyrocketed. Plymouth native and Red Sox great Jim Rice had some of his earliest and most valuable cards released in the 1970s by Topps. Sets became even more elaborate with oddball issues, special subsets, and career retrospectives of legends. The overproduction of cards also led to a crash. In Plymouth in the early 1980s, some local shops had trouble staying open as the bubble burst. Dedicated collectors kept the hobby alive through trading and the rise of the antique and vintage market.
In the modern era since the 1990s, baseball cards have found renewed interest from collectors. Plymouth has seen a resurgence of its local card shops like 617 Sports Cards. Producing cards has become more specialized with companies focusing on specific players, teams, and inserts. The rise of the internet has made rare vintage cards from Plymouth’s past more accessible to today’s collectors. Over 130 years after those first tobacco cards, baseball cards remain a cherished part of Plymouth’s history and culture. The players and moments they capture continue to inspire new generations of fans in the town by the sea.
