F.H.F. baseball cards were a unique series produced from 1922 to 1930 by the Franklin Highway Flier Candy Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Printed on card stock and included in packs of F.H.F. candy, these early baseball cards helped popularize the collecting hobby and documented the players and teams of the era.
The Franklin Highway Flier Candy Company was founded in 1919 by Franklin Harris as a small, regional candy maker based in Cleveland. Looking for new promotional ideas to help sell their products, Harris decided in 1922 to include collectible baseball cards in F.H.F. candy packs. Each pack would contain 5 cards showing photos of current major league players from that season.
The 1922 set was the first F.H.F. card series and included 60 total cards featuring players from the American and National Leagues. Photos were simple headshots with the player’s name and team printed below. Despite their basic design, these early F.H.F. cards captured the sport’s biggest stars of the time like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson. They represented some of the earliest mass-produced baseball cards and helped spark the collecting craze that still thrives today.
In the following years of 1923-1925, F.H.F. released new card sets each season with 60 cards each. The designs remained largely the same as the debut 1922 issues. The photos and rosters were updated to show that year’s players. Notable rookies who appeared included Lou Gehrig in 1923 and Mel Ott in 1926. F.H.F. cards from this period are considered the most common of the series in the hands of today’s collectors.
A major change came for the 1926 F.H.F. card set. That year, Franklin Harris decided to significantly increase production numbers to capitalize on the growing popularity of baseball cards. The 1926 set ballooned to a massive 150 cards, nearly triple the size of previous years. Cards also featured larger 3⁄4 length photos of players for the first time. This expansion made F.H.F. cards the largest and most complete sets yet for documenting all major leaguers of that season.
In 1927, F.H.F. card production continued to grow with another enlarged set of 200 cards. Photos remained the larger 3⁄4 length style and card designs stayed basic but colorful. Roster-wise, it was one of the most complete annual sets ever issued up to that point. The massive size took a financial toll on the Franklin Highway Flier Candy Company. Facing rising costs, Harris was forced to scale back in subsequent years.
The 1928 and 1929 F.H.F. sets reverted to the original 60 card count but kept the larger photo sizes. Designs saw only minor changes like the addition of a banner with the player’s team name. Production quality remained high and these sets captured the talent of stars like Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove. They represent some of the finest examples of F.H.F. cards produced during the company’s run.
In 1930, Franklin Harris made one final F.H.F. card set before calling it quits. Citing poor candy sales, the effects of the Great Depression, and no longer being able to cover costs, the 1930 60-card issue would be the last from the Franklin Highway Flier Candy Company. Featuring the usual top players, it served as a fitting conclusion to a nearly decade-long run producing some of the earliest American baseball cards.
While short-lived compared to modern card manufacturers, F.H.F.’s contribution to the hobby was immense. As one of the pioneering companies to include baseball cards with candy, they helped spread interest in collecting players. Their sets documented the rosters and provided photos of the 1920s, considered the “Golden Age” of baseball. Today, complete runs of F.H.F. cards from 1922-1930 remain highly sought after and valuable to vintage collectors. They represent a fascinating part of the origins and growth of what became America’s favorite collectible – baseball cards.