Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over 130 years and Birmingham, Alabama has a rich history with the hobby. Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1880s when cigarette companies like Allen & Ginter and Goodwin & Co. began inserting cards into their packs and rolls of tobacco products. These original cards featured some of the biggest stars of the day like Pud Galvin, King Kelly, and Jim O’Rourke.
While the earliest documented baseball card collectors in Birmingham can be traced back to the 1890s, it wasn’t until the 1930s and 1940s that the hobby really began to take off in the Magic City. This boom in popularity coincided with the rise of gum and candy companies like Goudey and Topps beginning to mass produce colorful baseball cards as incentives to purchase their products. Kids in Birmingham could find these cards in local drug stores and corner markets throughout the city.
Two of the most popular sets from this era were the 1933 Goudey Gum and 1938 Play Ball issues. These early Goudey and Play Ball cards featured colorful illustrated images of players and some included short biographies on the back. Sets from companies like Bowman Gum and Leaf also gained popularity. Many lifelong Birmingham residents who grew up during the Great Depression and World War II developed fond memories of collecting and trading these cards with friends and baseball remained hugely popular as a pastime.
In the post-war 1940s and 1950s, Birmingham was home to several minor league baseball teams including the Birmingham Barons who were a farm team of the Chicago White Sox. Having a local minor league team helped fuel the passion for baseball and collecting in the city. Kids would flock to Rickwood Field, the Barons’ home ballpark, to watch games and hoped to get player autographed cards. The 1950s were the golden age of baseball cards as production soared. Iconic sets like Topps, Bowman, and Red Man were eagerly collected.
By the 1960s, the population boom in Birmingham helped card collecting flourish to new levels. Stores dedicated solely to sports cards began popping up around the metro area as the hobby expanded beyond kids. Teenagers and adults also got heavily involved in the pursuit of complete sets and rare cards. The first organized baseball card shows were held in Birmingham during this decade which allowed for collectors to meet, trade, and buy cards. Topps remained the dominant card company but rivals like Fleer and Leaf also gained popularity.
In the 1970s, Birmingham was producing some of the state’s top high school and amateur baseball talent. Future major leaguers like Davey Lopes, John Smoltz, and Jeff Brantley all hailed from Alabama. Their rookie cards became highly sought after by local collectors. The rise of star power in the hobby also exploded. Sets focused on superstars like Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, and Nolan Ryan were endlessly chased. The first major sportscard conventions were held in the late 1970s which brought collectors from across the Southeast to Birmingham.
The 1980s saw the hobby boom to new heights in Birmingham as interest spread globally. The city’s card shops did a booming business selling new sets and singles to collectors of all ages. The arrival of the annual National Sports Collectors Convention in the summer further elevated Birmingham’s status as a hotbed for the hobby. Upper Deck shook the industry in 1989 with its innovative modern design and use of color photography which shattered records. The cards of Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. from this era remain extremely popular with local collectors today.
In the 1990s, Birmingham continued to produce some of the top collectors in the country. The rise of the internet allowed for easy trading between collectors all over. It also led to increased speculation which caused a price bubble for vintage cards in the late 80s and early 90s. When the bubble burst in the mid-90s, many local card shops closed. The hobby remained strong among dedicated collectors. The cards of Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, and Greg Maddux attracted huge interest.
Today, Birmingham has a dedicated, passionate community of baseball card collectors. While the local card shop landscape has changed, online groups and annual card shows keep the hobby thriving. Modern stars like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper remain popular, but vintage sets from the 1950s and players like Mickey Mantle are highly sought after. Several Birmingham residents have assembled Hall of Fame worthy collections. With over a century of history, baseball cards remain an integral part of the city’s sports culture and a window into memories of generations past. The future remains bright for collecting in Birmingham.
