The rich history of baseball cards in Pittsburgh, PA dates back over 100 years. Some of the earliest baseball cards featuring Pittsburgh players were produced in the late 1800s as part of tobacco card sets from companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that dedicated baseball card production really took off.
In the early 1900s, Pittsburgh was home to several major league franchises including the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the Pittsburgh Rebels/Pirates/Stogies teams that played in the short-lived Players’ League in 1890 and the American Association from 1882-1891. Naturally, these Pittsburgh teams and their star players like Honus Wagner, Max Carey, Pie Traynor, and Grover Cleveland Alexander began appearing on baseball cards with increasing frequency from companies like American Caramel, E90 Allen & Ginter, and Tobacco Card Company sets during this time period.
Some of the most desirable early Pittsburgh baseball cards include Honus Wagner’s infamous 1909-1911 American Tobacco Company cards, which are the most valuable trading cards in the world. Other key early Pittsburgh cards include cards of Wagner from 1911 and 1912 Turkey Red Cabinets, a rare 1912 Billy Southworth card, and cards of Pirates stars like Carey, Traynor, and Alexander from the 1910-1914 era. These early 20th century cards featuring Pittsburgh players are highly prized by collectors today given their age, condition challenges, and the importance of the players depicted.
In the post-World War II era as baseball card production exploded, Pittsburgh players continued to be prominently featured in the iconic sets of the time by manufacturers like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer. Some iconic Pittsburgh cards from this period include a Roberto Clemente rookie card from the 1954 Bowman set, a rare uncut sheet of 1960 Topps cards that included Pirates star Bill Mazeroski, and cards of Pittsburgh legend Willie Stargell from the 1967 and 1968 Topps sets as he began his Hall of Fame career.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, Pittsburgh standouts like Dave Parker, Bill Madlock, John Candelaria, and Jim Leyritz gained popularity thanks to their inclusion in the yearly Topps, Fleer, and Donruss sets of the time. In the late 1980s, the Pirates experienced a renaissance that coincided with the rise of the junk wax era in baseball cards. Players from the Andy Van Slyke/Bobby Bonilla/Barry Bonds led Pirates teams of the early 1990s have cards that were mass produced but still hold nostalgia value for Pittsburgh collectors today.
The baseball card market contracted significantly in the mid-1990s before stabilizing. In the 2000s and 2010s, Pittsburgh players featured in modern sets included Jason Kendall, Freddy Sanchez, Neil Walker, and Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates’ resurgence to playoff contention in 2013 and two straight postseason appearances brought renewed interest in collecting cards of current Bucs stars like McCutchen, Walker, Gerrit Cole, and Josh Bell.
Today, the rich history of baseball cards produced over the decades featuring Pittsburgh players remains a driving force for collectors in the city and beyond. Vintage shops, card shows, and auctions in the Pittsburgh area allow locals to buy, sell, and trade cards old and new highlighting the best players in Pirates team history. The Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Card Club also helps connect and educate area collectors. As the Pirates aim to continue contending, a new generation of Pittsburgh baseball cards will surely be made, preserving the franchise’s legacy for future collectors to enjoy.
