Baseball cards exploded in popularity in the late 19th century as printed cards inserted in tobacco products allowed for mass production and widespread distribution. While the early decades of the 20th century saw numerous baseball card sets released, the 1938 set stands out as a pivotal year that helped transform the hobby into what it is today.
Released by the American Caramel Company, the 1938 set is widely considered the first “modern” set of baseball cards. It featured cards of all 16 major league teams at the time neatly organized into team subsets. Each player’s photo was accompanied by their team, position, and batting average from the 1937 season printed on the back. This basic formula set the template for most baseball card releases that followed.
The 1938 set is also notable for being one of the last true “tobacco era” issues as the 1951 trading card ban phased out inserts in cigarettes. This scarcity makes high quality examples from 1938 quite valuable today. Here is an overview of pricing trends for different players and conditions from the seminal 1938 set:
Common Players (PRC 1-3) – Cards featuring less notable players from the era in Poor-Good condition can be acquired for $5-20. Notable examples include backups and role players.
Solid Veterans (PRC 4-6) – Established major leaguers who were past their prime fetch $20-50 in Good-Very Good condition. Think pitchers like Lon Warneke or position players like Joe DiMaggio.
Future Hall of Famers (PRC 7-8) – Rookie cards or early career cards of inductees command $100-300 in Excellent-Mint condition. Examples include Bob Feller, Ted Williams, and Joe Medwick.
Superstars (PRC 9-10) – Iconic players in their prime like Hank Greenberg, Mel Ott, and Jimmie Foxx can bring $300-1000+ in pristine Near Mint-Mint condition, especially for their rarer team issues.
The condition and eye appeal of the card is paramount to pricing. Even common players jump up significantly in higher grades. The 1938 set is also notable for containing the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Bob Feller, Ted Williams, and Joe Medwick. Their cards are especially valuable, with a PSA 10 Williams rookie bringing over $500,000 at auction.
While star rookies and future legends dominate the high-end, the 1938 set as a whole remains very collectible and affordable for most budgets. Even common players can be found for just pennies in lower grades. This accessibility along with its historical significance make it a perfect set for any baseball card collector just starting out or looking to fill in an older set from the pioneering tobacco era. Its simple yet iconic design also ensures the 1938s will always have strong nostalgic appeal among hobbyists.
The 1938 baseball card set was hugely influential as one of the first “modern” issues. Over 80 years later, it remains a cornerstone of the collecting hobby both for its affordability across all player tiers and scarcity as a true tobacco era release. Condition is paramount, but examples can be found to fit any budget. The 1938s established many of the traditions still seen in baseball cards today and deserve their place as one of the most important sets in the long history of the hobby.
