Baseball cards have been an integral part of American culture since the late 19th century, providing both entertainment and collectible value for fans of the national pastime. Few places have as rich a history with baseball cards as the seaside resort town of Cape May, New Jersey. For over 100 years, Cape May has had a strong connection to the hobby through its local businesses, tourist attractions, and avid collectors within the community.
Some of the earliest accounts of baseball cards being sold in Cape May date back to the 1890s. General stores and corner shops would stock packs of cards among their merchandise as a way to appeal to the many young visitors who came to relax at the beach during summer vacations. Brands like Allen & Ginter, Old Judge, and Goodwin Champions were commonly found on spinner racks near the cash registers.
In the early 1900s, the popularity of baseball cards began to surge nationwide. Cape May saw this growing interest firsthand as families spent more leisure time at the shore. Several stores capitalized on the trend by featuring larger and more prominent baseball card displays. Perhaps the most notable was Schellenger’s Five & Dime, located on the Washington Street Mall. For decades, Schellenger’s was renowned as one of the top spots in South Jersey to purchase the latest baseball cards.
As Cape May developed into a major tourist destination in the Roaring Twenties, the connection between the town and baseball cards only strengthened. Amusement piers like the Cape May Casino and Convention Hall stocked vending machines that dispensed packs of cards as a fun distraction for visitors. Meanwhile, the expansion of minor league baseball further fueled local enthusiasm. From 1923 to 1938, Cape May was home to the Cape May Sea Gulls of the Eastern Shore League, giving residents another reason to follow the players and collect their cards.
World War II disrupted the production of baseball cards for a few years. As GIs returned home and the post-war economy boomed, the hobby experienced a renaissance in Cape May. New card shops opened to meet growing demand, such as Al’s Sportscards on the Washington Street Mall. National brands like Topps gained immense popularity upon introducing modern design styles with vivid colors and photos of players. Cape May collectors rushed to complete their 1952 and 1953 Topps sets, which featured some of the most iconic cards in the history of the industry.
Through the 1950s and 60s, baseball cards remained a cornerstone of Cape May’s family-friendly summer activities. The town’s tight-knit neighborhoods fostered card-collecting communities where kids would trade duplicates on their front lawns. Meanwhile, the Washington Street Mall shops stocked the latest series and sponsored youth baseball leagues to promote local interest. Arguably the most significant development was the opening of the Cape May County Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Situated along Ocean Street, the Hall spotlighted the region’s rich baseball roots and often hosted card shows that drew collectors from around the Mid-Atlantic.
The 1970s represented both a high-water mark and a turning point for baseball cards in Cape May. Production quality and speculative demand reached new heights as the hobby fully emerged from its post-war baby boom origins into mainstream Americana. Signs of over-commercialization also began to show. Some longtime local shops closed due to competition from national chains and the rise of direct-to-consumer mail order services. Meanwhile, unregulated resales at often-inflated prices soured interest among younger generations. Still, Cape May’s ties to cards endured through nostalgia for simpler times and the Hall of Fame’s ongoing events celebrating the pastime.
In the ensuing decades, baseball cards retained an important niche in Cape May’s culture if not its economy. Iconic shops like Al’s Sportscards finally closed their doors for good in the late 1980s, but the tradition carried on through flea markets, antique stores featuring vintage collections, and periodic card shows. Meanwhile, the internet age saw a resurgence of interest from older collectors reconnect with childhood hobbies. Cape May remains home to an active community of card aficionados, as well as a destination for tourists seeking a taste of Americana from baseball’s earliest decades. Most importantly, the County Baseball Hall of Fame still honors the region’s deep baseball roots and reminds all who visit of cards’ indelible role in Cape May’s history and identity.
