The tradition of collecting baseball cards has been around since the late 1800s, but one niche area within the hobby that didn’t take off until much later was umpire trading cards. While players have always been the main attraction on cards, it wasn’t until the 1970s that umpires started getting card recognition of their own as well.
In 1971, Topps broke new ground by including umpire photos and stats on the backs of some of its cards for the first time. A handful of umps like Bill Haller, Ken Burkhart, and John McSherry had short bios on common player cards. This was just a small sample, but it helped introduce fans to some of the personalities behind the plate and in the field.
The first true set completely dedicated to umpires didn’t arrive until 1981 when Sportflics produced a 36-card checklist. Featuring current American and National League umps like Doug Harvey, John Kibler, and Dave Phillips, these early umpire cards helped grow interest in the men in blue as collectors. While production wasn’t large, they established umpires as legitimate card subjects.
In the 1990s, the hobby saw several new umpire releases that expanded the collecting base. In 1991, Upper Deck put out a 106-card insert set as part of its flagship baseball release. This marked the most extensive umpire card set to date, profiling both major league and minor league umps. Pinnacle followed suit in 1992 with an 80-card checklist of its own focused solely on MLB arbiters.
Two years later in 1994, Collector’s Choice took umpire cards in a new visual direction with its “blown up” style. Enlarged head shots in front of colorful backgrounds made for eye-catching designs. The brand continued this theme with a 1995 release. These artistic treatments helped evolve umpire cards beyond simple stats on the back into collectible baseball art.
The 2000s saw further innovations and increased production runs. In 2000, Fleer Greats debuted an insert set featuring retired umpires with career stats and accomplishments. This paid homage to iconic arbiters of the past. A year later, Upper Deck’s Sweet Spot brand crafted a visually stunning 100-card checklist with glossy stock and intricate photo collages.
One of the largest modern releases came courtesy of Topps in 2007. Their 206-card flagship baseball series included umpire parallels and short prints alongside the main checklist. Inserts like “Umpire Icons” and “Rookie Umpires” added to the fun. Collectors could chase hit variants of their favorite umps like Jim Joyce and Tim McClelland across multiple parallel subsets.
In more recent years, companies like Topps, Panini, and Leaf have kept umpire cards in the mainstream with inserts in their standard baseball offerings. Digital platforms have also enabled new virtual-only umpire releases. While players remain the driving force, dedicated umpire collectors continue to find new subjects to chase thanks to the expanding number of options.
As the hobby progresses into new decades, the tradition of umpire cards looks poised to keep growing. Their inclusion helps paint a fuller picture of America’s pastime beyond just what happens between the foul lines. Umpires are an integral part of baseball’s history, and cards allow fans to appreciate their contributions both past and present. Whether collecting commons or chasing rare variants, umpire cards remain a fun niche area for those who want to take their hobby behind home plate.
