The Mullet: A Distinctive Hairstyle with an Unlikely Connection to Baseball Cards
During the 1980s and 1990s, a particularly unusual hairstyle emerged that would come to be synonymous with that era – the mullet. With short hair on the top and sides and long hair in the back, the mullet stood out amongst other hairstyles of the time in its eccentric aesthetic. Few could have predicted that this polarizing hairdo would one day find itself memorialized in the unlikely realm of baseball cards. Thanks to dedicated collectors seeking novelty and humor, mullet baseball cards have become a niche yet vibrant segment of the hobby.
The roots of mullet baseball cards can be traced to the thriving memorabilia market for unusual and specialty cards that emerged in the late 1990s. As affinity for oddball cards grew, creative collectors began exploring uncharted territories to produce limited runs of topical or themed sets outside the traditional sport. One such innovator was Phil Kim, owner of card company PK Collectibles. In 1998, inspired by the over-the-top mullets still clinging to the era, Kim had the idea to produce a set celebrating memorable mullets from the world of sports.
Kim’s 1998 “PK’s Got Your Mullet” set featured 24 cards showcasing athletes past and present proudly rocking the quintessential business in front, party in the back hairstyle. Each card bore a caricatured black and white photo of the subject along with stats about their career and the magnitude of their mullet. Among the inaugural class of mullet honorees were names like Darryl Strawberry, Tony Mandarich, and Jeff George. Demand exceeded even Kim’s expectations, establishing mullet cards as a niche but dedicated segment of the specialty card market.
Encouraged by the response, Kim and others began expanding the concept by focusing sets around specific sports. The release of oddball sets like “Hockey Hair” and “Diamonds in the Rough” exemplified the potential for humor and novelty in non-sport specific themes. It was the arrival of dedicated baseball mullet sets that truly took the concept to new heights. In 2001, blowoutcards.com released the breakthrough 144 card “Baseball’s Backyard Bash” set highlighting mullets from all levels of the sport. Featuring legends like Rollie Fingers alongside more obscure indy leaguers, the set attracted a dedicated following.
Since then, countless other sets have arrived seeking to honor baseball’s excellent crop of mullet growers from the 70s through 90s. Notable releases include Leaf’s “Blast from the Past” set featuring retired players, and Onyx’s retro-inspired “Let the Fro Flow” highlighting current minor leaguers still rocking the cut. As demand grew, release numbers increased – Topps’ 2005 “Flow Bros” set reached an unprecedented 330 cards. Premium parallel and autograph versions of cards fueled broader interest. ModernTechnologyGaming’s game-used memorabilia heavy “Big Hair, Big Plays” set set a new standard for high-end mullet cards.
Today, mullet baseball cards have developed into a genuine niche collecting segment. While certainly a novelty, dedicated forums and card shows attest to robust communities of enthusiasts trading and discussing their favorite mullets. Online platforms like eBay see brisker sales of rare mullet rookie cards approaching three figures – a testament to collectors’ dedication to the look. Some modern players have even embraced the kitschy sets, signing copious quantities to meet demand. Meanwhile, vintage 70s/80s player mullet relics command high sums.
As the cultural moment that spawned the mullet recedes further into nostalgia, mullet cards preserve an earnest appreciation for the aesthetic. They represent collectors’ ongoing quest to capture the spirit of baseball’s glory eras through even its most unconventional icons. Though some scoff at their novelty, mullet card aficionados continue expanding the frontiers of their distinctive passion. And so, against all odds, the unlikely marriage of baseball cards and bad hair lives on through dedicated communities of enthusiasts ensuring the manes that once flowed freely down diamond dusted backs live on memorably for posterity.
