Chris Sewell has been an avid baseball card collector since he was just 10 years old. Now in his 50s, Sewell has amassed one of the most impressive vintage baseball card collections in the world. With over 100,000 individual cards in his collection, Sewell has cards dating back to the late 1800s from the earliest days of the tobacco era when baseball cards were first inserted in cigarette and candy packs as premiums.
Sewell grew up in a small town outside of Detroit in the 1960s and 70s. Like many American boys of that era, he was obsessed with baseball and started collecting the Topps cards that came out each year. Even as a young boy, Sewell had a keen eye for the rare and unique cards that many other collectors overlooked. While trading duplicates with his friends, Sewell would often get vintage cards in the deals that dated back 20 or 30 years prior. This exposure to the antique cardboard crackled his interest in preserving baseball history.
In the late 1970s, the hobby of baseball card collecting really started to take off. More collectors were pursuing the vintage cards from the past and prices rose significantly. Most collectors of the time were only interested in the true “star” cards from the early 20th century like Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth. Sewell took a different approach and sought to obtain one copy of every single card issued between 1868 and 1980. This meant adding thousands of common players alongside the all-time greats.
By the late 1980s, Sewell had amassed one of the most complete vintage sets in existence, with representations from over 100 different card issues and companies. He was still missing many of the ultra-high grade premium cards that other “big name” collectors were after. In the 1990s, Sewell started to shift his focus to only acquiring pristine vintage gems in Near Mint or better condition. He sold off his lower grade duplicates and began what became a lifelong quest to assemble a collection of only flawless early cards.
Some of the crown jewels that Sewell has acquired over the decades include a PSA Gem Mint 10 graded 1909-11 T206 Nap Lajoie, one of just a handful in existence at that grade. He also owns a PSA Authentic grade T206 Honus Wagner, the most iconic card in the industry. Other highlights include a 1888/89 Goodwin Champions set in complete mint condition, a 1868/70s Boston Red Stockings Team issue card, and a complete set of high-grade 1880s and 1890s tobacco cards like Allen & Ginter.
Sewell’s collection stands out not only for its condition but also its scope. In addition to stars, he owns pristine examples of virtually every obscure common player card produced before 1920. His collection represents over 200 different tobacco, candy, and trade card issues. Sewell has also extensively researched the history of each issue and player featured. He can speak in-depth about the origins of particular sets, the careers of even the most unknown 19th century ballplayers, and the story behind each of his prized pieces of cardboard.
In the early 2000s, Sewell started selectively consigning some of his rarest duplicates and doubles to the major auction houses to fund the ongoing quest for his personal “grail” cards – ones he didn’t already own in pristine condition. His consignments regularly set new records, like a PSA NM-MT 8 graded 1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank that sold for over $100,000. Sewell has also written for numerous publications about his collecting journey and techniques for discerning condition, helping to spread knowledge about the early years of the hobby.
Today in his mid-50s, Sewell views his collection as the culmination of a lifetime of work to preserve baseball history and piece together the stories of the sport’s earliest era. While prices have skyrocketed in recent years, he has no plans to sell his entire collection. Sewell hopes that one day his pristine assemblage of 19th century cardboard can have a permanent home on public display for fans and collectors to enjoy. His attention to acquiring the most beautiful examples has ensured that the visuals and legacy of baseball’s earliest stars will continue to captivate new generations for years to come. Sewell’s collection stands as one of the most impressive and comprehensive achievements in the hobby.
