Baseball cards have been an iconic part of American culture for over a century, connecting generations of fans to their favorite players and teams. While cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have played central roles in the story of baseball cards nationwide, the state capital of Oregon – Salem – has its own unique history with these collectibles.
Salem’s relationship with baseball cards dates back to the late 1800s. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced in America came out in the 1880s and 1890s as promotions for tobacco brands like Goodwin & Company and Allen & Ginter. These vintage tobacco cards would have made their way to general stores throughout Oregon, including in Salem. While it’s impossible to know for certain if any still survive locally from that early era, it’s likely that at least a few of those fragile cardboard relics ended up in the hands of Salem’s baseball-loving youth.
In the early 20th century, the mass production of baseball cards really took off. Companies like American Tobacco’s T206 set and the seminal 1909-11 T206 cards flooded the market. These highly collectible issues would have been readily available in Salem through corner drugstores, newsstands, and general merchandisers. The cards were a perfect promotional item, introducing young Salemites to their favorite ballplayers while also advertising tobacco products. It was around this time that collecting baseball cards started to emerge as a serious hobby for many.
During the Great Depression and World War II era of the 1930s-40s, card production slowed but didn’t completely stop. Goudey and Play Ball issues from 1933 onwards could still be found in Salem shops. The cards provided a welcome distraction and connection to America’s pastime for locals coping with hard economic times. Production ramped up again after the war through the 1950s. Topps dominated the market and released hugely popular sets each year from 1951 onward featuring the likes of Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and more.
In the post-war boom years, Salem saw significant population and economic growth. More families meant more young collectors pursuing the new baseball cards that were readily stocked at stores all over town. Historic Broadway Street was lined with shops perfect for browsing cards, including H.C. Miller Drugs and Broadway Pharmacy. The cards themselves reflected Salem’s growing connection to major league baseball, as the city’s minor league club – the Salem Senators – were featured on 1955 and 1956 Topps issues.
Through the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Topps maintained its stranglehold on the baseball card market but faced new competitors like Fleer. These decades saw the rise of superstar players that every Salem collector coveted, from Mickey Mantle and Willie McCovey to Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken Jr. Card shops specializing in sales and trades began to pop up, the most prominent being Ernie’s Sports Cards located in the Broadway Plaza. Ernie’s was a hub for the local card collecting community for decades.
In the 1990s, the baseball card boom went nuclear with the emergence of ultra-rare rookie cards fetching big money. This also led to overproduction and the late 90s baseball card crash. Despite ups and downs, the hobby remained strong in Salem. Iconic players from the steroid era like Ken Griffey Jr, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa kept collectors’ attention. The city’s minor league club also switched affiliations in this period, rebranding as the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes to much fanfare.
As the 21st century has progressed, the way people collect cards has evolved with the digital age. While online sales dominate, there’s still a dedicated community keeping the card collecting tradition alive in Salem. Iconic shops like Ernie’s have closed but new stores have taken their place. Places like Stadium Cards and The Trading Post provide everything from new releases to vintage finds. The hobby has also expanded beyond traditional card collecting – events centered around opening packs are popular, as are sports memorabilia shows featuring autograph signings from retired players.
Salem’s long baseball card history is a thread connecting multiple generations to America’s pastime. The cards themselves act as portals, transporting collectors of all ages back to memorable moments in the game’s illustrious past. They’ve survived ups and downs in the hobby and kept baseball’s history alive even during difficult times. As long as young fans in Salem continue pursuing their favorite players and reliving iconic seasons of years past through cardboard, the tradition will live on.
