In 1948, Ace Trading Card Company released its first set of baseball trading cards. Known for innovative designs and fascinating player biographies on the backs of the cards, Ace Baseball cards sparked new interest in the hobby.
Ace was founded by Lawrence B. Breskin in New York City. As a young boy growing up in Brooklyn in the 1930s, Breskin was an avid collector of sports cards, particularly the iconic T206 and E90 sets produced around the early 1910s. This ignited his passion for the collecting hobby. After serving in World War II, Breskin wanted to bring that same excitement to a new generation of young fans.
Breskin’s goal was to create affordable and accessible cards that provided rich details about players. The 1948 set featured 162 cardboard cards with player images on the front and biographical sketches on the reverse. At only 15 cents a pack of 8 cards, it was cheaper than most other brands on the market, making it attractive to kids.
Each card in the 1948 Ace set measured 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, smaller than previous issues but a size that was easier to carry and trade. The designs featured artistic illustrations of players in action poses on a colored photographic background. Behind each photo was nearly 100 words profiling the athlete, discussing stats, career highlights, and personal tidbits. This extra info fueled fans’ passion for learning more about their favorite ballplayers.
The 1948 Ace set spotlighted many of baseball’s greatest stars of that era, including personalities like Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Stan Musial, and Phil Rizzuto. They also shed light on lesser known but no less talented players, preserving their legacy for future generations. The mix of mainstream and obscure names broadened collecting interest beyond only the superstars.
A key part of Ace’s mission was spotlighting players on all 16 major league teams of that time. Previous sets from Topps and Bowman tended to focus only on American League or National League players. By covering both circuits comprehensively, Ace cards expanded collectors’ knowledge of the entire sport. In an era before internet research, the write-ups were an educational tool for young fans.
The 1948 Ace issue became a commercial success, selling over 5 million packs that first year alone. This helped cement the baseball card collecting hobby as a mainstream American pastime. It inspired Breskin to continue producing new Ace sets annually for over a decade. Subsequent editions in the 1949-1960 period featured colorful painted illustrations and more extensive biographies. They spotlighted the careers of players as they evolved year by year.
In 1951, Ace pioneered the switch from illustrated images to actual color photographs on the fronts of cards. This added a new level of realism compared to the hand-drawn stylings of earlier issues. The photos came from a wider variety of sources too, including team portrait sessions and action shots captured during games. This enhanced collectors’ connection to their favorite stars.
Ace also began experimenting with innovative designs beyond the basic cardboard format. An infamous 1952 release came in plastic wrappers for extra protection from damage. Others had patriotic red, white, and blue color schemes for Independence Day holidays or creative die-cut shapes fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. Some sets even included bonus cards of managers or umpires in addition to players.
In the mid-1950s, Ace started introducing subsets highlighting individual teams or statistical leaders within each issue. The 1959 set infamously featured the infamous “Mars Attacks” promotion, where cards showed players attacked by little green men from Mars. These quirky side collections created added excitement for collectors seeking complete runs.
By the late 1950s, Ace was producing over 100 different sets each year in series like Rookies, Careers, All-Stars, and High Numbers. Competition was also heating up from rival brands like Topps who held an exclusive license with the Major League Baseball Players Association starting in 1956. In 1960, Breskin decided to sell his company to the Topps organization, who absorbed Ace’s staff and product lines.
Though no longer independently owned and operated by founder Breskin, Ace brand cards continued being manufactured by Topps through 1962. These final issues paid tribute to recently retired legends like DiMaggio, Musial, Berra and others. They continued Ace’s legacy of profiling players throughout their entire careers in the game.
Today, vintage Ace cards from the 1948-1962 era remain highly collectible relics. Their innovative early designs, iconic photos, and engaging bios were formative in establishing baseball cards as prized memorabilia. By making the hobby more affordable and accessible, Ace increased generations of fans’ love and appreciation for America’s pastime on and off the field. Their influence continues shaping baseball card culture decades later.
