Baseball cards have been collecting dust and sparking memories for over 150 years. In Huntington, West Virginia, the hobby of collecting baseball cards has a long history dating back to the early 20th century. What started as a simple promotional inclusion in tobacco products evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry and pastime for many in the River City.
Some of the earliest baseball cards were included in cigarette packs in the late 1880s by the American Tobacco Company and Goodwin & Company. These cards featured individual player photos with basic stats or biographical information on the back. In the early 1900s, tobacco brands like Sweet Caporal, Old Mill, and El Principe de Gales began including baseball cards in their products. As baseball grew in popularity across the United States in the early 1900s, so too did the inclusion of baseball cards in cigarettes.
By the 1920s and 30s, nearly every major tobacco brand offered baseball cards as incentives to purchase their products. Brands like Murad Turkish cigarettes, Caramel, and Bread included multi-player sets featuring teams, leagues, or entire seasons. In Huntington, local tobacconists and corner stores stocked the latest baseball card offerings alongside their cigarette inventory. For many young boys in Huntington, a pack of cigarettes purchased by parents often came with a free baseball card or two that sparked a lifelong hobby of collecting.
Some of the earliest and most coveted baseball cards hail from the 1930s and 40s. Sets from Goudey Gum Company and Play Ball cigarettes featured beautiful color photos and innovative design. To this day, mint condition Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb cards from these early sets can fetch millions of dollars at auction. In the 1930s, a young boy in Huntington could find these gems by rummaging through boxes of used cards at local shops or asking parents to keep an eye out for them in their cigarette purchases.
During World War II, the production of baseball cards was limited due to rationing of resources. The hobby surged again in the post-war 1940s and 50s as the country celebrated victory and renewed its passion for America’s pastime. Topps Chewing Gum began their iconic run with colorful, bubblegum-scented cards that featured the likes of Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays. Huntingtonians of all ages added these iconic rookie cards to their collections either through direct gum and card purchases or trades with friends and neighborhood players.
The 1960s saw the rise of the modern baseball card era. More sophisticated printing techniques brought clearer photos and statistical data to the front of cards. The back featured longer bios, stats, and career highlights. Topps, Fleer, and other brands began producing complete annual sets that could be collected and organized in binders or albums. Many Huntington boys spent summer days completing their sets through bicycle rides to local shops, trips to the card show circuit, or trades with friends at the ballpark. Completed 1960s sets still hold value for collectors today.
In the 1970s and 80s, baseball card collecting reached new heights. Stars like Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, and Cal Ripken Jr. graced the fronts of cards that were collected and swapped with vigor. New variations like oddball issues, inserts, and parallel cards added complexity to the hobby. Shows dedicated entirely to baseball memorabilia sprang up across the region and attracted collectors from miles around. Multi-sport card brands like Fleer and Donruss expanded the hobby beyond baseball as well. Card shops opened in Huntington and the shelves were stocked with the latest wax packs, boxes, and supplies for collectors of all ages.
The late 1980s and early 90s saw an explosion in the popularity and commercialization of baseball cards. Investors drove prices sky-high for rare vintage and rookie cards. Overproduction by card companies led to a crash in the late 90s. The hobby had taken firm root in Huntington. Local shops like Huntington Card & Coin and Huntington Sports Cards served generations of collectors up until the new millennium. Vintage local card shows drew crowds every spring and fall at local venues.
While the baseball card industry has settled down from the boom years, the hobby remains strong. New collectors are still discovering the joys of completing sets, chasing parallels and autographs. Meanwhile, vintage collections in Huntington attics remain time capsules of the city’s baseball card history, waiting to be rediscovered. Whether completing a set or marveling at a 100-year-old T206, the simple joy of baseball cards continues to unite collectors in Huntington and beyond. This historic hobby is sure to spark memories for many more generations to come in the River City.
