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WALGREENS FAIRFIELD BASEBALL CARDS

Walgreens was known for decades as a place where kids could purchase affordable wax packs of baseball cards. Some of the most memorable and collectible cards were produced under the “Walgreens Fairfield” brand from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. These cardboard treasures represented the hobby at its most inclusive and accessible stage.

Fairfield Plastics originated in 1954 as a manufacturer of novelty toys and promotional items. In the late 1970s, the company partnered with Walgreens to produce and distribute low-cost packs of modern baseball cards. At just 25 cents per pack with five or six cards inside wax wrappers, these were highly coveted by young collectors.

The early Fairfield Walgreens sets featured current major leaguers from teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and more. Surface variations like glossy versus matte finishes helped fuel excitement among kids hoping for rare “error” cards. Standouts from the late 70s/early 80s include rookie cards of Hall of Famers Eddie Murray, Tim Raines, and Ozzie Smith. Cal Ripken Jr.’s iconic milestone cards also first appeared in Walgreens packs.

At the peak of the 1980s baseball card craze, Fairfield ramped up production for Walgreens. Sets covered multiple MLB seasons and leagues, with stars like Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds now portrayed in their respective primes. Parallel sets paid tribute to the Negro Leagues and other niche subjects. The affordable packs remained insanely popular on store shelves and in lunchroom trades at school.

As the bubble began to burst in the early 90s, Fairfield Walgreens cards took on a more retro, nostalgic feel. Icons from past eras received the highlight treatment in sets like “Walgreens Heroes of Baseball.” Kids and nostalgic collectors alike enjoyed reliving the sport’s rich history. Meanwhile, insert cards spotlighted milestones, league leaders, and achievements across multiple seasons at once. The dual appeal to young and old kept the brand very relevant.

While production of modern MLB player cards ceased after 1991, Fairfield kept the Walgreens line alive with sets featuring baseball artifacts, turn-of-the-century teams, and period uniforms. The card designs themselves also took on an old-time aesthetic. Packs remained just a quarter and stayed stocked in the candy aisles of local drugstores. Fairfield had wisely adapted their flagship retail brand to changing collector tastes.

When the company ceased production in the mid-1990s, Fairfield Walgreens cards left an indelible mark. They represented the card-collecting culture at its most grassroots, affordable level. Even today, unopened wax packs sell for several times their original price on the secondary market. Individual key rookie and star cards can fetch hundreds due to their flashy designs and place in sports history. Countless lifelong collectors first fell in love with baseball through finding these affordable packs at their local Walgreens.

While baseball cards have undergone drastic changes, from rare premium issues priced at hundreds to digital-only variants, Fairfield Walgreens remind us where the hobby started – as an inclusive pastime any kid with some spare change could enjoy. They unlocked dreams of one day seeing our favorite players perform on TV or in person. For generations of Americans, flipping through these classic cards created memories that last lifetimes. Few brands left as rich a legacy of bringing joy and discovery to young fans for just a quarter a pack. The magic of Fairfield Walgreens cards ensures they’ll never be forgotten.

FAIRFIELD BASEBALL CARDS

Fairfield Baseball Cards: A Brief History of America’s Favorite Pastime on Cardboard

Baseball cards have long captured the nostalgia of America’s favorite pastime like no other collectible. Starting in the late 1800s, companies produced cards as promotional materials or included in products like tobacco to help advertise. While many early card producers came and went, one name stands out that helped grow the hobby into what it is today – Fairfield Company.

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fairfield was founded in 1910 by brothers Joel, Alfred, and Charles Shorin as a lithography company producing various printed materials. In the early 1920s they began experimenting with producing baseball cards to include in their cigarette packages as a promotional item. Their early sets in the 1920s like 1922 Strip Cards and 1925 Strips and Squares helped popularize the modern baseball card format still used today.

Fairfield’s cards started gaining more widespread popularity in the late 1920s and 1930s as they produced sets featuring major leaguers from both the National and American Leagues. Sets like 1933 Goudey and 1935 Diamond Stars had elegant art deco designs that captured the players of the era. Stars like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx had their likenesses immortalized in these early Fairfield releases.

