The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, or AAGPBL, was a women’s professional baseball league founded in 1943 by Philip K. Wrigley. While the league only lasted until 1954, it left behind a rich history and helped pave the way for women in professional sports. One aspect of the league’s history that baseball card collectors find fascinating are the AAGPBL baseball cards produced from 1948 to 1954.
The AAGPBL baseball card sets were produced by Bowman Gum Company and featured individual player photos on the front with stats and biographical information on the back. The 1948 set included 66 cards while later sets ranged from 60 to 80 cards each year. The cards featured players from all the teams in the league including the Kenosha Comets, Rockford Peaches, South Bend Blue Sox, Racine Belles, Fort Wayne Daisies, and Grand Rapids Chicks among others.
Some of the most notable and valuable cards include cards of league superstars like pitcher Joanne Winter, who led the league with 15 no-hitters, as well as cards of the league’s biggest stars like pitcher Jean Faut and outfielder Shirley Jameson. These star players’ cards often fetch higher prices due to their on-field success and name recognition. Rarer cards from the earlier 1948 and 1949 sets also tend to be more valuable among collectors.
In terms of condition and grading, high grade AAGPBL cards in gem mint or near mint condition can be quite scarce given their age. The paper stock used was not as durable as modern cards and many have survived with creases, corners worn down, or edge wear over 70 years. Top graded examples by services like PSA or BGS in the 9.0+ range can be quite valuable to collectors. Context also plays a role, as a high grade card of a less notable player may still be worth less than a worn example of a league star.
Beyond just the individual player cards, the AAGPBL sets are also notable for including unique team cards and league leader/record cards as well. These specialty cards provide added historical context and can also hold premium value. The league leader cards in particular recognized single season and career statistical milestones which help document the elite performances in the league’s history.
As the earliest women’s professional sports league in America, collectors today appreciate the AAGPBL cards for preserving the league’s history and individual player accomplishments through visual trading cards. While production was limited compared to modern sports card sets, the surviving examples are an important part of both baseball and women’s sports memorabilia collecting. Values have steadily increased in recent decades as more collectors seek to complete the pioneering AAGPBL sets and add rare stars to their collections. With fewer than an estimated 10,000 cards surviving from each original production run, high grade examples remain a prized find for dedicated collectors.
Beyond just their collecting value, the AAGPBL cards also play an important role in celebrating the legacy of this pioneering women’s league. For many younger fans only familiar with modern women’s sports, the cards help introduce iconic players like pitcher Joanne Winter or slugger Wilma Briggs whose on-field exploits broke barriers for future generations. Collecting the cards allows fans to research and appreciate the individual stories and statistics of these trailblazing athletes. In that sense, completing an AAGPBL set becomes about more than just accumulating rare cardboard – it’s about preserving women’s sports history and honoring the athletes who helped expand opportunities in the game.
As one of the earliest licensed sports card sets featuring women, the AAGPBL issues remain a truly unique part of both baseball and collectibles history. While production was relatively small, the surviving examples take on great significance as some of the rarest sports cards featuring female athletes from the 20th century. For dedicated collectors and fans of women’s sports alike, seeking out high grade stars from the league to showcase in a collection is a way to pay tribute to these pioneering players and the league that helped change the game.
