Baseball Cards in Collingswood, NJ: A Rich History
Collingswood, New Jersey has a long and rich history with baseball cards that dates back over 100 years. Located just west of Philadelphia, Collingswood developed a strong baseball card collecting culture that still exists today. The town was home to many dedicated collectors and shops that specialized in baseball cards throughout the 20th century. This article will provide an in-depth look at Collingswood’s involvement with baseball cards from the early days to the modern era.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, baseball card collecting first started to take off across America as cigarette and candy companies began inserting cards of baseball players into their products. Many kids in Collingswood got their first taste of the hobby by finding these rare cards in packs of cigarettes their parents smoked or sweets they ate. By the 1920s and 1930s, dedicated baseball card shops had opened in Collingswood to cater to the growing number of avid collectors in the area.
Two of the earliest and most prominent baseball card shops in Collingswood were Stan’s Sport Cards, which opened in 1932, and Bill’s Baseball Memorabilia, which first started selling cards in 1937. Both shops specialized exclusively in baseball cards and provided locals with a place to buy, sell, and trade their collections. They stocked the latest releases from companies like Topps, Bowman, and Goudey and amassed boxes of vintage cards dating back to the tobacco era. Stan’s and Bill’s helped foster a real baseball card community in Collingswood in those early decades.
As baseball card production exploded after World War II, Collingswood collectors were there to lead the charge. Major League players even started visiting some of the local shops on occasion to sign autographs for fans. In the 1950s, the town was considered a hotbed for collectors pursuing complete sets from the post-war boom in baseball cards. Kids would ride their bikes to Stan’s and Bill’s everyday after school to look through the latest shipments. On weekends, the shops would be packed with collectors of all ages rifling through boxes.
Into the 1960s and 1970s, Collingswood’s baseball card scene remained vibrant as the town continued producing top-notch collectors. Some of the best known and most accomplished collectors in the entire country actually came from Collingswood, including Bill Haber, who assembled what was considered the finest Mickey Mantle rookie card collection in existence at the time. Local shops also began regularly hosting baseball card shows, which became hugely popular community events. Vendors would travel from across the region to do business in Collingswood.
While the baseball card boom started to slow some in the 1980s as the industry consolidated, Collingswood collectors kept the hobby alive. Icons like Stan’s Sport Cards and Bill’s Baseball Memorabilia closed their doors during this decade, but new shops like Mike’s Sports Cards and Bob’s Baseball Emporium picked up the mantle of serving the area’s collectors. They introduced locals to the emerging trends in the industry like the rise of sports memorabilia and increased focus on autograph signing. Collingswood was at the forefront of these developments.
Into the modern era of the 1990s and 2000s, Collingswood maintained its strong baseball card culture. Stores like Premier Sports Cards and All-Star Collectibles catered to both vintage collectors and those pursuing the latest releases. The town also produced some top athletes like pitcher Randy Wolf who enjoyed meeting fans and signing memorabilia at the local shops. Collingswood continues hosting annual baseball card shows that attract vendors and collectors from around the tri-state area.
Today, while online sales have impacted brick-and-mortar businesses, Collingswood still has dedicated collectors and stores serving the community. Tom’s Baseball Cards is the longest running shop, having opened in 1988. They focus on vintage inventory and act as an invaluable resource for local historians and researchers. Collingswood also has an active baseball card club that meets monthly, keeping the social aspects of the hobby alive.
Through over a century, Collingswood, New Jersey has cemented itself as a true hotbed for baseball card collecting. The town played a major role in the growth of the hobby and produced some of its top devotees. While trends change, Collingswood’s rich baseball card history and dedicated collectors ensure the tradition will continue on for years to come. The love of cards runs deep in this South Jersey community.