Baseball card collecting, also known as baseball cardism, has been a popular hobby for over 150 years. It all began in the late 1860s when cigarette and tobacco companies started including illustrated cards with facts about popular baseball players in their products. This was mainly done as a marketing gimmick to help sell more cigarettes and tobacco. The first true baseball card set was produced in 1869 by the American Tobacco Company and featured 25 cards highlighting star players from the National Association of Base Ball Players.
The Golden Age of baseball cards is considered to be from the late 1880s through the early 1960s. During this time, tobacco companies like T206, Allen & Ginter, and Sweet Caporal produced some of the most iconic and valuable baseball card sets ever made. Players like Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Cy Young achieved legendary status not just on the field but in the world of collectibles as well. Their rare baseball cards from this era frequently fetch six or seven figure prices at auction.
In the post-war economic boom of the 1950s, the popularity of baseball cards really took off. More children were being born and they all seemed to collect cards. Production skyrocketed. Topps Chewing Gum became the dominant baseball card manufacturer starting in 1953 when they signed an exclusive deal with Major League Baseball. Their colorful and innovative designs helped make collecting cards a mainstream American pastime. By the late 1950s, it’s estimated that one out of every two boys in America collected baseball cards.
The 1960s brought about two major changes in the baseball card industry. First, the 1964 Surgeon General’s report linking smoking to health issues led tobacco companies to stop including cards in their products. This opened the door for dedicated card companies like Topps to take over production. Secondly, in 1969, Topps lost its MLB exclusive license which allowed other companies like Fleer and Donruss to start making cards again. This introduced more competition and innovation to the market.
In the 1970s and 80s, the growth of card collecting plateaued some as interests shifted, but it remained a very popular hobby. The arrival of star players like Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, and Cal Ripken Jr. in the late 70s/early 80s kept interest high. The 1986 Topps set featuring rookie cards of Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds is one of the most iconic of the modern era. The late 80s also saw the rise of the hobby shop, which helped turn card collecting into more of an organized business than just a childhood pastime.
The 1990s were a boom period for the modern baseball card industry. Players were making big money and the cards reflected that popularity and value. Sets got thicker with more parallel and insert cards. The arrival of stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Derek Jeter attracted both young collectors as well as older fans reliving their childhood hobby. Exclusive autographed and memorabilia cards in the ultra-high end attracted serious adult collectors. The sports memorabilia market exploded during this decade.
In the 2000s, while interest remained strong, the baseball card market started to decline some due to new entertainment options for kids and collectors. The rise of the internet also made collecting less of an organized social activity. Many hobby shops closed. The Great Recession of the late 2000s further hurt sales. Stars like Albert Pujols and Clayton Kershaw kept interest high. Manufacturers responded by introducing more insert sets and parallels to chase after to entice collectors.
Today, baseball card collecting remains a multi-billion dollar industry, but it has evolved. While packs of cards can still be found in stores, much of the primary market has shifted online. Websites like eBay allow collectors to easily buy, sell, and trade cards. Card shows are still popular organized events. The rise of autograph and memorabilia cards has turned some collectors more into investors chasing rookie cards of future Hall of Famers. Graded cards reassuring quality have become very important to serious collectors. And vintage cards from the pre-war era through the 1960s remain extremely valuable, especially for the game’s all-time greats.
Over 150 years since the first baseball cards were produced, the hobby has survived and evolved through many changes. New generations of players on cards and collectors keeping the tradition alive will likely ensure its longevity. And the allure of finding that ultra-rare Honus Wagner or Mickey Mantle rookie card will probably never fade for dedicated baseball card collectors.
