The history of baseball cards in Manassas, Virginia spans over 100 years, dating back to the earliest baseball card productions in the late 1800s. While the city of Manassas itself wasn’t officially incorporated until 1873, the surrounding Prince William County area had a rich baseball history that coincided with the rise of baseball cards as a popular collectible. Some of the earliest documented baseball games in the county date back to the 1860s, before the Civil War disrupted much of daily life. After the war ended in 1865, baseball began growing rapidly in popularity across the United States.
In 1869, the first baseball cards were produced as promotional materials by tobacco companies like Goodwin & Co. and American Tobacco Company. These cards featured individual player portraits on the front and advertisements for the sponsoring tobacco products on the back. While the players themselves likely had no knowledge of these early baseball cards, they helped popularize the sport and individual players. As baseball grew in popularity locally in Prince William County in the late 1800s, these early baseball cards also gained collectors in the Manassas area. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured star players from the National Association, a predecessor league to today’s Major League Baseball.
By the 1880s, the first minor league teams were forming in the region around Manassas. The Manassas Jubilees minor league team played from 1884-1885, featuring players like Pete Browning who would go on to the major leagues. While no definitive proof exists, it’s quite possible collectors in Manassas were starting to accumulate baseball cards featuring players like Browning during his time with the Jubilees. Into the 1890s, the National League and American Association had merged to form the first true Major Leagues. More baseball cards were produced each year to keep up with the growing fan popularity.
The early 1900s marked a boom in baseball card production as more tobacco companies joined in. Companies like Allen & Ginter in 1895, Mayo Cut Plug in 1899, and American Caramel in 1901 all issued colorful baseball cards as premiums inside cigarette and candy packages. By the 1910 census, Manassas had grown to a population of over 1,000 residents. The town’s first high school, Manassas High School, was established in 1908. No doubt many young baseball fans in Manassas were starting to amass significant baseball card collections featuring the stars of that era like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Honus Wagner.
In the 1920s, Manassas saw the rise of the first true “ballpark” as Manassas Park opened in 1923. This provided the town with a proper home for its semi-pro and amateur baseball teams to play. Meanwhile, baseball card production continued to increase through companies like Goudey Gum and Hassan Tobacco. The 1920s also saw the rise of regional minor league teams that drew fans from Manassas, like the Potomac Nationals who began play in 1935. Star minor league players of that era like Ted Williams likely had their own baseball cards end up in collections in Manassas.
The 1930s through 1950s represented the golden age of baseball cards as production skyrocketed. More than a dozen companies issued sets each year that were inserted into chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, and other consumer products. Players were now depicted in action shots on the cards rather than solo portraits. Icons of the era like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio achieved unprecedented popularity, no doubt reflected in the baseball cards collected in Manassas during this time period. By the 1940 census, Manassas had grown to a population of over 2,500 residents.
During the post-World War II economic boom of the 1950s, the city of Manassas continued expanding. New residential neighborhoods sprang up and the town’s population grew past the 5,000 resident mark according to 1950 census data. This post-war period of prosperity coincided with the rise of modern baseball cards from companies like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer. Color photography began appearing on cards alongside additional stats and biographical information about the players. Local youth baseball also continued growing rapidly in Manassas during the 1950s.
In the 1960s, Manassas saw significant growth and modernization as Interstate 66 was constructed through the city. The town’s population expanded past the 10,000 resident level. This period coincided with some revolutionary changes in the baseball card industry, led by Topps, Fleer, and others who introduced the first gum-less cards in response to the banning of trading cards in bubble gum packages. Icons like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax achieved new levels of popularity, reflected in the collections assembled by fans in Manassas throughout the 1960s.
The 1970s represented a golden age of collecting for baseball card enthusiasts in Manassas and around the country. More card sets than ever were released each year by an increasing number of manufacturers. Stars like Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, and Rod Carew achieved huge followings. Their baseball cards likely made up a significant portion of local collections in Manassas. Throughout the 1970s, the city saw continued expansion of residential neighborhoods, retail development, and major infrastructure projects that helped grow the population past the 20,000 resident level.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the baseball card boom continued alongside growth in Manassas to a population topping 25,000. Major stars of the era like Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, and Ken Griffey Jr. achieved huge popularity that translated to strong card sales. The rise of autograph and memorabilia cards added new collecting dimensions. Meanwhile, Manassas developed new commercial and industrial areas that strengthened the city’s economic base. A new baseball stadium, Fenwick Athletic Complex, opened in 1990 to replace aging Manassas Park.
Over the past few decades, baseball cards have remained popular in Manassas collections despite changes in the industry. While the late 1990s saw a speculative bubble burst, baseball cards from the 2000s featuring Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, and Clayton Kershaw still found new young collectors in Manassas. Today, the city’s population has grown past 37,000 residents. Local card shops like Manassas Sportscards have thrived by catering to the enduring interests of baseball card collectors in the Manassas area, preserving over a century of tradition. Whether collecting vintage cards or today’s modern issues, the history of baseball cards remains deeply intertwined with the story of Manassas, Virginia.
