Baseball cards have a long history in Lincoln, Nebraska dating back to the late 1800s when the hobby first began gaining popularity across the United States. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured players from Nebraska-based minor league teams that called Lincoln home for part of their season.
In the early days of organized baseball in Lincoln, the city was home to minor league teams that competed in various lower level professional leagues from the 1880s through the 1950s. One of the first teams was the Lincoln Tree Planters who played in the Nebraska State League starting in 1889. While few records remain of baseball cards from this early era, it’s possible some cards may have been produced locally to promote the Tree Planters and other early Lincoln teams.
As baseball card production became more widespread starting in the late 1880s with the advent of mass-produced cigarette cards, more Lincoln-related players began appearing on cards. Teams like the Lincoln Railsplitters of the Western League in the 1890s put Lincoln on the baseball map and some of their stars likely received baseball card treatment. The cards from this era are quite rare as the hobby was still in its infancy.
In the early 20th century, Lincoln was a hotbed of minor league baseball. The city was home to teams competing in the Western League, Central League, Western Association, Western League and Western League again between 1902 and 1950. Dozens of future major leaguers got their start in Lincoln during this golden era of minor league ball. Stars like Bob Gibson, Bob Lemon, Ken Holtzman and more all played for Lincoln minor league squads at some point in their careers. Their rookie cards featuring their time in Lincoln can still be found in collections today from sets issued in the 1930s-1950s.
While the production of baseball cards was centered in large metropolitan areas, Lincoln card collectors of the 1930s-1950s era could still find cards of their hometown Lincoln players with a little effort. Sets from the time like Goudey, Play Ball and Bowman featured many players who spent time in the minors with Lincoln teams. Regional tobacco brands also sometimes included Lincoln players in their baseball cards inserted in cigarette packs.
In the post-World War II era, Lincoln’s minor league teams drew well as affordable family entertainment. Stars of the day like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and more honed their skills against Lincoln competition. Their rookie cards remain some of the most coveted in the hobby given their Hall of Fame careers. For Lincoln fans, finding a card of one of their hometown heroes going on to MLB glory was a thrill.
The 1950s saw the end of the golden era of minor league baseball in Lincoln as teams came and went in various lower classification leagues. But the baseball card hobby was booming nationwide thanks to the advent of modern printing techniques. Iconic 1950s sets like Topps, Bowman and Red Man captured the final years of future MLB stars playing in Lincoln before the farm system changed.
In the 1960s, Lincoln’s minor league affiliation shifted to the Pacific Coast League’s Hawaii Islanders who used Lincoln as a spring training site. While no regular season games were played, the team drew Lincoln baseball fans interested in seeing PCL action. The Islanders roster included stars like Jim Lefebvre and Nolan Ryan during their time training in Lincoln. Their rookie cards from the 1960s are still prized by collectors with a Lincoln connection to the team.
The 1970s saw the end of minor league baseball in Lincoln for decades as teams consolidated at higher levels. But the baseball card hobby kept growing nationwide thanks to the rise of the hobby’s modern golden era sparked by the arrival of the pioneering 1973 Topps set. While no longer home to any pro teams, Lincoln card collectors could still find cards of Nebraska natives who made it to the majors. Icons like Bob Gibson, Bob Lemon and Gene Garber had roots in the Cornhusker state.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the baseball card boom saw unprecedented growth. Mainstream retailers like drug stores and supermarkets got in the baseball card business. While Lincoln no longer had any direct connection to pro ball, local card shops catered to collectors. Sets from Fleer, Donruss, Upper Deck and more could be found in Lincoln shops, fueling new generations of Cornhusker state card fans. Regional stars like Darin Erstad and Todd Helton kept Nebraska on the map in the hobby.
Today, Lincoln remains home to a dedicated baseball card collecting community. While the city hasn’t hosted pro ball in decades, local card shops like Nebraska Sports Cards keep the hobby alive. Vintage Lincoln minor league stars and modern Nebraska natives are still collectible and bring back memories for longtime Cornhusker state card fans. Events like card shows draw collectors from across the state regularly. Although the teams are gone, the legacy of baseball cards in Lincoln lives on in the collections and memories of dedicated collectors in the city and state.
Baseball cards have been a staple of the sports and collecting scene in Lincoln, Nebraska for over 125 years since the earliest days of the hobby. From minor league stars of the late 1800s to modern Nebraska major leaguers, cards collecting remains an important connection to the baseball heritage of the Cornhusker state capital city.
