The Cincinnati Reds have a long and storied history that dates back to 1882 when the franchise was founded. Over the past 139 years, the Reds have produced many star players and memorable moments that have been captured on baseball cards throughout the decades. Some of the earliest Cincinnati Reds cards first appeared in the late 1800s as part of sets produced by tobacco companies looking to include baseball players on their products. While the designs and production quality of these early cards leave something to be desired by today’s standards, they remain highly collectible pieces of sports memorabilia that help tell the story of one of baseball’s most historic franchises.
Some of the earliest known Cincinnati Reds cards include examples from the Old Judge, Leaf, and Mayo Cut Plug tobacco sets of the 1880s and 1890s featuring players from the franchise’s early NL years. Production of baseball cards ramped up in the early 1900s as the tobacco industry sought more sports-related incentives to include in their products. Top early 20th century Reds stars like Bid McPhee, Jake Daubert, and Edd Roush received widespread distribution in sets from companies like T206, Sweet Caporal, and Candy cigarettes in the 1910s. The crude black-and-white printing processes of the time left much to be desired.
The golden age of baseball cards arrived in the 1930s and 1940s as color lithography allowed for more vivid and realistic depictions of players. Cincinnati stars of the era like Ernie Lombardi, Wally Berger, Paul Derringer, and Johnny Vander Meer achieved widespread fame through their vibrant cardboard representations in sets issued by Goudey, Play Ball, and Leaf. The postwar years saw the rise of iconic brands like Topps, which first featured the Reds in 1951. Stars like Ted Kluszewski, Roy McMillan, and Frank Robinson achieved new levels of exposure through the bright, colorful cards issued by Topps in the 1950s and 1960s.
The 1970s saw Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” dynasty dominate MLB, leading to some of the most iconic Reds cards of all-time. Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Pete Rose became worldwide pop culture icons thanks to their popular card issues from Topps during this era. The vibrant action photography and colorful designs truly captured the excitement of this special team. Bench in particular became one of the most in-demand players, with some of his rookie cards among the highest valued in the hobby. The 1980s saw stars like Dave Parker and Eric Davis achieve renown through cards despite some down years for the franchise.
In the 1990s, Cincinnati returned to prominence behind stars like Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, and Billy Hatcher. Their performances were immortalized in the increasingly detailed and glossy cards issued during the early digital card era by brands like Upper Deck, Score, and Fleer. In the 2000s and 2010s, current stars like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, and Homer Bailey have carried on the Reds tradition of having their accomplishments celebrated in the form of modern baseball cards. Veterans of the current Big Red Machine 2.0 like Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart are also achieving widespread exposure through today’s high-end card issues.
While the franchise endured some down periods, the Cincinnati Reds have cemented their place as one of the most storied and tradition-rich organizations in MLB history. Over a century’s worth of star players have achieved immortality through their representations on baseball cards. From crude tobacco-era beginnings to today’s digital extensions, Reds cards continue to excite collectors and bring back memories of great teams and performances from the franchise’s past. As long as baseball continues to be a popular hobby and pastime, Cincinnati Reds cards will remain a cherished connection to one of the sport’s great early histories.
