Baseball cards featuring twins have been around since the early days of the collecting hobby. Twins are a rarity in Major League Baseball, with only a small handful of twins ever making it to the big leagues together throughout history. Their uniqueness has made baseball cards showcasing sibling twins highly sought after by collectors.
Some of the earliest twins to appear on baseball cards include the Brennan brothers – Jerry and Tommy Brennan. The Brennan twins made their MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers together in 1898. In 1909, the duo appeared on an early tobacco card issue together still as members of the Dodgers franchise. The 1909 Brennan Brothers card remains one of the rarest and most valuable baseball cards of the era given the twins were among the earliest sibling players.
In more modern times, one of the most iconic baseball card issues highlighting twins is the 1960 Topps set that included Dick and Hank Allen. As members of the Philadelphia Phillies, Dick and Hank made history by becoming the first sibling batting teammates in MLB. Their 1960 Topps rookie card together has become a highly valued piece in any serious vintage collection. Even today, a pristine Dick and Hank Allen card can fetch thousands of dollars.
Another sibling duo who have been immortalized on sought after cardboard are pitcher Jim and Gaylord Perry. In the 1970s, Jim and Gaylord had successful careers simultaneously, with Jim pitching for the Indians and Rangers while Gaylord led the Giants and Padres staffs. Their simultaneous 1970 Topps rookie cards remain fan favorites. Gaylord and Jim went on to both be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, enhancing the appeal of their brotherly baseball cards many collectors cherish.
Moving into the 1980s, twins Tim and Tom Hilgendorf broke into the majors with the Chicago White Sox. In 1983, the right-handed pitchers made their MLB debuts within a week of each other. Their twin rookie cards from Donruss and Topps that year are some of the more novel issues from the decade. While their careers were not long-lived in the majors, the rarity of twins makes their cards popular finds for White Sox PC holders and twins card aficionados.
Perhaps the best known and most widely recognized baseball twins cards come from the pitching duo of Orel and Randy Hershiser. in the late 1980s, Orel and Randy rose through the Los Angeles Dodgers system together as right-handed hurlers. In 1983, they made their major league debuts just months apart for LA. Since that period through the late 1980s and 1990s, Orel and Randy appeared on countless baseball cards together as Dodgers. Their Topps rookie cards that debuted them as brothers in the majors are constant big sellers in the vintage marketplace.
Some other notable twins to be featured on popular baseball cards over the years include Jim and Joe Kelly, who came up with the Boston Red Sox in the 2010s. Their sibling bond was highlighted on Topps cards during their time as teammates. More recently, Cavan and Connor Biggio debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays together in 2019. Although their careers are just getting started, the father-son dynamic alongside playing as twins has added intrigue to their early Topps RCs.
Whether its superstar Hall of Famers like the Perrys or more niche players, baseball cards have long served to highlight the rarity of twins making their way at the highest level. The collectibility of cards showing siblings playing alongside each other adds unique value for fans and memorabilia hounds alike. As long as twins continue competing in MLB someday, their cardboard issued by Topps, Donruss and others will remain appreciated in the world of baseball collectibles.