As World War 2 impacted the nation, Fairfield had to shift production away from non-essential items. But they came roaring back in the post-war years of the late 1940s and 1950s. Fairfield released some of the most iconic and valuable sets in hobby history during this time period. Their 1948 Leaf set had the first cards of Jackie Robinson as a Brooklyn Dodger. Their 1950 Leaf set had early cards of legends like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle in their rookie seasons.

Fairfield truly captured the national baseball card boom of the 1950s with their mass-produced but high quality sets. Their 1953 Bowman and 1954 Topps sets helped kick off a “card war” as the two companies battled for collectors. Topps would ultimately win out, but Fairfield still produced memorable sets like 1955 Post and 1956 Topps. They also had a popular Red Man chewing tobacco insert set distributed from 1949-1958.

As the 1960s arrived, Fairfield’s card production began to decline. Topps had solidified its monopoly on the baseball card market. Fairfield attempted some revival sets like 1961 Parade of Champions but they never reached the same heights of popularity from the prior decade. The Shorin family sold Fairfield in 1964 to the International Playtime company, ending over 50 years of family ownership.

Fairfield still produced some cards into the late 1960s under new ownership including their final baseball release, the 1968 Fairfield Football cards. But the company was a shell of its former self. It ceased operations entirely by the early 1970s. While gone, Fairfield left an indelible mark on the hobby. They helped popularize baseball cards from the 1920s-1950s and created some of the most desirable vintage sets prized by collectors today.

The legacy and influence of Fairfield lives on decades later. Cards from their pioneering 1920s and 1930s issues through the postwar boom of the 1940s-50s consistently fetch high prices at auction. Their classic designs have also inspired modern retro releases paying homage. In the 2010s, companies like Topps released “Turn Back the Clock” sets recreating the look and feel of old Fairfield Goudey and Leaf issues.

For collectors and historians, Fairfield Baseball Cards serve as a reminder of the early growth of the hobby. They were innovative leaders who took baseball cards from a mere promotional insert to a beloved collectible in its own right. While competitors came and went, Fairfield endured for over 50 years. Even after disappearing in the 1970s, their impressive catalog of early 20th century cards remains a touchstone for collectors today. The history of baseball cards is partly the history of Fairfield, cementing their place as one of the most important early producers in the industry.

BASEBALL CARDS FAIRFIELD CT

Baseball Cards in Fairfield, Connecticut: A Rich History of Collecting

Fairfield County, Connecticut has long been a hotbed for baseball card collecting. Situated between New York City and Boston, Fairfield was exposed to Major League Baseball from an early age. Children in Fairfield would collect cards of their favorite New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox players. This helped spark a passion for the hobby that still burns bright today.

Some of the earliest baseball cards were produced in the late 1800s as promotional inserts in cigarette and candy packages. In the early 1900s, companies like American Tobacco began mass producing cards as the hobby started to take off nationwide. Fairfield kids would eagerly await the arrival of the latest shipments to local corner stores and candy shops, hoping to find cards of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, or other superstars of the era.

By the mid-20th century, the modern baseball card industry was in full swing. Major manufacturers like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer were cranking out new sets on a regular basis. Kids in Fairfield would trade, swap, and compete to complete full sets from the recent season. Some enterprising young collectors even started their own baseball card businesses, buying and selling via newspaper ads or their lemonade stands. The hobby flourished throughout postwar America, with Fairfield fully embracing baseball cards.

One of the most famous early card shops in Fairfield County was Fairfield Sport Cards, which opened its doors in 1962. Owned and operated by local legend Jack Murphy, the small storefront on Post Road became an instant hotspot. Kids would flock there on release days, hoping to snag the rare rookie cards that could someday be worth a fortune. Murphy educated customers on the ins and outs of the hobby, from grading standards to the secondary market. He also organized some of the earliest baseball card shows in the region. Fairfield Sport Cards helped turn the entire town of Fairfield into avid collectors.

