The tradition of putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes dates back to the 1950s when baseball cards were extremely popular collectibles among children and teenagers in America. During this time, the bicycle was also a primary mode of transportation for many young people. With baseball cards being so readily available in packs of gum and candy at corner stores, kids would often have extras that they didn’t necessarily want or need.
Putting these extra baseball cards in the spokes of one’s bicycle became a novel way to show off a favorite player or team while riding around the neighborhood. The cards would flap and flutter noisily with each revolution of the wheel, announcing the rider’s arrival from down the block. It served as a unique way for kids to decorate their bikes and express their baseball fandom without spending any money. The visual effect of the cards spinning around also caught the eye and amused onlookers.
Over time, inserting baseball cards into bicycle spokes evolved into more of a tradition than a passing fad. Even as other hobbies and interests came and went among youth, the simple pleasure of hearing baseball cards flap in the wheel remained. For many generations of American children in the 1950s through 1980s, getting a new pack of cards meant not only looking for rare finds to add to the collection, but also selecting which players to feature noisily on the ride home.
While the specific players featured changed annually based on the latest rookie cards and team performances, the act of choosing cards to put in the spokes remained remarkably consistent. Usually a combination of favorite players and best-looking photography were determining factors. Iconic stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron were commonly used. But sometimes less heralded role players that a kid simply liked would get the wheel treatment as well.
The tradition was not limited to just the cards themselves either. Creative modifications were sometimes made to enhance the noise-making potential. Some folded the corners of cards for a louder flutter. Others punched small holes to let air pass through. On very rare occasions, a small piece of tape might be applied to a corner to create an extra-loud “popping” sound with each revolution. But for the most part, standard unmodified cards were all that was needed.
As bicycles evolved in the late 20th century, the tradition found new life adapting to changes in technology. When the first lightweight aluminum-framed bicycles appeared in the 1970s and 1980s, their thinner spokes created an even snappier sound ideal for baseball cards. And the rise of mountain biking in the 1990s presented new terrain to explore while listening to cards whir in the wheels.
The tradition has also endured as baseball cards themselves transitioned to the modern era. While wax packs and bubblegum gave way to plastic cases and online random team packs, kids still find ways to put favorite cards in the spokes. Iconic rookie cards of stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, and Mike Trout have all undoubtedly done laps around neighborhoods over the wheels of enthusiastic young fans.
In the digital age, some aspects have evolved, such as listening to music or making videos while riding. But the simple pleasure of hearing well-worn baseball cards flutter noisily in the bicycle spokes remains alive as a timeless rite of passage. Even as today’s youth have more entertainment options than ever, the tradition still finds new practitioners eager to show off baseball fandom and memories of summer on two wheels. Whether bringing back fond recollections or making new ones, baseball cards in the spokes ensures this small part of Americana continues spinning into the future.
