The history of baseball cards in Tacoma, Washington stretches back over 100 years. Some of the earliest baseball cards collected and traded by locals were issued during the late 19th century in cigarette packs and candy. While the cards themselves were mass produced commodities, their collection and trading took on special local significance in Tacoma.
Baseball had become popular in Tacoma by the 1890s with the formation of semi-pro and amateur teams. Local youth would eagerly await the latest shipments of cards to stores and tobacco shops hoping to find players and teams from their area featured. Even if no Tacoma players appeared, the cards fueled young imaginations about the sport and sparked conversations comparing hometown heroes to major leaguers.
One of the earliest documented baseball card collections in Tacoma belonged to 12-year-old George Thompson. In an interview late in life, Thompson recalled trading for and amassing over 500 cards between 1895-1900. While the condition of the cards had degraded, he held onto them as a link to his childhood enthusiasm for the game. Thompson went on to umpire for many of the early semi-pro Tacoma teams.
As baseball grew in popularity nationally in the early 20th century, so too did the production and collecting of cards. Tacoma saw the formation of its first minor league franchise in 1903 with the Tacoma Tigers joining the Pacific Coast League. Local players like pitcher Earl Moore and infielder Billy Clifford achieved fame with hometown card collectors after starring for the Tigers early in their careers.
The rise of dedicated baseball card companies in the 1910s like American Caramel and Cracker Jack brought more sophisticated and colorful cards into the hands of Tacoma youth. While the cards themselves cost just a penny or two, they represented an affordable luxury that could be endlessly swapped, discussed and displayed. Groups of neighborhood kids would organize games of trading cards out on sidewalks and in empty lots during the summer.
As the country entered the 1920s, Tacoma was home to two thriving minor league teams – the Rainiers and the Chinooks. Their players became the most coveted for local collectors. Stars like Rainiers outfielder Babe Herman and pitcher Joe Cascarella had their likenesses grace tobacco cards, caramel cards, and the early Goudey issues. Having a complete Rainiers or Chinooks team set was a badge of honor among Tacoma collectors.
The Great Depression hit Tacoma’s baseball scene hard but also further cemented card collecting as an affordable pastime. With money tight, kids relied more than ever on trading spare duplicates to slowly build their collections. The 1933 Goudey set featuring the first modern design was a tremendous boost for collectors. Its colorful player photos and uniform accuracy made even common cards desirable.
World War 2 saw many Tacoma men ship out overseas but also a renewed interest in baseball and cards as a reminder of home. Care packages from family often included the latest issues to boost morale. Returning servicemen brought back exotic foreign cigarette cards and candy wrappers featuring American players as novelties. Their stories of far off card finds fueled the collecting imagination of the next generation in Tacoma.
The post-war boom years were a golden age for baseball in Tacoma. The Rainiers were champions of the PCL and stars like Alvin Dark, Bob Allison, and Harvey Kuenn had their careers launched in the city. Their subsequent major league success translated to high demand for their early minor league cards in Tacoma. Local shops like Ernies Sporting Goods and Don’s News became hubs where collectors gathered to trade, show off finds, and stay up to date on the latest releases.
Topps emerged in the 1950s as the dominant baseball card manufacturer. Their innovative designs, large color photos, and reliable annual issues became synonymous with the hobby. Having a complete year’s Topps set was a major accomplishment for Tacoma collectors. The 1959 Topps set, featuring the debut of future Rainiers greats Mike Hegan and Jim Pagliaroni, is still considered among the most important in the city’s card collecting history.
Into the 1960s, card collecting remained a popular pastime for Tacoma youth but also began gaining adult followers. Local card shows and conventions emerged as major annual events. Stores dedicated entirely to cards opened to serve the booming market. The city’s card collecting “pioneer” George Thompson was honored at multiple gatherings for his decades of enthusiasm for the hobby.
While the internet has changed the face of card collecting worldwide, Tacoma maintains a dedicated community of enthusiasts. Local card shops still host frequent trading events. Rainiers and Mariners greats from the past make appearances to sign memorabilia for collectors. And the cards of today that feature current Tacoma players like Logan Gilbert continue inspiring new generations of fans in the city to take up the timeless hobby. Card collecting in Tacoma has come a long way from its earliest roots over a century ago in candy wrappers and tobacco but the local passion remains as strong as ever.
