Collectors Choice baseball cards have been a favorite among collectors for decades due to their high quality printing and focus on unique subject matter beyond just the standard rookie card or star player offerings from the major card companies. Founded in 1978, Collectors Choice sought to publish cards highlighting obscure players, special teams, unique photography and interesting card designs that expanded the hobby beyond the basics.
While companies like Topps, Fleer and Donruss dominated the mass produced side of the baseball card market in the 1970s and 80s, Collectors Choice carved out a niche with their premium, limited run sets that appealed to aficionados looking for something more specialized. One of their earliest and most iconic sets was 1979 All-Time Greats, which featured 50 cards highlighting stars from the deadball era through the 1970s.
Standouts from that set included cards of Cy Young, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. What made the cards especially collectible was the inclusion of players long retired who hadn’t received modern cardboard tributes until that point. The crisp black and white photography also gave the cards an old-time baseball vibe that collectors loved. Sets like All-Time Greats helped establish Collectors Choice as a go-to brand for retrospective and unique subject baseball cards.
In the 1980s, Collectors Choice continued innovating with sets like 1983 League Leaders, which paid tribute to single-season statistical champions, and 1986 Record Breakers, honoring baseball’s all-time home run, hit and RBI record holders like Hank Aaron, Pete Rose and Babe Ruth. They also produced popular team-specific and league-themed sets beyond the standard rookie cards. Their 1984 American League Champions set highlighted stars of the 1983 AL pennant winners like Baltimore’s Eddie Murray and Jim Palmer.
Collectors Choice also delved into obscure areas of the game. Their 1981 Negro League Legends set brought recognition to stars from the Negro Leagues who were overlooked by the major manufacturers. Icons like Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell and Buck O’Neil got their due in the beautiful color cards. Other unique subjects included women in baseball, famous ballparks and special photographic themes. They established a reputation as the brand to turn to for specialized cardboard beyond the basics.
In the 1990s, Collectors Choice kept pushing the limits. In 1992 they published a set called Baseball’s Last Real Men highlighting old school players who played through pain without modern protective equipment like Bob Boone, Fergie Jenkins and Jim Kaat. Another standout was their extensive 1995 Field of Legends set honoring the all-time greats with over 100 cards featuring stunning action photography from famed baseball lensman Charles Conlon.
They also produced themed subsets within larger releases. Examples included 1994 Team Heroes highlighting individual club’s all-time best from the past and present and 1997 Diamond Kings focusing on each franchise’s most decorated players. Their cards regularly featured premium stock, sharp photography and creative designs that made them true collector’s pieces.
As the sports card industry boomed in the late 80s and 90s, Collectors Choice thrived releasing high-end sets in limited numbers. Examples include their ultra-rare 1987 Goudey Giant, a massive 15-card tribute to baseball’s biggest stars printed in an edition of only 3,000 packs. Their 1990 Diamond Kings set had inserts on luxurious metal stock that are among the hobby’s most coveted chase cards. These exclusive releases established Collectors Choice as a brand for the true aficionado.
In the 2000s and 2010s, Collectors Choice remained committed to their retro aesthetic and focus on specialized subjects. They paid tribute to turn of the century stars with sets like 2001 Deadball Era Giants. Memorabilia cards inserting swatches of jerseys and other items became more prevalent in sets like 2006 Diamond Kings Signature Edition. Patch cards with game worn material emerged as highly sought collector pieces.
Perhaps their most ambitious modern set was 2010 Legends of the Game, a massive project spanning over 500 cards across 5 series released throughout the year. It honored all-time greats from Babe Ruth to Derek Jeter with exquisite photography and bio details on each player rarely seen on a modern cardboard release. Sets like this showed Collectors Choice was still leading the way with premium specialty products tailored for dedicated collectors.
While the sports card market has seen ups and downs over the decades, Collectors Choice has endured through their focus on quality, nostalgia and unique subject matter. From pioneering releases in the 1970s and 80s to their modern era innovations, they’ve consistently produced collector’s choice material for fans seeking something beyond the box store basics. Top players, obscure histories, retro design themes and premium production techniques have kept Collectors Choice at the forefront of the hobby even as larger companies come and go. Their commitment to specialized sets remains their brand identity and what keeps collectors coming back for more.
