Baseball Cards in Lexington, South Carolina
Lexington, South Carolina has a rich history with baseball and baseball cards dating back to the early 20th century. While not as large of a hotbed for the sport as nearby Columbia, Lexington has produced several major league ballplayers over the years and the collecting and trading of baseball cards has long been a popular pastime for many residents. Whether hunting for rare vintage cards or building sets of the latest releases, Lexington’s card shops and shows have been gathering spots for local collectors.
Some of the earliest baseball cards produced came out in the late 1880s from companies like Goodwin & Company and Old Judge tobacco brands. While it’s unknown if these early cardboard promotions made their way to Lexington stores at the time, it’s certainly possible some of the town’s residents may have enjoyed smoking cigars or chewing tobacco while collecting the enclosed player portraits. In the early 1900s, companies like American Caramel began issuing baseball cards with caramel and gum packages that were more readily available nationwide.
Lexington was also starting to produce its own baseball talent that would appear on cards in later decades. Infielder Billy Werber played for the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1930s-40s after growing up in Lexington and attending the University of South Carolina. Pitcher Gene Bearden broke into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948 and would go on to have a solid career, representing Lexington on the many cardboard issues of the late 40s and 50s.
The 1950s are seen as the golden age of baseball cards as colorful designs and photo images became standard. Iconic sets like Topps and Bowman featured the likes of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. These cards were ubiquitous in local stores, drugstores, barbershops and candy shops around Lexington where kids would spend their allowance money or do chores to earn a few pennies to buy a pack. Back then, cards also had more intrinsic value as chewable gum or candy was included.
Trading and organizing cards into sets became a popular pastime on the playgrounds and ballfields of Lexington. Kids would eagerly scan their duplicate stacks, hoping to find someone willing to part with that elusive Ted Williams or Stan Musial they needed. Some resourceful traders even developed their own homemade want lists to keep track of progress. Annual Lexington Little League sign-ups would see parents arrive with boxes of cards, using them as bargaining chips to convince kids to join the team.
Into the 1960s, the card market continued to explode with the introduction of color photos. Lexington native Tom Brown made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1962 and was soon prominently featured in those bright, new Topps issues along with fellow O’s like Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer. Around this time, the first card shops and shows also began popping up in the area as the hobby continued gaining popularity.
The Collectors Corner opened its doors in downtown Lexington in 1967 and immediately became a popular hangout for local collectors. Owner Phil Myers stocked the latest wax packs, boxes, and supplies while also offering a large selection of vintage cards in display cases. On Saturdays before Little League games, the shop would be packed with kids excitedly trading with each other under Myers’ watchful eye. The Collectors Corner helped foster Lexington’s baseball card culture for decades.
In the 1970s, the rise of star players like Reggie Jackson, Pete Rose and Nolan Ryan coincided with the hobby’s continued growth. More ambitious collectors began putting together complete sets which could contain over 700 cards in a single year from Topps or the competing Fleer brand. This was no easy task requiring help from shops, friends and trades. Some of Lexington’s most dedicated collectors began specializing in high-grade vintage stars, building collections that would gain significant value over the years.
Lexington also became home to some of the earliest baseball card shows in South Carolina during this period, helping connect collectors across the state. Some of the most prominent early promoters included Dale Moran and Frank “Diz” Dizmon who would organize huge events every few months. Held at venues like the Lexington Armory, these shows saw tables filled with vendors selling, buying and trading all things related to the hobby. They were major social events for collectors and helped foster a real sense of community.
In the 1980s, the arrival of superstars like Rickey Henderson and Roger Clemens made collecting more popular than ever. The overproduction of cards also led to a crash. The hobby began specializing, with collectors focusing more on vintage and star players. In Lexington, dedicated shops like Whit’s Sportscards managed to stay in business, catering to the most avid collectors. Meanwhile, card shows continued regularly under promoters like Dizmon who kept the local scene thriving through the ups and downs.
Today, Lexington remains home to the largest independently owned card shop in the state – Whit’s Sportscards, now in its fifth decade of business. Weekly events attract collectors of all ages and the store stocks an immense inventory of vintage through modern wax and singles. Major shows also still take place several times a year, reuniting collectors from across the region. While the players and designs may change, Lexington’s love affair with America’s pastime in card form looks set to continue for many years to come.
