Baseball cards have been an integral part of American culture and fandom for over a century. In San Antonio, the history of baseball cards closely mirrors the growth of the sport itself in the city. Some of the earliest cards featuring San Antonio players and teams date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when minor league baseball first took root in the Alamo City.
One of the first minor league franchises to call San Antonio home was the San Antonio Broncos of the Texas League, which began play in 1902. Players on those early Bronco squads would have been among the first local athletes to potentially appear on baseball cards. The earliest documented cards featuring San Antonio players don’t emerge until the 1920s. This coincides with the growth of the modern baseball card collecting hobby nationwide during the era.
In the 1920s, the San Antonio Bears were the top local minor league team, competing at the Texas League level. Stars of those Bears teams like pitcher Jim Poole and outfielder Pete Scott were some of the first San Antonio names to grace baseball cards produced by companies like American Caramel, Batter Up, and Candy, Cigar & Tobacco Journal. These early 20s era cards are highly sought after by today’s collectors.
The 1930s saw the rise of Goudey Baseball Card Company, which produced some of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues. Notable Goudey cards featuring San Antonio players include 1933 issues showing Bears hurler Bill Walker and 1935 cards of Missions outfielders Al Papai and Tony Piet. By the late 1930s, the San Antonio Missions had emerged as the city’s top minor league franchise playing in the Texas League. Many Missions stars of that era appeared on cards.
Into the post-World War II era of the 1940s and 50s, the most prolific baseball card producer was Bowman Gum. Bowman issued sets annually highlighting players throughout the minor leagues. This included many stars who spent time in the San Antonio organization like pitcher/outfielder Bobby Shantz, catcher Del Rice, and pitcher Dick Littlefield. These early Bowman cards of local players are highly prized by area collectors today.
The 1950s also saw the debut of the iconic Topps brand, which soon dominated the baseball card market. Topps featured many Missions players over the years like pitcher Billy Gardner, who tossed a no-hitter for the club in 1951. In the late 50s, Topps even produced sets specific to the Texas League, ensuring coverage of the San Antonio team and its players. These mid-century issues remain some of the most affordable vintage cards for collectors on a budget.
Into the 1960s, ’70s and beyond, the Missions continued supplying talent to MLB while their players appeared on annual Topps issues. Local notables included outfielders/managers Bob Aspromonte and Ed Crosby, pitcher Dave Roberts, and slugger Mike Epstein. In the 1970s, the Missions also switched affiliations from the Dodgers to the Astros, bringing Houston’s top prospects to San Antonio each season.
As baseball card collecting boomed in the late 80s, companies like Donruss, Fleer and Score entered the market alongside Topps. This provided unprecedented coverage of minor leaguers. Notable Missions from this era included pitchers Roger Mason and Jeff Bagwell, who would go on to stardom in Houston. The early minor league cards of future stars like Bagwell are extremely valuable today.
In 1993, the Missions’ affiliation changed again to the Milwaukee Brewers, lasting until 2002. Players who spent time in San Antonio during this decade before reaching the majors included pitchers Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia. Their early minor league issues remain hot commodities. Into the 2000s and 2010s, the Missions were affiliated with the Rangers and Padres franchises, continuing to supply the major league rosters with hometown talent.
Today, baseball card collecting remains incredibly popular in San Antonio. Local card shops like the Alamo City Sports Cards and the Card Shack cater to the vibrant collector community. Shows are regularly held where fans can buy, sell and trade for cards featuring their favorite Missions alumni. While vintage cardboard from the early 20th century is out of reach price-wise for many, affordable modern issues of former San Antonio standouts keep interest high. The rich baseball card history of the Alamo City continues engaging fans of all ages.
