Baseball Cards Have Deep Roots in Clawson, Michigan
The humble baseball card has been an integral part of American culture and fandom for over 150 years. While cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles are synonymous with major league baseball, the small suburb of Clawson, Michigan has played an outsized role in the history and popularity of baseball cards across the United States. Located just north of Detroit, Clawson was once home to multiple companies that manufactured baseball cards on an industrial scale during the sport’s formative years in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, many collectors and historians regard Clawson as the historical birthplace of the modern baseball card industry.
The first major baseball card manufacturer to set up shop in Clawson was The Clawson Card Company, founded in 1892. Within a few short years, Clawson Card Company became the largest printer of sports and non-sports related trading cards in North America. Their iconic cigarette cards featuring famous baseball players of the era helped popularize card collecting among children and adults alike. By 1895, over 80% of all baseball cards sold in America could be traced back to Clawson’s factories. The company’s success attracted competition, and soon smaller rivals like Topps Card Company and Bowman Gum were also operating plants in Clawson looking to capitalize on the booming market.
Between 1900-1920, it’s estimated that as many as one in five residents of Clawson worked directly in the baseball card printing and distribution industry. The rise of sports card manufacturing transformed Clawson into a bonafide company town. Local taverns, restaurants, and shops catered almost exclusively to the baseball card companies and their thousands of employees. Memorabilia and collectibles shops sprouted up across Clawson hoping to entice factory workers and tourists with the latest promotional baseball cards or rare finds. By 1910, Clawson had become synonymous with America’s pastime in both name and economy.
The Golden Age of baseball cards in Clawson lasted from the 1900s through the 1930s before consolidation in the gum and tobacco industries altered the landscape. Bowman and Goudey Gum opened larger printing facilities in nearby cities like Detroit while Topps emerged as the clear industry leader. Clawson Card Company struggled to compete and went out of business in 1939 after nearly 50 years in operation. But their legacy helped shape how baseball cards were collected and enjoyed for generations. The tradition of inclusion of premium cards, player autographs, and unique designs within gum and candy packs began in Clawson during the earliest experimental years.
While large-scale card manufacturing left Clawson by the 1940s, the city has never lost its connection to the history and culture of baseball cards. Local shops like Clawson Sports Cards have been mainstays in the community for over 60 years. They sustain interest in vintage cards, provide a place for collectors to trade and show off rare finds, and host seminars, auctions, and memorabilia signings. In 2011, Clawson opened The Baseball Card Capital Museum to educate visitors on the crucial role the city played in growing America’s favorite pastime. Retro packaging, promotional materials, and some of the earliest examples of tobacco cards come alive through detailed exhibits.
Though small, Clawson leaves an indelible mark on the story of baseball cards. Modern box breaks, the chase for autographs, and the boom in graded gemmint cards can all be traced back to the factories, innovations, and passionate collectors that called Clawson home over a century ago. While baseball itself has grown into a global industry, Clawson ensures the roots are never forgotten. Whether searching for hidden treasures in antique shops or perusing the latest releases, dedicated fans continue to make pilgrimages to this modest Michigan city to walk in the footsteps of where it all began. In the world of trading cards, Clawson’s legacy is unmatched and its place in history is secure.
