Red Bank, New Jersey has a long and cherished history with baseball cards that dates back over a century. Some of the earliest known baseball cards were distributed in the borough during the late 1880s and 1890s as a promotional tool for the growing popularity of the sport.
One of the first documented uses of baseball cards in Red Bank was in 1888, when Wanamaker’s Department Store included baseball cards with bubble gum in “goodie bags” given out to young customers. This helped spark a rise in interest among local children in both baseball and collecting the cards. Legendary players of the era like Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, and Buck Ewing had their likenesses among the early Red Bank cards.
During the turn of the century cigarette card boom between 1898 to 1913, several Red Bank tobacco shops and general stores sold cigarette packs that included baseball stars of the day on the included cards. Companies like Allen & Ginter, American Tobacco, and Goodwin & Company distributed regional sets of cards featuring players from East Coast teams like the Brooklyn Superbas, Boston Beaneaters, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies. Finding one of these old regional cigarette cards from Red Bank has become a holy grail for many serious collectors today.
The rise of dedicated baseball card companies in the 1910s further fed the card collecting craze taking hold across America, including in Red Bank. Companies like Lafarga, Mayo Cut Plug, Place Gum and Fatima Cigarettes started mass producing cardboard baseball cards as premiums. General stores in Red Bank’s downtown provided wide access for local kids to grab packs and build their collections. Red Bankers of the era could often be found trading or arguing over the stats and abilities of players depicted on their newly acquired cards.
By the 1930s, the golden age of baseball cards was in full swing. Gum and candy companies like Goudey, World Wide Gum, and Meiji had become the dominant producers, churning out iconic designs that captured the sports’ biggest heroes of the time. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mel Ott were some favorites among Red Bank collectors. One such avid collector in the 1930s was young Red Bank resident John McGraw, who famously amassed a complete set of the 1933 Goudey cards in near-mint condition, a true sign of his early passion for the hobby.
During World War II, scarce resources limited baseball card production. Some of the last pre-war sets in 1942 came from companies like Play Ball and Bell Brand and could still be found in Red Bank shops. After the war, production recommenced in force, led by iconic 1950s sets from Topps that depicted stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. By then, the demand for cards had skyrocketed, with shops struggling to keep cards on shelves in Red Bank and kids racing home from school to trade with friends in neighborhood streets.
The 1960s marked the “golden age part 2” of baseball cards as colorful designs, all-star subsets, and oddball issues proliferated. Some local favorites included the 1966 Topps set with its embedded “post-cards,” the 1968 Topps issue with its color photo style, and the puzzling 1962 Fleer set which lacked team logos due to licensing issues. Major retailers like Woolworth’s, Kresge’s, and 7-Eleven all carried cards and only the fastest kids could snag a pack before they sold out.
By the 1970s, the onset of mass production and over-saturation caused a downturn in the card market. Many shops in Red Bank stopped stocking them altogether. But the rise of specialty card shops revitalized collecting. Stores like Serendipity & Co. on Broad Street and Great American Card Shop down on West Front Street became the new hubs, hosting card shows and buy-sell-trade sessions throughout the late 70s and 80s.
Today, baseball card collecting remains a cherished pastime for many in the Red Bank area, old and new. While the early ragged tobacco cards can sell for tens of thousands, finding a flea market gem from decades past is still a thrill. Local stores like Collector’s Universe and Great Guns Comics continue to feed the hobby. And online groups like the Red Bank Card Collectors Club foster discussions and trades among aficionados dedicated to preserving the borough’s rich baseball card history into the future. Cards depicting modern stars like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Fernando Tatis Jr. ensure new generations will discover the allure of the cardboard that started it all in Red Bank over 130 years ago.
