Baseball cards have a long history in Clemson, South Carolina dating back to the late 19th century. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured players from the minor leagues who got their start in Clemson. While the hobby of collecting baseball cards exploded in popularity across the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, aficionados in Clemson were amassing collections since the earliest days of the sport.
The first baseball cards produced that featured players who got their start in the Clemson area were included in sets released in the late 1880s by cigarette and tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter and Goodwin & Company. These early tobacco cards often featured unknown minor leaguers alongside more established major leaguers of the day. Cards that featured players who played for early Clemson-area minor league teams in the late 19th century have become highly valuable collectors items today.
As the popularity of baseball grew throughout the early 20th century, more baseball cards began to be mass produced featuring players at all levels, including those in the minor leagues. Sets by companies like American Caramel, Excello, and Tip Cigarettes in the 1910s-1920s era sometimes included players who had played for the minor league teams based in Clemson at the time, like the Clemson Tigers of the South Atlantic League. Collecting these early 20th century tobacco era cards became a popular hobby for many in the Clemson area.
The rise of gum and candy baseball cards in the 1930s further expanded the availability of cards featuring minor leaguers. Companies like Goudey, Play Ball, and Leaf distributed sets across the United States that sometimes included players who had played for the Clemson Tigers or other nearby minor league affiliates. Local drugstores and corner shops in Clemson sold wax packs of these cards, fueling the growing hobby. By World War II, many kids in Clemson likely had sizable collections, sparking lifelong passions.
The 1950s are considered the golden age of baseball card collecting. As companies like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer began mass producing colorful cardboard, they also ensured set checklists included more minor leaguers than ever before. This meant the odds of finding cards of players who had played in the South Atlantic or Western Carolinas minor leagues, which included Clemson-area teams, were high. Places like Meyers Drug Store and Benet’s Department Store in Clemson sold boxes of cards, where kids could often find local heroes.
In the late 1950s, Topps even produced short print rookie card sets specifically focusing on players in the low-level Piedmont League, where the Greenwood Dodgers featured many up-and-comers. These scarce regional issues further fueled collecting interest in Clemson. Topps also produced annual sets highlighting each minor league, providing opportunities for fans to follow careers of players hoping to make the majors. Many lifelong Clemson collectors credit these regional oddball issues with sparking passions that still burn today.
The 1960s saw collecting boom to new heights in Clemson. Topps’ dominant run producing affordable yet highly collectible cards fed demand. Meanwhile, the arrival of the Greenville Braves minor league team in 1960 gave local fans a home team to root for and potentially find cards of. The rise of card shows and conventions in the late 60s gave Clemson collectors a place to trade and sell with other aficionados. By decade’s end, it seemed everyone in Clemson had at least a shoebox full of cards stashed away.
In the 1970s, the rise of specialty and oddball sets catered more to the collector demographic. Sets like Kellogg’s 3-D cards had short print regional variations highlighting the Greenville Braves. Meanwhile, companies like TCMA produced sets exclusively focusing on players from lower minor leagues like the Western Carolinas League. This fueled interest among Clemson collectors seeking out rare local heroes. The 1970s also saw the rise of the hobby’s first magazines, giving Clemson collectors a place to read about new finds and trades.
Collecting remained strong in Clemson through the 1980s and 1990s boom, even as the baseball card market contracted. The arrival of Internet forums in the 1990s let Clemson collectors connect with like-minded fans across the country. Sites like Trading Card Database and Sports Card Forum gave locals a place to research and post about finds of rare local cards. The 2000s saw a resurgence in set-building as companies produced retro-style issues mimicking the golden era look. Clemson collectors could now assemble virtual sets of all the players who had once suited up for local minor league teams.
Today, collecting remains a popular hobby among many in Clemson, both young and old. Local card shops like Pastimes and hobby stores keep the spirit alive by hosting events and selling new releases. Meanwhile, the rise of online auction sites like eBay give Clemson collectors access to a global marketplace to find those hard-to-get regional gems featuring players who once called Clemson home. Collecting has come a long way since the earliest tobacco issues first sparked passions over a century ago.
