Quincy was a small town in Massachusetts that was once home to a thriving baseball card company in the late 19th century. Though relatively unknown today, Quincy baseball cards played an important role in the early development of America’s pastime.
The Quincy Baseball Card Company was founded in 1885 by brothers Eli and Ezra Hawkins. Originally from Maine, the Hawkins brothers had settled in Quincy after stints working in shoe factories across New England. Sensing an opportunity in the growing baseball card craze that had taken hold following the rise of professional baseball leagues in the 1870s, Eli and Ezra decided to go into business printing and distributing baseball cards featuring players from the major leagues.
At the time, most baseball cards were produced in larger Eastern cities like Boston, New York and Philadelphia by larger publishing companies. But the Hawkins brothers believed there was an untapped market, especially among young baseball fans, in smaller towns and rural areas that were not being well-served. Their goal was to produce affordable packages of cards that could be easily sold and distributed to general stores across New England and beyond.
The Quincy Baseball Card Company’s first set was issued in 1886 and featured 50 individual cards highlighting stars from the National League and American Association. Some of the earliest Quincy cards included future Hall of Famers like Cap Anson, Pud Galvin and Kid Nichols. Cards sold for 5 cents per pack and included the player’s name, team and a small engraving or sketch of the player.
Most early baseball cards were printed using a basic lithographic process on thin cardboard stock. The Hawkins brothers experimented with newer techniques and decided to use a chromolithographic process which allowed for more detailed, colorful images on a higher quality paper substrate. This gave Quincy cards a distinctive look and feel that set them apart from other brands.
In the late 1880s, Quincy Baseball Cards issued several popular multi-player sets highlighting individual teams from the National League. These included the 1886 Chicago White Stockings set (predecessor to the Cubs), 1887 Detroit Wolverines set and 1888 New York Giants set. The detailed renderings of popular ballclubs and players helped further publicity and sales for Quincy in key baseball markets.
The company reached its commercial peak in the early 1890s as interest in baseball reached new heights across the country. Quincy issued lengthy 147-150 card sets each year from 1890-1893. Under the guidance of Eli Hawkins, who oversaw business operations, the company established relationships with general goods distributors throughout New England and eastward into Canada. Quincy cards could be found for sale in shops from Boston to Bangor to Montreal.
During this time, Quincy began issuing specially themed and promotional subsets. One of the most collectible was an 1893 “Queen of Diamonds” ladies subset which featured 12 female avatar players dressed in late Victorian-era attire. Other subsets highlighted All-Star teams, rookiecards, or players traded during the previous season. Exclusive local distribution deals were also inked with shops in larger cities.
The boom years would not last. Increased competition from larger card manufacturers like Allen & Ginter, Old Judge and Goodwin affected Quincy’s marketshare. Meanwhile, a financial panic in 1893 slowed the overall economy. The Hawkins brothers continued operations but scaled back production over the mid-1890s as profits declined. Their last known baseball card set was issued in 1896 featuring players from the National League and Western League.
After Ezra Hawkins passed away in early 1897 at the age of 62, Eli decided to retire from the baseball card business after over a decade at the helm of Quincy Baseball Card Company. He closed up shop and used the remaining funds to help other family members start new businesses in the area. Over the next 20 years, Eli worked in various civic roles boosting local industry in Quincy. He passed away in 1921 at the age of 85, largely forgotten save for his pioneering role in the early baseball card trade.
While short-lived, Quincy Baseball Cards made an impact on collectors for generations to come. Their innovative techniques and widespread distribution helped foster America’s growing passion for the game. Today, surviving Quincy cards from the 1880s and early 1890s are highly sought after by serious collectors. In auctions, premium examples can fetch well over $10,000 depending on condition and player featured. Through online databases and hobby publications, the story of the scrappy underdog company from Quincy that took on the big city card makers continues to inspire new fans of the vintage cardboard culture.
