All Aces Baseball Cards: A History of One of the Iconic Baseball Card Companies
All Aces was a pioneering baseball card company that produced cards from 1948 to 1957. During its decade in business, All Aces issued some of the most visually striking and collectible cards of the post-war era. While smaller than Topps or Bowman, All Aces left an indelible mark on the hobby and helped popularize baseball cards across America. This article will provide an in-depth history of All Aces and explore some of its most famous and sought-after sets.
All Aces was founded in 1948 by brothers Ira and Marc Silton in Brooklyn, New York. The Siltons saw an opportunity in the growing market for affordable sports collectibles among children after World War II. Their first set that year featured 144 cards and sold for just a nickel per pack. The 1948 set highlighted many of baseball’s biggest stars of the late 1940s like Ted Williams, Bob Feller, and Stan Musial.
What set early All Aces cards apart was their bold color schemes and graphic designs. While other companies issued simpler black and white or tan colored cards, All Aces experimented with vibrant reds, blues, and greens. Stars were often depicted in action shots against colorful artistic backgrounds. The 1948 cards also featured unique round photograph corners instead of straight cuts, a distinctive All Aces trademark.
In the early 1950s, All Aces began issuing larger sets with more players and information on the back of each card. The 1951 set had an expanded 192 cards while 1952 featured a career-high 240 different players. These sets covered more minor leaguers and role players in addition to the star players. Backs of the cards included stats, bios, and fun facts about each athlete.
The Silton brothers also weren’t afraid to take creative risks with their designs. The 1953 set featured borderless photos on a blue background that were considered quite radical and modern for the time. That same year also saw the release of All Aces’ first true “premium” set – a high-gloss 80 card collection called the “Blue Backs.” These beautifully crafted cards sold in luxury boxes and featured some of the most exquisite photographs of the era.
In 1954, All Aces took their designs to new heights with the release of their “Atomic Age” cards. Featuring atomic and space-themed graphics like comets, planets, and mushroom clouds, these cards perfectly captured post-war America’s fascination with nuclear energy and the space race. Players were shown in full or partial astronaut suits and helmets against colorful astronomical panoramas. The Atomic Age cards are now some of the most visually stunning collectibles from the 1950s.
The mid-1950s saw All Aces issue their most iconic and valuable sets. In 1955, they released the first true “rookie card” set with photos of players from their earliest seasons. Rookies featured that year like Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, and Billy Pierce would become future Hall of Famers. 1956 then saw the debut of All Aces’ most famous design – the “Action All Stars” collection. Featuring cropped action shots of the game’s biggest names, these dramatic close-ups against solid colored backgrounds have become hugely popular with collectors.
Unfortunately, rising production costs and increased competition from larger competitors like Topps began taking their toll on All Aces in the latter half of the 1950s. Their final two sets issued in 1957 were among their smallest with only 108 and 120 cards respectively. Facing financial difficulties, the Silton brothers made the tough choice to sell the company that year. All Aces baseball cards ceased production after their iconic 10-year run.
While short-lived, All Aces left an indelible mark on the hobby. Their incredibly creative designs, bold colors, and captivating photography paved the way for innovative card concepts that are still popular today. Rookie cards from their 1950s sets featuring future legends continue to be some of the hobby’s most valuable. Over 60 years later, All Aces cards remain visually stunning works of pop art that transport collectors back to the exciting early days of the baseball card boom. The Silton brothers took risks that helped popularize collecting and ensured All Aces’ place in sports memorabilia history.