By the 1970s, the speculator boom was in full swing. Rumors of certain rookie cards being worth “a million dollars someday” had collectors on a frenzy. In Fairfield, entire neighborhoods would get together for “wax pack wars,” eagerly searching packs for the elusive stars. Some enterprising local collectors even started their own publications, like the Fairfield Card Trader newspaper, to facilitate trades and build the local community. Shows at the local VFW and American Legion halls regularly drew hundreds. The rise of sports card investing was in full force.

Two major events cemented Fairfield’s place as a baseball card epicenter. In 1979, the first annual Fairfield County Sports Collectors Show debuted, drawing over 1,000 attendees to the local Holiday Inn. It immediately became one of the largest and most prestigious shows in the Northeast. Then in 1980, Fairfield native James Beckett published the first edition of his Price Guide, which would become the definitive source for card values worldwide. Both occurrences helped raise the profile of collecting locally and nationwide.

Through the 1980s and 90s, Fairfield saw card shops proliferate up and down Post Road and in nearby towns like Trumbull and Stratford. Major retailers like Commons Trading Post and The Great American Card Company did a booming business. Shows continued to grow, with the annual Fairfield County event regularly hosting over 3,000 collectors. Rumors swirled of local “whales” with million-dollar collections. Sports cards were big business, and Fairfield was at the center of it all.

Today, the hobby remains deeply ingrained in Fairfield’s culture. While the internet has facilitated nationwide and global trading, local shops like Northstar Collectibles and shows keep the community thriving. Multi-generational families still bond over cards together. Some of the earliest collectors from the 1960s are still extremely active. And each new release day remains an event, whether chasing the latest rookie phenoms or nostalgic reprints. Through bull and bear markets, natural disasters, and global pandemics, Fairfield’s love for the hobby has proven resilient. Its place as a baseball card Mecca is secure for generations to come.

FAIRFIELD BASEBALL CARDS COLLECTOR’s EDGE BOX

Fairfield Baseball Cards Collector’s Edge Box – An In-Depth Look at What Makes This Product Special

The Fairfield Baseball Cards Collector’s Edge Box is a unique and exciting product that offers collectors a chance to add valuable cards to their collection in a fun and somewhat unpredictable way. Fairfield is known for producing affordable yet high-quality sports card products that provide value for collectors of all experience levels. Their Collector’s Edge Box lives up to this reputation by giving hobbyists an opportunity to discover gems from the past while enjoying the thrill of the hunt. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this box such an enticing option for those who love the hobby of baseball card collecting.

What’s in the Box? Each Fairfield Collector’s Edge Box contains 50 total baseball cards from the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s. The exact year and player distribution can vary slightly from box to box, but collectors can generally expect to find players from the peak eras of the junk wax boom through the modern game. Ranging in condition from worn to near mint, the cards provide a cross-section of baseball history from the last few decades. While there is always an element of surprise, boxes tend to include stars, prospects, and role players alike. Finding a rookie card of a Hall of Famer is a definite possibility.

Potential for Key Cards: Because the boxes pull from such a large window of production years, there is always a chance of discovering truly valuable vintage and modern gems. Past boxes have yielded rare rookie cards like Griffey Jr., Pujols, and Kershaw. Autographs and memorabilia cards also make occasional appearances. Even base cards from the early 90s can hold significant value in top grades. The mix of eras increases the odds of finding that one card that makes the entire $25 box price worthwhile. Condition varies, but centering and corners are usually collectible at a minimum.

Fun of the Hunt: Part of the appeal is the thrill of the unknown. Each new card peeled from its wrapping brings anticipation – will it be a future star or a common filler? Sorting through and assessing the pulls is half the enjoyment. Finding that one hit that makes your jaw drop more than makes up for the bulk cards. It’s a fun experience that can be shared with family or friends. The element of surprise keeps collectors engaged from the first to the final card.

Good Value Proposition: At $25 per box, the price point is very reasonable considering the potential rewards. Even if none of the 50 cards grade especially high, most will still hold nominal value. And the chance, however slim, of discovering a true gem far outweighs the cost of taking a chance. For the budget-minded collector just starting a PC or looking to add to their collection, it’s a low-risk way to potentially score big. The value is there whether looking to fill boxes or chase key cards.

