The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have a long history with baseball cards dating back to the late 19th century. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured players from local Minor League teams that called the Twin Cities home.
In the 1880s and 1890s, several Minor League teams played in Minneapolis and St. Paul, including the Minneapolis Millers who began play in 1884. Cracker Jack began including baseball cards in their product in 1912, helping to further popularize collecting cards of players throughout the country including those in the Minor Leagues.
During this early era of baseball cards prior to World War I, companies like American Caramel began producing sets focused specifically on Minor League players. Sets from this period often featured players from the Millers, Saints, and other regional Minor League clubs. While production of baseball cards slowed during World War I, it picked back up in the 1920s as the hobby continued growing in popularity.
In the 1920s and 30s, the Twin Cities was home to several successful Minor League franchises. The Minneapolis Millers of the American Association routinely drew over 100,000 fans per season to Nicollet Park. Stars like Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, and Kirby Puckett played for the Millers early in their careers. Cards from this era featuring Millers players remain some of the most sought after collectibles for Twin Cities baseball card enthusiasts.
The St. Paul Saints also rose to prominence in the 1920s and 30s while playing in the American Association. Future Hall of Famers like Joe DiMaggio, Bob Lemon, and Luke Appling all suited up for the Saints at some point. Their cards from this time period are highly valuable today. In the 1930s, Goudey released sets specifically highlighting the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints, a rarity for a Minor League focused production.
During World War II, baseball card production was again limited due to rationing of resources. After the war, the modern era of baseball cards began in the late 1940s. Iconic sets like Bowman and Topps came to dominate the hobby. These major producers continued issuing cards of Twin Cities players, both in the Minors and occasional Major Leaguers who got their start locally.
The 1950s saw the dawn of the golden age of baseball cards as colorful designs and innovative production methods led to increased collecting. Stars like Harmon Killebrew, who broke in with the Millers in 1954 and went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Minnesota Twins, had their early career cards produced during this boom period.
Into the 1960s and 70s, the Millers and Saints remained staples of the Minor League scene. Their stars, including future Twins Rod Carew, Bert Blyleven, and Tom Kelly, gained card issues from the major companies as they rose through the ranks. The 1970s also saw the birth of the Minnesota Twins franchise after the Washington Senators relocated to the Twin Cities in 1961. Careers of hometown heroes like Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Kent Hrbek were well documented in the many classic card sets of the 1970s and 80s.
In the 1980s and 90s, baseball card collecting reached new heights and the Twins emerged as competitive contenders. Homegrown stars like Kirby Puckett achieved legendary status both on and off the field, immortalized in the finest card issues of the late 20th century. Meanwhile, the Millers and Saints soldiered on, continuing to develop future Major Leaguers and give them early cardboard exposure in sets.
Today, the baseball card market remains active. Both vintage and modern Twin Cities player cards remain popular with collectors. The Twins have a dedicated local fanbase. Meanwhile, the St. Paul Saints are now an independent franchise drawing fans with their entertaining brand of baseball and occasional player cameos. Their current players still gain occasional card issues that will someday be looked back on fondly.
From the earliest Minor League stars of the late 19th century to today’s Twins and Saints, the Twin Cities have left an indelible mark on the history of baseball cards. Local players’ early careers were documented and their cardboard issues now bring back nostalgia for generations of collectors in Minnesota. The tradition established over 130 years continues with new players joining the ranks of those immortalized in the enduring hobby.
