Baseball cards have been an integral part of American culture and childhood for generations. Though the baseball card industry has evolved over the decades, these collectibles remain popular throughout the United States, including in Oklahoma. Whether someone is a casual collector or a serious investor, baseball cards offer fun and insight into America’s pastime.
Some of the earliest history of baseball cards in Oklahoma can be traced back to the late 19th century when cigarette companies like American Tobacco began inserting cards into their packs as a marketing technique. These included some of the earliest depictions of stars from Major League Baseball franchises. While Oklahoma was still a territory at the time and before the beginnings of organized minor league baseball, interest was growing in the professional game across the country. Kids and adults alike enjoyed collecting and trading these primitive cardboard pieces of sports nostalgia.
Through the early 1900s, baseball cards continued to be packaged with cigarettes and gained wider popularity. Oklahoma had achieved statehood in 1907 and the first semipro and minor league teams began to pop up across the state in cities like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Muskogee, and Enid. Fans could eagerly follow local squads while also collecting cards of notable MLB players. The 1920s brought the rise of more durable gum and candy cards inserted by companies like American Caramel, Goudey Gum, and Play Ball. More intricate photographs and statistical information elevated the hobby.
After a lull during World War II, the 1950s were a golden age for baseball cards in Oklahoma and beyond. Topps gained dominance by being the lone producer after competitors withdrew from the business. Iconic sets from this period like 1952 Topps, 1956 Topps, and 1959 Topps are still considered some of the most valuable in the world. They depict the era of legends like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Mickey Mantle. In Oklahoma, interest was high while minor league franchises thrived in cities across the state from Tulsa to Oklahoma City.
The 1960s saw innovation and color arrive to baseball cards. Topps issued its first color photographs in 1964. In 1967, the firm introduced a design change with a woodgrain background that remained standard for over a decade. Oklahoma fans enjoyed following homegrown MLB talent like Bob Prince, Dean Stone, and Mickey Lolich while keeping up collections. Minor league ball parks witnessed strong attendance and new squads continued sprouting up. The advent of expansion in the majors led to commemorative cards of the new franchises including the Seattle Pilots.
In the 1970s, competition from Fleer and new products like oddball issues and annuals helped maintain interest among Oklahoma collectors. A boom in stratospheric sports card prices also began during this period, signaling the rise of serious investors seeking scarce vintage pieces for financial gain rather than just casual collecting by kids. The Oklahoma City 89ers were a perennial powerhouse in the American Association minor league. Landmark MLB achievements shown on cards included Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record and Nolan Ryan’s record setting strikeouts.
The junk wax era of the 1980s-1990s, named for an overproduction of cards that drastically lowered values, was still an extremely active time for the hobby in Oklahoma. While serious collectors look down on much of the output, kids greatly enjoyed the affordability of complete sets from Donruss, Fleer, Score, and Ultra. Newer trading card non-sports brands like Garbage Pail Kids also found popularity. In Oklahoma City, the 89ers gained notoriety through stars like Ken Griffey Jr. before moving to Wichita. The birth of premium inserts in the late 80s presaged the returns of scarcity and excitement.
In more modern times, Oklahoma collectors and fans have seen massive changes to the baseball card industry. Mega companies like Upper Deck and Leaf arose and collapsed. Trading online replaced brick-and-mortar stores. Premium memorabilia cards brought back limited runs and high price tags. The Oklahoma City Dodgers arrived as the current Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998, fueling interest. Stores in Oklahoma that were mainstays like Sports Collector’s Universe in Tulsa have since shuttered. Baseball cards remain a treasured artifact of sports, history, art, and nostalgia throughout the state. Whether seeking rare gem Mint cards or just enjoying the affordable fun of opening a pack, Oklahomans have shown their love of “America’s Pastime” through collection of these cardboard treasures from over a century.
