Baseball cards have been an iconic part of American culture since the late 19th century, connecting generations of fans to their favorite players and teams. In New Orleans, the history of baseball cards is deeply intertwined with the city’s love affair with America’s pastime.
Some of the earliest baseball cards produced in the United States came from companies based in New Orleans in the 1880s, as the growing popularity of professional baseball leagues created demand for marketing materials that could promote stars like Cap Anson and Jim O’Rourke. In 1886, a New Orleans publisher named Goodwin & Company released sets featuring cards of players from the National League and American Association. These cardboard stock cards with lithographed images helped baseball gain even more mainstream exposure across the country.
During this early era before modern production techniques, baseball cards varied widely in size, image quality, and backs. Many were included as promotional inserts in packs of cigarettes or candy. In 1887, another New Orleans publisher named Jefferson Publishing produced sets under the brand name of “Large Size Base Ball Cards.” Measuring approximately 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 inches, these were among the largest early baseball cards ever made. Only a small number have survived to the present day, making them highly valuable to collectors.
As the 20th century dawned, baseball card manufacturing became more centralized in larger cities like Chicago, New York, and Cincinnati. But New Orleans still had a vibrant local minor league scene to follow. From 1902-1962, the city was home to the New Orleans Pelicans, who played at Pelican Stadium in the Southern Association. The Pelicans developed young talent for major league teams and gave local fans affordable family entertainment. Numerous regional tobacco brands included Pelicans players in their baseball card sets during this period.
In the 1950s, the golden age of baseball cards arrived with the advent of modern printing techniques. Tobacco companies like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer mass produced glossy cards that kids across America collected and traded with feverish excitement. The New Orleans Pelicans were well-represented during this era, with stars like Pete Reiser, Eddie Yost, and Ron Kline appearing in Topps and Bowman sets of the 1950s. As the Pelicans cruised to championships in 1957 and 1959, their cards helped build fan interest throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South.
But just as national companies were pumping out millions of cards each year, the Pelicans franchise began struggling financially. After the 1962 season, they were forced to relocate to Atlanta and become the Braves’ top minor league affiliate. Their departure left a void for New Orleans baseball fans that took decades to fill. In the meantime, locals turned to collecting cards of the hometown heroes they remembered, like Pelicans alums turned major leaguers like Joe Torre, Don Zimmer, and Ron Kline. Regional tobacco brands tried filling the gap by continuing to include Louisiana-born major leaguers in their sets well into the 1970s.
In the late 1980s, the baseball card collecting boom renewed interest in vintage Pelicans players from the early 20th century. As values skyrocketed industry-wide, rare Pelicans cards from the 1930s and 40s achieved four-figure prices. Local card shows sprang up across southeast Louisiana, giving collectors a chance to swap stories, complete sets, and uncover forgotten gems from the city’s baseball past. Vintage Pelicans cards remain prized possessions for collectors with deep connections to New Orleans’ rich minor league tradition.
After decades without a team, professional baseball finally returned to New Orleans in 1993 with the founding of the Zephyrs franchise in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Playing at historic Zephyr Field in Metairie, the Zephyrs rekindled the city’s passion for affordable family entertainment under the lights. Stars of the 1990s like Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, and Todd Helton had their minor league exploits captured in sets from Score, Pacific, and Pinnacle. Today, vintage 1990s Zephyrs rookies are some of the most coveted regional issues for Louisiana collectors.
Into the 21st century, New Orleans’ baseball card legacy lives on. While the Zephyrs relocated in 2017, a new Triple-A club, the Baby Cakes (now the Shuckers), carries on the tradition. Local card shows still bring collectors together to reminisce. And vintage New Orleans cards, whether of long-forgotten Pelicans or modern Zephyrs stars, remain treasured connections to the city’s deep baseball history for collectors worldwide. After over 135 years, the story of baseball cards in New Orleans remains as vibrant as the city’s undying love for America’s pastime.
