The long tradition of collecting baseball cards in Bellingham, Washington stretches back over a century. From their early printed beginnings as inserts included with packets of gum and tobacco products starting in the late 1800s, baseball cards have captured the imagination of generations of fans in this Pacific Northwest community.
Some of the earliest card collectors in Bellingham acquired cards as children in the early 1900s as the relatively new pastime of baseball grew in popularity across America. Stores would often stock the basic card sets issued each year by companies like American Tobacco and the American Caramel Company to entice young customers. While the cards from this era weren’t in the best condition due to early production methods, they still ignited a spark of fandom in many a young Bellingham native.
As the 1920s roared along, the more sophisticated printing techniques used to produce cards resulted in higher quality images and stats on the backs of cards. Legends of the era like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson had their likenesses captured for collectors. In Bellingham, small groups of teenagers and young adults would gather to swap and discuss their treasured cards. The rise of organized leagues and high school baseball teams locally further fueled the boom in card collecting in Whatcom county.
In the prosperous years following WWII, baseball card collecting really took off as a mainstream hobby amongst Bellingham residents of all ages. The arrival of the modern post-war sets issued by Topps in the late 1940s featured the innovative and collectible design of individual paper wrappers that have been a tradition ever since. Stores all around town stocked and sold the yearly Topps sets as well as regional brands that dotted the Pacific Northwest like Meridian and Bowman. Exchanging and trading with friends was a common social pastime on the streets and playgrounds of the area’s neighborhoods and schoolyards.
As the 1950s progressed, Bellingham saw the rise of its first dedicated sports card shops that catered exclusively to collectors. Establishments like Whatcom Sportscards and Ace Baseball Cards gave fans a specialized place to peruse long boxes full of cards, inquire about the values of particular rare finds, and engage in lively debates about the sport with other enthusiasts. Weekend trips downtown were often scheduled around visiting these hub stores, with all manner of items for sale from loose common cards to complete golden era sets tucked safely away in albums.
Into the 1970s, a boom in specialized regional card shows hosted in Bellingham’s armories and fairgrounds drew crowds of collectors from around Whatcom county. Vendors offered pristine vintage gems alongside the latest issues, and fans of all ages packed the aisles making trades. National excitement surrounding stars like Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, and Reggie Jackson was echoed locally as well. The 1973 auction of a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, considered the most valuable trading card in existence, for a then-record price of $25,350 demonstrated just how lucrative the hobby had become nationwide.
As the 1980s dawned, Bellingham saw its first dedicated card shop open its doors. Joe’s Sportscards welcomed customers with rows of newly issued commons alongside cabinet displays of premium vintage rarities carefully graded and encapsulated by the emerging services like PSA. Nearby schools and neighborhoods fostered dedicated circle of traders, with the standardized grading system bringing order and objectivity to valuations. Regional and national card shows drew crowds in the thousands, putting Bellingham on the map as a major pacific northwest hub for the pastime.
The 1990s boom period for sports cards saw the opening of even more specialized shops in Bellingham catering to burgeoning new subsets like autograph cards and memorabilia. Stores hosted product release parties and drawing contests that brought out large crowds. The 1996 issue of a rare Michael Jordan Kmart discount card in specially marked starter sets created a local frenzy amongst collectors trying to land the elusive infrared refractors. Meanwhile, the first internet auctions saw some prized Bellingham collections of vintage stars reach six-figure sales to nationwide buyers.
Today, Bellingham remains an energized hotbed for baseball card collectors and traders. Annual card shows like the Bellingham Sports Expo at the NW Washington Fairgrounds draw crowds topping 2,000 fans. Thriving local Facebook groups enable constant online swapping, while brick-and-mortar shops like Sports Card World and The Market offer cutting-edge services like consigning and breaking cases of the newest and highest-end products. The colorful history of the hobby in Bellingham spans well over a century and looks to remain deeply woven into the fabric of the community for generations to come. From humble beginnings with penny packs of gum, baseball cards have grown to represent memories, communities and big business, all while captivating collectors in this Pacific Northwest region.
