Baseball cards have long captured the nostalgia of the national pastime for generations of fans. Beginning in the late 19th century as a promotional invention to sell cigarettes and bubble gum, cardboard trading cards featuring images and stats of players became hugely popular collectibles. Now, a modern twist on this tradition is sparking new interest – baseball cards made of actual brick.
The concept was created in 2018 by Red Brick Cards, a startup based in Milwaukee, WI. Founder Ryan Johnson was inspired by his love of both baseball and architecture, and wanted to fuse these passions into a one-of-a-kind collectible. Each “card” is a real brick that has been individually laser-etched and hand-painted with vivid artwork depicting legendary players. Johnson sources used bricks from old buildings being demolished locally, giving the cards an authentic historic feel along with recycling the materials.
The intricate etching and painting process can take over two hours to complete per card. High-resolution photos are digitally screened onto the brick surface at a micro level using a 40-watt CO2 laser. This creates extremely fine etched lines that are barely perceptible to the naked eye. The details are then hand-painted layer by layer using acrylic paints and tiny brushes. Numbers, letters, faces and uniforms are all meticulously rendered to look just like a traditional cardboard card. Special protective clear coats are applied to guard the fragile artwork.
Once finished, each one-of-a-kind brick card showcases a retro baseball design reminiscent of the tobacco era classics from the late 1800s through the 1950s. Most feature legendary all-time greats like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Stats, seasons and career highlights are summarized on the back of the brick just as on old cardboard issues. Serial numbers and holograms help authenticate each piece. They are encased in acrylic displays for safe handling and presentation.
Since launching in 2018, Red Brick Cards has grown into one of the most unique sports collectible companies. Notable players, executives and Hall of Famers have joined as partners and had their own custom brick cards created. Sets highlighting historic Negro League stars and iconic franchises have also been released to great acclaim. While prices for common parallel issues start around $50, rare autographed “game-used” bricks signed by the depicted stars can fetch thousands. Still, the majority of cards remain highly affordable for most casual collectors.
Part of the appeal stems from brick cards providing a tangible, lasting keepsake compared to flimsy cardboard. They are sturdy enough to withstand the test of time like the players and ballparks honored. Seasoned enthusiasts also appreciate that each card uses an actual physical fragment of history. Every brick was once part of an old building and now lives on through immortalizing a baseball legend. Some collectors have even incorporated brick cards decoratively into mancaves and rec rooms dedicating shrines to their favorite teams.
Red Brick Cards has been praised for its ingenuity in merging nostalgia with sustainability. By repurposing salvaged bricks that would otherwise be discarded as demolition waste, the company diverts materials from landfills. It has also partnered with several youth baseball organizations to teach bricklaying and art skills using its techniques. Johnson eventually plans to expand into other sports like football, hockey and soccer using a similar process with their retired stars as subjects. With innovations like baseball cards of brick, nostalgia for the past finds clever new ways to connect to collectors both old and new.
