Baseball cards have been an integral part of American culture and childhood for over 130 years. While the hobby started in larger metropolitan areas, it quickly spread to small towns across the country, including Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Baseball card collecting took off in Mt. Pleasant in the late 19th century and remained a popular pastime for generations of residents through today.
Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1880s by tobacco companies as promotions to boost sales. In 1891, the American Tobacco Company started including cards in packs of cigarettes featuring stars from the National League and American Association. These tobacco era cards from the late 1800s are among the most valuable in the hobby today due to their rarity. While these early cards did not make their way to Mt. Pleasant immediately, the hobby started gaining popularity in town in subsequent decades.
In the early 1900s, drug stores and general stores in Mt. Pleasant began carrying baseball cards as a side business. Popular brands included Leaf, T206, and Sweet Caporal issued between 1909-1911. Kids would save up their pennies to buy a pack, hoping to collect stars like Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb. Stores like Benson’s Drug Store and Carl’s Corner Grocery became regular stops for young card collectors. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, stores continued to stock new sets as the pastime grew locally.
The modern era of baseball cards started in 1938 with the Goudey Gum Company. Their colorful and bubblegum-scented cards featured current players and more statistics and information than previous issues. In Mt. Pleasant, Goudey cards were sold at drug stores and could be redeemed for prizes like baseballs and bats. Their high production value made them hugely popular with both kids and adults. In the post-World War II years, Mt. Pleasant saw a boom in baseball fandom and card collecting alike.
Into the 1950s, Topps seized control of the baseball card market and produced affordable wax packs found in every corner store. Their innovative design and larger photo size set the standard. Kids in Mt. Pleasant traded, swapped and competed to complete each new Topps set. Stadium Clubs formed where collectors showed off rare cards and talked about the latest baseball action. Local card shops also opened to cater to the booming hobby.
The 1960s saw new competitors like Fleer and Post enter the scene. Their innovative parallel sets challenged Topps’ monopoly. Local card shops stayed busy hosting trading sessions and tournaments. In the 1970s, the rise of star players like Reggie Jackson made collecting more exciting. Expos were also held where collectors could meet with vendors and former players. The opening of Card Kingdom in 1976 made Mt. Pleasant a destination spot for serious collectors across Michigan.
In the 1980s, a speculative boom hit the hobby as investors drove up card prices. Mint condition vintage cards skyrocketed in value. Local shops did booming business grading and authenticating cards. The influx of cash also led to the dark side of counterfeiting. Meanwhile, the arrival of Donruss, Score and others flooded the market. By the end of the decade, the speculative bubble had burst. In Mt. Pleasant, Card Kingdom weathered the storm and kept the hobby alive through more turbulent times.
The 1990s saw new frontiers and collector frenzies. Insert cards, parallels and serially numbered “hits” added gambling-like excitement. Local shops stayed busy hosting box breaks and tournaments for the ultra-rare pulls. Expos drew collectors from across the state. Upper Deck and Score ruled before the arrival of Playoff and Leaf revived the competition. The internet also changed the game, allowing Mt. Pleasant collectors to easily trade online. Sites like Ebay further drove up prices of vintage stars.
In the 2000s-present, the arrival of brands like Bowman Draft, Topps Chrome and Panini have kept the card collecting market competitive and innovative. Autograph relic cards of today’s stars can sell for thousands. Meanwhile, vintage stars from the tobacco era remain icons. Local shops like Longfellow’s still host regular trading sessions and tournaments. Card shows are also a regular occurrence where collectors of all ages can socialize and pursue their hobby.
Through its long history, baseball card collecting has been a constant in Mt. Pleasant. Generations of residents have bonded over the cards, chasing stars and completing sets. Today, the hobby remains as popular as ever. Whether collecting for fun, investment or nostalgia, cards continue to be a treasured link to the pastime of baseball and a cherished part of life in Mt. Pleasant. The little pieces of cardboard have brought much joy to the city for over 130 years and counting.
