Baseball cards have long captured the nostalgia of the national pastime for generations of fans. There are countless cards that collectors always wished existed but never came to fruition due to various circumstances. Here are some examples of baseball cards that never were but would have been fascinating additions to any collection.
One of the most intriguing “what if” cards would have been a rookie card for Babe Ruth as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Of course, Ruth is best known for his legendary home run hitting career after being sold to the New York Yankees, where he became the first true baseball superstar as a slugging outfielder. Prior to the 1920 season, Ruth was primarily a star pitcher for Boston, compiling a 89-46 record and 2.28 ERA from 1914 to 1919. Due to various factors like the primitive state of baseball cards in the 1910s as well as Ruth’s transition to a full-time position player, no true rookie card was produced for Ruth the pitcher. Collectors can only imagine what a 1914 or 1915 Boston Red Sox Babe Ruth card may have looked like and what it would be worth today.
Another interesting “what if” card would have been one featuring Jackie Robinson’s major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the year he broke baseball’s color barrier. While several cards were issued of Robinson from his rookie season, none specifically called out or drew special attention to his historic first appearance. Topps, Bowman, and other card companies missed an opportunity to commemorate such a pivotal moment in the game’s history with a special card marking Robinson’s first game. A 1947 card solely focused on Robinson’s debut may have been one of the most valuable in the hobby given its immense historical and social significance.
One of the more bizarre cards that never came to be would have paid tribute to Dock Ellis’ infamous 1970 no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates while under the influence of LSD. In June of that year, Ellis took the mound against the San Diego Padres without knowing he was tripping on acid, yet still managed to throw a no-no. Due to the sensitive nature of drug use at the time, no card company acknowledged or celebrated Ellis’ psychedelic feat. A special 1970 “Dock on Acid” card highlighting his stellar and strange performance likely would have been a true one-of-a-kind collectors item.
Perhaps the most coveted unproduced card would focus on baseball’s original “Iron Man” Lou Gehrig. In 1939, Gehrig put together one of the most incredible individual seasons in history by batting .351 with 49 home runs and 165 RBI. Tragically, it would be his last before ALS forced his retirement. No card was issued that year specifically honoring Gehrig’s 2,130th consecutive game appearance, which broke Everett Scott’s record. A 1939 Lou Gehrig “Iron Man” card would have captured the Yankee first baseman at the absolute peak and prime of his legendary career.
One of the most famous home run calls in history came when Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to win the 1951 NL pennant over the Dodgers. No cards were made of Thomson in a Giants uniform specifically commemorating that climactic blast. Thomson only had a few previous years in the bigs and was not a huge star at the time, so the card companies missed out. A one-of-a-kind 1951 Bobby Thomson “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” Giants card would have been the ultimate collectible for New York fans and baseball historians.
While not a player, perhaps the most significant card that never was would have been one honoring Jackie Robinson breaking the MLB color barrier in 1947. No company issued a card just focusing on Robinson’s barrier-shattering achievement, only ones of him as a Brooklyn Dodger player. A very small run of a 1947 “Jackie Robinson Integrates Baseball” commemorative card highlighting the social and cultural impact would have been immensely valuable. It could have been one of the most important collectibles related to the civil rights movement in America.
Those are just a few of the many potential “cards that never were” focusing on iconic players and moments that card companies missed opportunities on over the years. While collectors can only speculate what they may have looked like, fans still dream of additions to their collections honoring Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson and others at their most legendary times. Perhaps someday innovative companies may produce modern retro recreations of these phantoms from the past.
