The history of baseball cards in Georgia dates back to the late 19th century when baseball card companies like American Tobacco Company started mass producing cards as inserts in cigarette packs and other tobacco products. Some of the earliest Georgia players to have their likenesses featured on baseball cards included players for minor league teams based in the state like the Atlanta Crackers.
The Atlanta Crackers were a minor league baseball team that played from 1901-1965 in various minor leagues including the Southern Association. Some Crackers players in the early 1900s that had baseball cards made of them included pitchers like Ted Cather and Red Ames who both went on to have careers in the major leagues as well. Collecting these vintage Crackers cards from over 100 years ago has become a hobby for some Georgia baseball historians and memorabilia enthusiasts.
In the middle part of the 20th century, the most popular baseball card producers were Topps, Bowman, and Fleer. They produced expansive baseball card sets annually that featured both major and minor league players. As the game grew in popularity in Georgia, more hometown players started appearing on cards. In the 1950s, players like outfielder Bill Bruton who was a star for the Milwaukee Braves organization had cards made during his playing days.
Bruton, a native of Tifton, Georgia had a successful MLB career from 1953-1962 including being named an All-Star in 1957. His rookie card from 1954 is one of the more valuable cards from that era featuring a Georgia-born player. Other Peach State players who had 1950s cards include pitcher Lew Burdette and outfielders Hank Aaron and Joe Adcock – all Atlanta natives who shined for the Braves.
In the 1960s, the baseball card boom continued with the big three manufacturers still leading the way. Georgia native and MLB star Hank Aaron’s cards from this period are some of the most iconic in the hobby. Aaron shattered Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record in 1974 and captivated the entire state of Georgia in the process. Some of Aaron’s highest graded and most valuable cards come from the 1960s as he neared and surpassed the Bambino.
The 1970s saw the rise of several more Georgia superstars who had impressive baseball card runs. Perhaps no player had a bigger impact on the state’s baseball scene than Chipper Jones. The native of Pierson, Florida had one of the longest and most accomplished MLB careers of any Peach State player, starring for the Atlanta Braves from 1995-2012. Jones’ rookie card from 1991 is a highly sought after piece in any Georgia-themed collection.
Another Georgia legend who had a memorable baseball card career was pitcher Tom Glavine. Born in Concord, Massachusetts but raised in Billerica, Glavine broke in with the Atlanta Braves in 1987 and spent the bulk of his Hall of Fame career in an Atlanta uniform, helping them win the 1995 World Series. Glavine rookie cards from 1987 Topps are iconic for any fan who grew up watching him dominate for the Braves.
In the modern era from the 1990s on, annual baseball card sets continued to showcase the top Georgia-born talent. Players like Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and others fueled the popularity of the sport in-state. Their cards became staples in collections of both Georgia fans and collectors nationwide. Even today, new stars like first baseman Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves have their own impressive card portfolios chronicling their careers thus far.
The history of baseball cards in Georgia closely mirrors the growth and popularity of the sport within the state’s borders over the last 125+ years. From the earliest minor leaguers to modern day MLB superstars, Georgian players have consistently been featured in the biggest card sets. Their collectibles now serve as an important connection to the state’s baseball memories and provide enduring glimpses into the playing careers of local legends for future generations to enjoy.