Reputable Company: Fairfield has been in the sports card business for over 30 years and has a strong reputation for quality products and customer service. They are known for creating affordable options that still deliver the fun and excitement of the hobby. With Collector’s Edge Boxes, they’ve crafted a product that allows anyone to feel that thrill of the hunt without breaking the bank. Their brand name backing adds to the appeal.

Community Experience: Part of the fun is sharing your box results with others online. On social media sites, collectors post their box breaks to compare hits and discuss favorite cards. This fosters a sense of community around the product. It’s exciting to see what gems others uncover and dream that your next box might contain a card that generates buzz. The social element increases enjoyment of the entire Collector’s Edge experience.

In summary, Fairfield Baseball Cards Collector’s Edge Box provides a unique and exciting way for collectors of all levels to add to their collections and chase the thrill of the surprise hit. Pulling cards from various eras increases the odds of finding that one valuable or memorable piece of baseball history. And at just $25 per box, the price point makes it an affordable gamble. With Fairfield’s reputation behind it, the Collector’s Edge Box delivers fun, value and that spark of surprise that keeps collectors engaged in the hobby. It’s a product that lives up to its name by giving people a true edge in building their collections.

FAIRFIELD COMPANY BASEBALL CARDS

The Fairfield Company was a leading American manufacturer and distributor of baseball cards during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1889 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fairfield began producing baseball cards as a side business and soon found tremendous success with their affordable and widely distributed sets. At their peak in the early 1900s, Fairfield cards made up the vast majority of baseball cards on the market and helped fuel America’s growing passion for the sport during the Deadball Era.

One of Fairfield’s earliest releases was an 1892 set featuring photos and brief bios of major league players from that season. Printed on thin cardboard stock, the cards sold for a penny apiece and were inserted randomly in packages of chewing gum, tobacco, and candy to boost sales of those products. The unique distribution method was a major innovation that helped baseball cards catch on with both children and adults across the country. Within a few years, Fairfield had deals in place with most major confectioners and tobacco firms to include baseball cards in their products.

As the popularity of collecting the cards grew, Fairfield began issuing new and expanded sets each season from 1893 through the late 1890s. Their 1896 set is among the most famous and coveted of the early years, featuring over 200 cards spanning both the National League and newly formed American League. In addition to photos, the 1896 cards included each player’s team, position, batting average, and career highlights up to that point. The level of statistical detail set a new standard that future card manufacturers would emulate.

At the turn of the 20th century, Fairfield took baseball card production to an unprecedented scale. Their 1900 set ballooned to a then-unheard of 512 cards chronicling both major leagues. Additional sets were issued each subsequent year through the first decade. The company also began experimenting with different card designs, materials, and statistical inclusions based on feedback from collectors. Their attention to the hobby’s growth helped solidify Fairfield as the clear market leader. By 1905, an estimated 90% of all baseball cards being collected and traded among fans were Fairfield products.

Two major events shook up the baseball card industry in the early 1910s. The first was the American Tobacco Company’s decision in 1909 to include baseball cards in their most popular cigarette brands like Sweet Caporal and Fatima. This gave rival card manufacturer American Tobacco a major distribution advantage that threatened Fairfield’s dominance. At the same time, the rise of independent gum and candy companies meant fewer insertion deals for Fairfield’s cards. To compete, Fairfield had to develop new distribution methods.

In 1911, Fairfield began direct-to-consumer sales of their card sets through mail order catalogs, retail shops, and even the Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog. While not as profitable as their insertion model, it kept their products available. More importantly, Fairfield shrewdly negotiated a deal in 1913 to have their cards exclusively included in the massively popular Cracker Jack snack brand. This helped offset losses from other partners and kept Fairfield at the forefront of the baseball card trade.

Over the next decade, Fairfield continued annual releases of large card sets, regularly featuring 500 cards or more by the late 1910s. The company also began experimenting with color lithography, gilt borders, and higher quality card stock to make their products stand out. The rising costs and increasing competition took their toll. In 1922, facing financial difficulties, Fairfield sold the rights to their baseball card line to the Gum, Inc. subsidiary of the American Chicle Company. This brought an end to over 30 years of pioneering the baseball card market under the Fairfield name.

