Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over 100 years and State College, Pennsylvania has a rich history with the hobby. Located in central Pennsylvania, State College is home to Penn State University and has long been a hotbed for baseball card collecting and trading.
Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1880s by cigarette and tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge as promotional items to include in their products. These original cards featured some of the biggest stars from the early years of professional baseball like Pud Galvin, King Kelly, and Mickey Welch. While it’s unknown exactly when the first baseball cards arrived in State College, it’s likely locals were acquiring and swapping these early tobacco issues in the late 19th century as the hobby started to take hold across America.
In the early 20th century, the baseball card boom truly began. More cigarette companies like Fatima, Sweet Caporal, and Hassan began inserting cards of current players into packs. Production increased and sets became more elaborate with color lithographs and biographies on the back. State College’s small shops stocked boxes of these tobacco cards and kids could be found trading duplicates on street corners, just as the national pastime of collecting was growing exponentially.
The Goudey Gum Company issued some of the most iconic baseball cards of all-time between 1933-1941, known for their vibrant color portraits and distinct design. These highly sought after “gum cards” made their way to State College as well. Young collectors could purchase packs of Goudey gum with a card enclosed at local drugstores and confectionaries hoping for stars like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or Joe DiMaggio. Well-preserved examples of these vintage Goudey issues remain highly valued by collectors today.
Topps dominated the post-war baseball card boom starting in 1951 with their revolutionary design of smaller player photos on a large color illustration background. Their monopoly lasted for decades. In State College, these modern cardboard treasures were available at newsstands, corner stores, and even vending machines as kids tore through wax packs in hopes of completing their sets. Topps’ annual issues became the most anticipated hobby product every spring.
The 1960s saw card collecting truly explode in popularity across America. In State College, card shops started to pop up to cater to the booming market. Stores like BJ’s Baseball Cards at 123 S. Pugh Street and Penn State Sportscards at 234 E. Beaver Avenue became vital hubs where collectors gathered on weekends to browse inventory, discuss the latest releases, and arrange trades. Penny arcades at the local mall also housed card vending machines stocked by distributors.
Into the 1970s and 80s, the rise of special editions, oddball issues from smaller companies, and the arrival of star athletes on the scene like Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, and Cal Ripken Jr. kept the hobby red hot. Expos and conventions were regularly held around State College where collectors could meet with dealers, get autographs from alumni players, and show off prized possessions. The opening day of a new baseball season was cause for celebration as the first shipments of that year’s Topps and Donruss sets arrived in town.
While the baseball card market has boomed and busted many times over the past 30 years, it remains an integral part of sports culture in State College. Local card shops like Penn State Sports Cards have been mainstays for decades. Online groups like State College Sportscards on Facebook provide a digital meeting place for collectors of all ages. Vintage local shops like BJ’s are remembered fondly. And the first day of spring still means a new generation of kids tearing packs, chasing stars, and fueling their dreams at the card shop just as so many collectors did before them in this Pennsylvania town with a storied baseball card history all its own.
