Introduction to Kit Young Baseball Cards
Kit Young was a prominent baseball card manufacturer based in New York City from the late 1880s through 1920s. During that time, they produced a variety of tobacco cards, cabinet cards, chromos, and stand-alone baseball cards featuring many of the top players from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In this in-depth review, we will examine the history of Kit Young cards, look at some of their most notable releases, and discuss what collectors should know when collecting or grading these classic pieces of baseball memorabilia from over a century ago.
Beginnings and Early Years
Kit Young began producing their earliest baseball cards in 1887 as insert cards found randomly in packs of cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Their cards during this early period were the typical size, shape and design of most tobacco era cards – approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size with decorative borders and back advertising for the tobacco product. Some of their earliest issues profiled stars of the time such as Bones Ely, Tim Keefe, Ned Hanlon and Hugh Daily.
In the early 1890s, Kit Young began experimenting with larger cabinet card formats. These early cabinet cards measured around 5 x 7 inches and were often individually wrapped in thin paper sleeves or envelopes as standalone collectibles rather than tobacco/confectionery inserts. Players featured on these included Amos Rusie, Billy Hamilton and Jack Glasscock. Color lithography was also starting to be implemented on some cards towards the mid-1890s.
Kit Young really hit their stride in the late 1890s by incorporating full color lithographic techniques on their cards and developing innovative tobacco card premiums. Their most famous and valuable cigarette premium release at this time was 1897-98 Kit Young Strip Cards, which featured full color player images horizontally striped across. Stars featured included Bid McPhee, Nap Lajoie and Willie Keeler.
The Tobacco Era Heyday
The early 1900s represented the true golden age and height of popularity for Kit Young baseball cards. Their cards were found in a vast array of tobacco brands and were widely collected, shuffled and traded by people across America. Some top Kit Young releases from this era included:
1901 Kit Young Rookies: This set focused on up-and-coming young talent such as Ed Delahanty, Matty McIntyre and Harry Davis. Surface-level vintage condition examples sell today for $500-$1,500 each.
1903 Red Letter: Considered one of their finest and most attractive sets, it featured horizontal player images beneath team names in striking red lettering. Graded mint examples can reach $3,000-$5,000.
1905 Green Backgrounds: With a simple yet appealing design of green card backs and player photos on white, these are very accessible for collectors to find and pick up for bargain prices of $50-$150 per card.
1906-1907 Strip Cards: A follow up to their famous 1890s strip cards, these profiles stars at their peak like Cy Young, Jake Beckley and Hans Wagner. Even well-worn copies are in high demand and trade for $500-$1,500 each.
Outside of tobacco inserts, Kit Young also capitalized on the growing popularity of standalone cartoon-style baseball cards or “chromos” in the very early 1900s. Their chromo sets from brands like Fatima Cigarettes profiled not just MLB stars but Negro League standouts as well.
World War I Changes and Transition to the Post-War Era
Kit Young continued producing popular baseball cards up through the 1910s, but World War I had a major impact on both the baseball and tobacco industries. Stricter regulations, higher taxes and declining consumption led many tobacco brands to cease using cards as premiums during the war years. Card production slowed heavily for all manufacturers.
This downturn forced Kit Young to transition to new business models. In the late 1910s and beyond, they shifted to publishing trade cards, postcards and cabinet photo sets independently rather than as tobacco premium inserts. Many of their post-war issues featured war heroes or dignitaries rather than sports figures. Regardless, Kit Young cards from any era remain enormously popular with collectors today seeking pieces of baseball history.
Grading and Condition Assessment Tips
Given that even their earliest issues date back over 130 years to the 1880s, properly grading the condition of vintage Kit Young cards can be challenging. To assess the level of preservation for any Kit Young piece, collectors should pay close attention to:
Centering – Are the images and backs properly centered within the card frames? Off-center strikes reduce grade and value.
Corners – Look for any bends, folds or chips which were very common due to fragile cardboard stock. Sharp corners raise grade.
-Edges – Inspect for any wear/whitening around outer rims. Smooth, intact edges mean a higher grade.
-Surface – Note degree of any creasing/wrinkles. Light/intermittent will grade better than deep/pervasive ones.
-Colors – Check original brightening ofinks,especially on chromos/cabinet cards. Faded tones lower scores.
With proper protective sleeves and displays, even moderately worn vintage Kit Young cards can still be a treasured part of any baseball memorabilia collection. Condition guides the value, but they remain desirable antique historical artifacts no matter the grade.
In summary, Kit Young was one of the first and most pioneering baseball card manufacturers whose iconic early tobacco and cabinet cards left an indelible mark on the origins of the hobby. While finding premium specimens may require luck and deep pockets, their basic tobacco issues remain within reach of most collectors seeking a link to the foundations of card collecting’s rich history. Few brands better represent the untapped nostalgia and charm of baseball’s earliest decades.