While no longer an independent entity, Fairfield cards continued to be issued each year through 1925 under the Gum, Inc. imprint. These final sets maintained Fairfield’s reputation for exhaustive statistical coverage and innovations like action photos. The company’s legacy of affordable and widely distributed baseball cards from the 1890s through the 1910s helped fuel America’s initial baseball card craze. Today, early Fairfield cards from the pre-WWI era are among the most prized possessions of serious collectors due to their historical significance and limited surviving populations. Through distribution deals, direct marketing, and constant refinements, Fairfield had firmly established the baseball card as a mainstream collectible and an enduring part of our national pastime.

BASEBALL CARDS FAIRFIELD

Baseball cards have a long history in Fairfield, Connecticut dating back to the late 19th century. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured players from teams like the Boston Beaneaters, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants who would come to Fairfield County to play exhibition games.

While the earliest cards from the late 1800s are quite rare and valuable today, baseball card collecting really took off in Fairfield in the early 20th century as production became more widespread. Kids in Fairfield would trade and swap cards on the playground, comparing their collections and looking to fill in sets. Popular early brands included Allen & Ginter, American Tobacco Company, and Mayo Cut Plug Tobacco cards issued between 1888-1914.

In the 1930s, Goudey Gum Company began mass producing colorful baseball cards as incentives to purchase gum. Their 1933 issue is considered a landmark set with stars like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig featured. Fairfield kids would ride their bicycles to local candy stores, delis, and corner shops hoping to find packs of Goudey cards to add to their collections. The Goudey sets of the 1930s really fueled the baseball card craze in Fairfield and around the country.

After World War II, production ramped up even more. In 1948, Bowman Gum began their colorful, photo-centric sets that would define the post-war era. Kids in Fairfield traded and compared their Bowman cards on the playgrounds and ballfields. Bowman cards of stars like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle were highly coveted. Topps Chewing Gum also entered the market in 1951 with color photographs, beginning their long reign as the dominant baseball card maker.

Through the 1950s, local card shops and hobby stores started to emerge in Fairfield where kids could browse boxes of loose cards to find ones they needed to complete their sets. Stores like Jim’s Cards on Post Road and Mike’s Sportscards on Unquowa Road became hangouts for collectors. The completion of sets was a big accomplishment that would be showed off and discussed in the schoolyards. Stars of the 1950s like Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, and Willie McCovey gained a huge following among Fairfield’s young collectors.

Into the 1960s and 70s, baseball card production and collecting reached a frenzy. Topps issued large sets each year along with oddball issues, high number cards, and parallel sets to challenge collectors. Their iconic design featuring a full color photo on the front and stats on the back defined the era. Meanwhile, competitors like Fleer and Leaf got into the game. For kids in Fairfield, collecting and trading was a daily obsession. They would ride their bikes all over town, visiting every card shop and deli, hoping to find the elusive cards they needed. Stars of the 60s and 70s like Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, and Nolan Ryan were the most sought after by Fairfield’s collectors.

The rise of card shows in the 1970s presented a new opportunity for collectors in Fairfield. Shows would be held monthly at venues like the Fairfield Armory where hundreds of collectors from the tri-state area would gather tables to buy, sell and trade cards. Kids from Fairfield would scour their collections and hit the shows hoping to make trades to complete sets or obtain their favorite stars. The rise of specialized magazines like Sport Americana Beckett Price Guide also helped collectors properly evaluate and price their collections.

In the 1980s, the junk wax era saw an overproduction of cards that diluted their value but maintained popularity. The 1990 arrival of Upper Deck brought back prestige with quality, glossy cards and autographs of stars. Their Ken Griffey Jr rookie card from 1989 remains one of the most coveted in the hobby. The 1990s also saw the rise of independent regional card shows in Fairfield that drew collectors from all over New England. Stores like Fairfield Sportscards on Post Road continued to be community hubs.

