Baseball cards from the year 1940 provide a unique window into the sport during a pivotal time in American history. The 1940s decade would see immense changes both on and off the field, as the United States entered World War II. Baseball cards from this era capture snapshots of the players and the cultural milieu on the eve of these transformations.
In 1940, the main manufacturers of baseball cards were Goudey Gum Company and Bowman Gum. Goudey had been producing baseball cards since 1933, while Bowman entered the market in 1929. Both companies included baseball cards as incentives included in packs of chewing gum. This helped promote their gum brands while also popularizing baseball card collecting among children and adults alike.
Some of the most notable sets from 1940 include the Goudey Baseball Gum and Play Ball Baseball card issues. The Goudey set featured 161 total cards printed on stiff cardboard. Some of the star players featured included Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, and Hank Greenberg. The Play Ball set contained a smaller run of 100 cards but was notable for including rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Warren Spahn and Early Wynn.
Baseball cards from 1940 provide a snapshot of the sport during a time before television broadcasts, when radio was still the main way for fans to follow the national pastime. The cards from this era capture what players looked like and their career statistics up to that point. For example, the 1940 Play Ball card of Ted Williams shows that he had only played in the major leagues for two seasons up to that point for the Boston Red Sox, hitting .327 with 37 home runs in that short career.
The 1940s would see immense changes to baseball and America amidst the backdrop of World War II. Many top players like Joe DiMaggio and Bob Feller had their careers interrupted to serve in the military during the war years. The war effort also impacted the production of baseball cards, as the cardboard stock and gum used to make cards were diverted to the war effort. This led to shorter print runs from manufacturers like Goudey and Bowman during the early 1940s.
Baseball provided an important morale boost on the home front during World War II, with players like Ted Williams visiting troops and factories to help sell war bonds. Attendance at major league games grew over pre-war levels, showing how the national pastime helped Americans cope with the challenges of the era. Baseball cards from 1940 capture the players and teams just before this surge in popularity amidst wartime conditions.
The 1940 season itself saw historic performances and storylines. That year, Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers became the first Jewish player to win the American League MVP award. Over in the National League, future Hall of Famer Marty Marion had a breakout season as the shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .267 with 76 RBI and excellent defensive play.
The 1940 baseball card sets by Goudey and Bowman help transport collectors and fans back to a pivotal time for the game before television, when many future legends like Williams, DiMaggio and Feller were still early in their careers. The cardboard images from this era provide a unique historical artifact showing what the players and teams looked like just prior to immense changes brought about by America’s entry into World War II the following year. Baseball cards from 1940 capture a snapshot of the national pastime on the eve of transformations that would shape the sport and country for decades to come.
