Baseball cards have been a beloved part of American culture for over a century. While the hobby has grown exponentially nationwide, it also has deep roots in communities across the country. Hattiesburg, Mississippi is no exception, as baseball cards have been an integral part of the city’s history since the early 20th century.
Some of the earliest baseball cards to circulate in Hattiesburg date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. During this time, cards were included as promotional inserts in tobacco products. As baseball gained popularity across the United States, these tobacco cards made their way to Hattiesburg as well. Many local shops and general stores would stock packs of cigarettes or chewing tobacco that sometimes included bonus baseball cards inside. Kids and adults alike enjoyed collecting and trading these early cards depicting their favorite players and teams.
By the 1910s and 1920s, dedicated baseball card companies like American Caramel began mass producing sets that were sold individually. Drug stores and corner markets in Hattiesburg started keeping boxes of these card packs on their shelves next to the gum and candy. It quickly became a beloved pastime for many local youths to spend their pennies on packs, hoping to score rare cards to add to their collections. Neighborhood ball games would often have kids trading and discussing the latest players and stats depicted on their baseball cards between innings.
As the decades went on, Hattiesburg saw the rise and fall of many famous baseball card companies. In the 1930s and 1940s, Goudey Gum Company reigned supreme with their beautifully illustrated cards. Kids eagerly ripped open Wrigley Gum and Bazooka Joe packs searching for stars like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio. Meanwhile, local card shops also started to emerge as hot spots for collectors. Places like Bill’s Sport Cards on Main Street gave fans a dedicated place to browse inventory, find singles, and socialize about the hobby.
The post-World War II era saw the arrival of iconic brands like Topps, which would go on to dominate the baseball card industry for decades. As the 1950s rolled around, no baseball card collection in Hattiesburg was complete without stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron captured in their classic colorful Topps designs. The late 50s also heralded the beginning of the modern era of obsessive chase cards like the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and colorful variations that collectors hunted high and low for in local shops and at card shows.
The 1960s was arguably the golden age of baseball cards in Hattiesburg. Topps reigned supreme with expansive sets featuring the biggest names in the game. Kids flocked to stores, pharmacies, and corner stores everywhere hoping for that serendipitous pack with superstar rookies like Willie McCovey or Tom Seaver waiting inside. Meanwhile, the rise of the first official Hattiesburg Card Show in 1965 kickstarted a booming collector scene. Held twice yearly at local high school gyms and civic centers, these shows brought out hundreds of vendors, dealers, and fans for a weekend of buying, selling, and trading. Signatures from the likes of Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, and local hero Bob Gibson could be found adorning countless cards.
As the 1970s rolled around, competition arose against Topps as Fleer and Donruss entered the annual card wars. Meanwhile, the golden age was starting to fade. The 1973 rookie card of a young Dave Kingman would be one of the last truly valuable and sought-after cards to come out of the 1970s sets. By the late 70s and early 80s, interest had declined sharply. Many local shops like Bill’s Sport Cards had shuttered due to lack of business. Baseball cards were no longer the ubiquitous childhood pastime they once were.
The late 1980s saw a resurgence and new era defined by scarcity and speculation. The arrival of stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Cal Ripken Jr. plus the rise of the vintage collecting boom brought renewed fervor to the hobby. Shops in Hattiesburg like Frank’s Sportscards managed to stay afloat, and the local card shows regained some lost momentum. The 1990s saw unprecedented growth, fueled by the entry of upper deck and score into the market. Chasing the elusive Griffey rookie again had a whole new generation hooked.
Today, Hattiesburg continues to have a dedicated collector scene, even if the landscape has changed. While large national chains have replaced local mom and pops, annual Hattiesburg Card Show still thrives. Modern parallels and short prints attract buyers, but vintage cardboard remains king. Names like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Bob Gibson are as revered as ever, with their cards as iconic to local collectors today as they were decades ago. Through highs and lows, baseball cards have been interwoven with the history and culture of Hattiesburg for over a century. The city’s love affair with the hobby shows no signs of ending any time soon.