In 1957, Milton Bradley Company released a unique baseball card game called ed-u-cards. The game was designed to not only entertain children with baseball cards but also educate them on various baseball statistics and facts. What made ed-u-cards stand out from traditional baseball card collecting was its educational elements and competitive gameplay.
Each ed-u-cards set contained over 150 traditional sized baseball cards featuring photos of players from the American and National Leagues along with their career stats and accomplishments. Unlike typical baseball cards of the time that were mainly collected, ed-u-cards included question cards to test the knowledge of the players. These question cards covered various baseball trivia related to stats, records, positions, rules, and more.
The gameplay of ed-u-cards involved two or more players taking turns drawing question cards. Whoever drew the card would then have to answer the question by referring to the player cards. If answered correctly, the player would keep the question card as a point. But if answered incorrectly, the card would be passed to the next player for a chance to answer. The first player to collect a certain number of question cards would be declared the winner.
Some sample question cards from 1957 ed-u-cards sets included:
Who holds the single season record for home runs?
What is the position of the player who throws to bases to put runners out?
How many outs are there in an inning?
Name three National League teams.
What is the term for the area where the pitcher stands on the mound?
By combining traditional baseball cards that young fans enjoyed collecting with a quiz element, ed-u-cards created an engaging way for children to not only have fun but also learn about America’s pastime. The gameplay encouraged critical thinking skills as players had to quickly search through the player cards for answers. It also exposed kids to basic baseball terminology and important statistical records in major league history.
The 1957 ed-u-cards set featured over 150 player cards of stars from the 1956 MLB season like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and more. Along with photos and stats, many cards also included fun facts about the players. For example, Hank Aaron’s card noted he was the youngest player in the National League that year at age 23. Sandy Koufax’s card mentioned he threw a no-hitter as a rookie.
In addition to American and National League player cards, the 1957 ed-u-cards included “Career Record” cards highlighting top career stats. There were also “All-Time Record” cards detailing hallowed MLB benchmarks. For instance, one card listed Babe Ruth’s single season record of 60 home runs. Another provided Ty Cobb’s career batting average of .366. These special cards helped teach young fans about baseball’s rich history and iconic records.
The educational elements and competitive gameplay made ed-u-cards very popular among children in the late 1950s. It satisfied their interest in collecting traditional baseball cards while also improving their knowledge of the national pastime. For Milton Bradley, the unique combination of entertainment and education proved to be a very lucrative formula. They continued producing new ed-u-cards sets annually featuring the latest MLB stars and updated stats.
As the 1960s arrived, the traditional baseball card craze among kids was in full swing with no-frills sets from Topps dominating the marketplace. While ed-u-cards remained popular for several years due to its educational aspects, it struggled to compete with the allure of plain baseball cards that could simply be collected and traded. By the mid-1960s, Milton Bradley decided to discontinue producing their ed-u-cards line to focus on other game properties. But for a period in the late 1950s, ed-u-cards brilliantly blended baseball cards with learning to spark children’s interest in America’s favorite pastime. Its innovative formula made it one of the most memorable baseball card releases from that era.
