Baseball cards first emerged in the late 19th century as a popular promotional item for cigarette and candy companies looking to capitalize on America’s pastime. Some of the earliest baseball cards date back to the 1870s and 1880s, making them highly sought after by collectors today. While condition and rarity play a large role in early baseball card values, here is an overview of pricing trends for some of the most iconic baseball cards from 1880 based on sales data and guidance from expert collectors and dealers.
One of the first widely distributed sets of baseball cards came in 1880 as part of packages of the Goodwin & Co. brand of cigarettes. Known as the “White Borders,” these cards featured 22 players from the National League on the front with their positions and teams listed. The backs contained advertising. High grade examples in near mint condition can fetch over $25,000 today given how few survived in pristine condition over 140 years. More commonly found in poor condition, prices range from $500 to $5,000 depending on the star power of the player depicted.
In 1881, Goodwin & Co. released another set with similar 22 card fronts but different backs without ads. Often called the “Red Borders” set due to the coloring, these have a similar rarity and value profile as the 1880 White Borders. The biggest stars that consistently pull top dollar include Hall of Famers Pud Galvin, Cap Anson, and Jim O’Rourke. A Pud Galvin in near mint could earn $15,000-$20,000 at auction.
Another seminal early release was Allen & Ginter’s set inserted in their brands of tobacco from 1886 to 1890. Known as the “N172” set for the number printed on the backs, these cards had individual player portraits on the fronts with stats on the reverse. The 1886 issue cards have perhaps the greatest rarity and highest values today of any 19th century set. An N172 Babe Ruth card in gem mint condition sold at auction in 2016 for $575,000, showing the immense worth preserved examples can have. More common grades for star players range from $5,000 to $25,000.
While the Allen & Ginter N172 set is considered the first true “set” of baseball cards, the popularity of cigarette cards led companies like Goodwin & Co. to continue producing new player cards and sets through the 1880s. Their “mustaches” set from 1887 included cards with player photos on the front and ads on the reverse. These have similar value profiles to the 1880-1881 issues with the best conditioned examples of top stars reaching $10,000-$15,000.
As you can see, early baseball cards from the 1880s that have survived over a century in good condition can be worth five or even six figures depending on the set, player, and grade. With rarities like the 1886 Allen & Ginter N172 Babe Ruth selling for half a million dollars, it’s clear why vintage cardboard from the games earliest decades captivates collectors. Whether you have a few common players or a true gem, early cards are an important part of understanding the origins of what became a multibillion-dollar industry in sports memorabilia.