Baseball card collecting remains a popular hobby in Fairfield, Connecticut even in the digital age. While production has declined from the junk wax era, sets from Topps, Panini, and others release each year featuring current stars. Meanwhile, vintage cards from the 1950s, 60s and 70s featuring legends like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente have skyrocketed in value and are prized possessions for collectors. Local card shops like Frankly Sports collectibles and monthly regional shows keep the hobby alive. For over a century, baseball cards have been a beloved pastime among the youth and enthusiasts of Fairfield, chronicling the history of America’s pastime.

FAIRFIELD BOX BASEBALL CARDS

Fairfield Box Baseball Cards: A History of the Iconic Wax Pack

Fairfield Box baseball cards have been a staple of the hobby for decades. Inside those iconic cardboard boxes were wax packs containing a few random baseball cards that brought joy to children and collectors alike. The Fairfield brand helped popularize the concept of buying packs of cards at corner stores, fueling the growth of baseball card collecting.

In the early 1950s, the Topps Chewing Gum Company had emerged as the dominant force in the baseball card industry. They produced highly collectible sets featuring the biggest stars of that era. Their distribution was still somewhat limited. That’s where Fairfield Container Corporation came in. Fairfield was a packaging company based in Ohio that saw an opportunity to capitalize on the rising popularity of baseball cards.

In 1952, Fairfield began producing their own packs of baseball cards to distribute more widely. They came in a rectangular box, with 12 wax packs inside featuring 5 cards each. The cards were of lower overall quality than Topps, with simpler designs and poorer reproduction. However, Fairfield had a major advantage in distribution. While Topps cards were primarily found in candy stores in major cities, Fairfield boxes could be found just about anywhere – corner markets, drug stores, gas stations. This greatly expanded the reach of the hobby.

Kids across America were now able to purchase packs of baseball cards at their local convenience stores, fueling demand. The Fairfield boxes retailed for just 19 cents. For a few quarters, kids could rip open multiple packs and hope to build their collections. It was an impulse buy that helped turn baseball cards into a true national pastime. Fairfield’s distribution deal was a game changer that helped take the hobby mainstream.

While the cards inside lacked the polish of Topps, Fairfield still featured many of the same players from that era. Names like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax and more could all be found in Fairfield packs. For many kids in small towns, Fairfield boxes may have been their only affordable way to get cards of the baseball greats they saw on TV. The cards were also less valuable for collectors, so kids could trade and play with them freely without worry.

In the mid-1950s, Fairfield began issuing their cards under the license of the respective major and minor leagues. This helped address any copyright issues and legitimized their product even more. By the late 50s, Fairfield was producing over 200 million cards annually to keep up with demand. They continued to issue basic cardboard packs through the 1960s, featuring the stars of that era like Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente and more.

While Topps remained the premium brand for serious collectors, Fairfield boxes satisfied the itch of casual fans and kids across the country. In the pre-internet era, stumbling upon a Fairfield pack at your local general store was one of the few ways to build a collection outside of big cities. They helped spread the hobby to small towns all over America.

In the 1970s, the baseball card boom was in full swing. More companies like Fleer and Donruss entered the market to challenge Topps’ dominance. Fairfield tried to keep up by issuing color photo cards in the early 70s. The quality was still below the competition. By the late 70s, Fairfield’s cardboard packs were becoming outdated as collectors demanded better photographs on the cards inside.

In 1980, Fairfield produced their final baseball card issue before exiting the industry. Their cardboard boxes packed with wax packs had helped popularize the hobby for three decades. While their simple cards didn’t hold value for collectors, Fairfield Boxes fueled the childhood dreams of millions of young fans across America. Their innovative distribution model was pivotal in spreading baseball cards nationwide. Today, a vintage Fairfield box is a treasured piece of nostalgia for those who grew up in the 1950s and 60s opening packs at their local general store.

While Fairfield may be gone, their impact on the hobby remains. They helped take baseball cards mainstream and introduced the concept of random packs found virtually anywhere. The iconic cardboard box packed with wax packs inside became a symbol of summertime fun and the thrill of the chase for generations. Fairfield Boxes hold a special place in baseball card history for keeping the hobby alive and growing it into the national pastime it remains today. Their cardboard packs sparked countless childhood memories and collections, ensuring baseball cards would be a staple of American pop culture for decades to come.