Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over 130 years and remain one of the most popular hobbies in America. In Indianapolis, the state capital and Indiana’s largest city, baseball card collecting has a rich history and continues to thrive today. Let’s take an in-depth look at the world of baseball cards in Indianapolis.
Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1880s by tobacco companies as promotional items to be found in cigarette and chewing tobacco packs. In the early 1900s, many baseball card manufacturers were located in the Midwest. One of the most prominent early producers was the American Tobacco Company, which had a factory in Indianapolis. From the 1910s through the 1930s, this factory churned out millions of tobacco era cards that were inserted into packs across the country.
During this tobacco era, many young boys in Indianapolis would eagerly await opening packs of cigarettes or chewing tobacco hoping to find rare cards of their favorite players. Local candy stores and general stores sold these tobacco products and the excitement of the baseball card chase brought many young fans together. Regional stars on the Homestead Grays and Indianapolis ABCs minor league teams were especially popular finds for local collectors.
In the post-World War 2 era, the baseball card boom exploded with the advent of modern wax pack formats from Topps and others. Card shops and hobby stores started to pop up around Indianapolis in the 1950s and 1960s to meet growing demand. Places like Ernie’s Sports Cards in Broad Ripple and Bob’s Baseball Cards in Fountain Square became hubs for collectors of all ages to trade, sell and admire their collections. Regional shows also took off, with some of the earliest and largest still held today in Indianapolis.
During this “golden age” of the 1950s and 1960s, iconic rookie cards of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and dozens of other all-time greats came out of packs. For many kids in Indianapolis, collecting and organizing these treasured cards in albums became a daily hobby and source of excitement on the baseball season. Stars of the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds were especially popular with local fans.
In the 1970s, the collecting boom continued unabated. More sophisticated want lists and checklists emerged to track collections. The rise of the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, also boosted interest in minor league cards from that era. Regional stars like Dave Parker and Bert Blyleven cut their teeth in Indianapolis before reaching the majors. Their early minor league issue cards remain highly collectible today.
The 1980s saw the hobby explode into a multi-billion dollar industry. Speculation took off as investors drove up prices of rare vintage and rookie cards. In Indianapolis, national and mega-regional shows drew tens of thousands, and card shops multiplied to capitalize on the frenzy. The ’87 Topps set, which included stars like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, remains one of the most iconic and valuable of all time.
The overproduction of cards in the early 1990s led to a crash. Many shops went out of business across Indianapolis and elsewhere. But a strong collector base remained committed to the hobby. In the 2000s, card collecting rebounded with renewed interest in vintage cards and regional players. Iconic shops like Ernie’s Sports Cards survived and thrived with their vast vintage inventories and expertise.
Today, Indianapolis remains a hotbed of baseball card collecting activity. Annual mega-shows like the National Sports Collectors Convention and Burbank Sports Cards & Collectibles Show draw collectors from around the world. Regional indie shows are held monthly. Card shops like Ernie’s, Burbank, and Indy City Sports thrive on vintage sales and modern product. Online groups like Indianapolis Sports Collectors Club allow fans to trade and discuss collections virtually too.
Collectors in Indianapolis today pursue the full spectrum of the hobby. Many still chase stars of the hometown Indians or regional MLB clubs. Vintage tobacco era cards remain a major focus given the city’s history of production. Rarest Indianapolis ABCs and Homestead Grays cards can sell for thousands. Rookie cards of Aaron, Mays, Clemente and more are the holy grails. Modern parallels and autographs also have their devoted followings.
After over 130 years, baseball cards remain a vibrant part of sports fandom and youth culture in Indianapolis. From the earliest tobacco era to modern digital platforms, the unique history and vibrant community of collectors in Indiana’s capital city has kept the hobby thriving for generations. With rich regional connections and a passionate local scene, Indianapolis is sure to remain a baseball card hotbed for many years to come.
