DIAMOND BASEBALL CARDS

Diamond baseball cards were produced from 1887 to 1891 and are considered some of the most valuable and desirable collectibles in the sports card industry. They were the first mass-produced baseball cards inserted into cigarette packs and other tobacco products as a marketing gimmick. While they were not the first baseball cards ever made, the Diamond issues helped popularize the concept and kickstarted the baseball card collecting hobby that is still thriving today.

The story of Diamond baseball cards begins in 1887 when the Allen & Ginter tobacco company decided to include small lithographic cards featuring famous people from various fields like sports, entertainment and politics inside their cigarette packs. This was done both as a way to advertise their brands and provide a low-cost novelty item for consumers. Their 1887 set included 50 cards with early baseball stars like Jim Tyng, Buck Ewing and Tim Keefe among the selections. These cards were about the size of modern day business cards and featured black and white player portraits with no statistics or team logos.

In 1888, Allen & Ginter issued their second and most famous set which included an unprecedented 126 cards. This set contained the first ever cards of legends like Cy Young, Roger Connor and Hugh Duffy. It also included the earliest known cards of future Hall of Famers like Bid McPhee, Dan Brouthers and Eddie Plank. What makes the 1888 set so valuable is not only the caliber of players featured but also the scarcity of surviving examples over 130 years later. In mint condition, a full set could be worth over $1 million at auction today.

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The following year in 1889, Allen & Ginter issued another large set of 100 cards. Production and distribution of cards was beginning to shift to other tobacco brands. The Goodwin & Company tobacco brand issued sets in 1889 and 1890 before being acquired by the American Tobacco Company. In 1891, the American Tobacco Company took over production under their Diamond brand name and issued the final vintage Diamond baseball card set containing 65 cards. By this time, the tobacco inserts had begun to fade as the novelty wore off and baseball cards transitioned to being sold directly in packs for children through the 1890s.

Even though they were only produced for five years between 1887-1891, Diamond baseball cards left an indelible mark on the hobby. They helped introduce baseball card collecting to the masses and featured some of the earliest depictions of star players from the formative years of professional baseball in the 1880s. Their small size, lack of statistics and team logos also established a visual style and collecting focus on the players themselves that would be foundational for modern baseball cards produced decades later.

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The rarity and high grades of surviving Diamond cards is a big factor in their tremendous value today. Very few were likely kept in pristine condition right from the packs over a century ago. Natural aging processes, accidents, intentional damage and loss has winnowed down what little production there was from the beginning. Population reports from leading grading services like PSA and SGC indicate there are often fewer than 10 examples known in the highest Mint 9 grade for certain tough Diamond cards.

For collectors, finding and acquiring high quality examples from any of the five Diamond sets is the holy grail. An 1888 Old Judge Cabinets Tobacco Allen & Ginter card of Roger Connor in PSA NM-MT 8 condition sold for $657,250 at auction in 2016, setting a new record. Other individual stars like Jim O’Rourke, King Kelly and Buck Ewing can bring six figures in top grades as well. Even commons and lesser known players set collectors back thousands due to their sheer scarcity. A complete set in any grade would likely sell for well over $1 million.

Beyond just their great rarity, Diamond cards are also prized for their classic aesthetic appeal and place in history. They were the first to bring the baseball card concept to the mass market and introduce legendary players from the 19th century to collectors. Even damaged and low grade examples retain value simply for their historic significance in the development of the hobby. While they predate modern standards, the quality of lithography and portraits for the time period is also admired. Finding that elusive pristine Diamond card over 130 years later is the ultimate chase and thrill for dedicated vintage collectors.

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As the earliest mass-produced baseball cards, Diamond issues left an indelible mark on the sports collecting world. Their small size and lack of modern statistics only adds to their mystique and charm from a bygone era. Few could have imagined back in the 1880s how collectible and valuable these simple tobacco inserts would become. For those reasons, Diamond cards remain the holy grail for any baseball card enthusiast and define the roots of what the hobby is all about – appreciating the players and moments from baseball’s rich history. Their tremendous rarity, high auction prices, and important place in the early years of both the game and the collecting phenomenon ensures Diamond cards will always be coveted by those who seek to own a genuine piece of both baseball and collecting history.

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