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BASEBALL CARDS MEDFORD

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The unique history of baseball cards in Medford, Oregon dates back to the early 20th century. Like many American cities and towns during this period, the popularity of baseball was rapidly growing in Medford in the early 1900s. Children and adults alike were captivated by the emerging professional baseball leagues, especially the National League and American League. Figuring and trading baseball cards became a hugely popular pastime.

Some of the earliest baseball cards available in Medford came in the forms of tobacco cards inserted in cigarette and chewing tobacco packages. Starting in the late 1880s, tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter, American Tobacco Company, and Goodwin & Company began inserting illustrated baseball cards as incentives to purchase their products. By the 1890s, the inserts gained huge popularity among youth. Tobacco shops in Medford stocked the latest card series and local kids traded avidly.

In 1909, the Edward C. Jones Company of Chicago began mass producing baseball cards as standalone collectibles for the first time, not associated with tobacco products. Their inaugural series featured over 500 retired and current players. News of the new baseball cards spread quickly. Stores specializing in candy and sports equipment were some of the first retailers to stock these non-tobacco baseball cards in Medford. They sold for a penny per pack and were an instant hit with local collectors.

Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, baseball cards thrived in Medford as the craze only grew larger nationwide. New series were released annually featuring the latest stars of the era like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Babe Ruth. Medford’s two general stores, Markum’s and Atherton’s, became major hubs for kids to browse cards and make trades. By the mid-1920s, some enterprising Medford children even began opening makeshift card shops in their homes on weekends to facilitate trades on a larger scale.

In 1933, the Goudey Gum Company issued the first modern gum-and-card packaging format, which became the standard into the 1950s. Each pack contained a stick of gum and several cards sealed tight. This preserved the cards and gum freshness. It also spurred even more collecting activity in Medford. Grocery stores carried the packs, and boys spending their allowancesfrequently chose the gum-and-card option over candy. Medford saw some early rarities emerge, like the iconic 1933 Babe Ruth card.

During World War II paper shortages impacted baseball card production greatly. From 1942-1945 only a few minor series were printed. This absence only seemed to intensify collectors’ appetites upon the war’s conclusion. The bowman Gum Company resumed regular sets in 1948. Their designs and player photography advanced noticeably. This ushered in Medford’s post-war card boom. Local dime stores, drug stores and newspaper stands now stocked boxes to be opened and traded in the backs of classrooms.

Into the 1950s, the “Golden Age” of cardboard, issuers like Topps gained prominence. Their innovative designs set the standard. Every release contained chase cards of the day’s stars like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Of course, it remained tough to pull these short printed gems in Medford. One epic find was a local boy cracking open an unopened 1953 Topps box at a drug store to pull the legendary Mickey Mantle rookie. A flurry of trade offers from around town followed.

As the 1960s rolled in, Medford’s hobby shops started catering more to card collectors. Stocking long boxes of commons and rack packs of the latest issues from Topps and Fleer. They also connected collectors with each other through bulletin boards advertising “haves” and “wants.” This made completing sets from the dawn of the hobby much easier for serious collectors in town. The arrival of an LCS also meant prices increased beyond a pack or two. Serious collecting became more of an investment.

In the 1970s, Medford saw its baseball card heritage reach new generations. As values exploded on vintage cards, local attics were scoured to assemble complete vintage sets. Some truly remarkable finds emerged, like a near-complete run of 1910-1911 tobacco cards discovered in an old trunk. Local card shows also arrived, where collectors could buy, sell and trade in bulk. An economic boom in Medford provided expendable income for many to start impressive collections featuring the stars of that era like Mike Schmidt and Nolan Ryan.

Another upswing occurred in the late 1980s sparked by the arrival of Upper Deck, Score, and Fleer Ultra premium card issues. Their quality far surpassed Topps for the first time. Promptly, Medford’s LCS expanded greatly to sell freshly-ripped wax boxes from which kids hoped to pull star rookies like Ken Griffey Jr. The values placed on rare pulls proved mind-blowing to many. Some Medford parents questioned if collecting crossed into gambling. The LCS remained a vital community hub.

Throughout the 1990s, Medford saw the sport card market truly mature into a speculative business. Supply and demand ruled all. Each year brought new investment grade “rookie cup” parallel sets featuring prospects like Derek Jeter. Some savvy Medford collectors flipped such cards for huge profits as careers took off. Unchecked speculation also led to an industry “Crash” in the late 90s. Many stores closed while the collecting landscape drastically changed.

Today, Medford’s baseball card legacy continues as both a hobby and business. Online sales transformed the landscape, as collectors worldwide can now reach each others “haves” and “wants” with ease. Meanwhile, local card shops still thrive by hosting tournaments, events and sell limited edition releases. And lucky finds of star-studded vintage cards still emerge from Medford’s past, a nostalgic reminder of this Pacific Northwest town’s deep roots in America’s favorite pastime on cardboard. The heritage of baseball cards in Medford seems destined to impact future generations as it has over the past century.

BASEBALL CARDS MEDFORD OREGON

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Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over 130 years, documenting players, teams, and the evolution of America’s pastime. While many associate baseball card collecting with large cities like New York or Boston, the hobby also took root in smaller communities across the country, including Medford, Oregon. From the early 20th century to today, baseball cards have been a part of the local culture and memories of generations of Medford residents.

One of the earliest mentions of baseball cards in Medford comes from a 1907 article in the Medford Mail Tribune. It notes several young boys trading and discussing the recently released “T206” series from American Tobacco. Produced from 1909-1911, the iconic T206 set featured stars like Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson. Despite Medford’s population being just a few thousand at the time, it seems these early mass-produced cards made their way into the hands of local youth.

Through the 1920s and 30s, several Medford drugstores and general stores sold wax packs of cards as a side business. Brands like Goudey and Play Ball were popular, with owners noting the cards often sold out quickly. Many Medford kids recall trading duplicates in school yards or at the local park. While the Great Depression slowed collection for some, the hobby provided an affordable pastime during tough economic times. By World War 2, baseball cards were firmly cemented in Medford’s recreational culture.

The post-war years saw two major developments in Medford’s card collecting community. The first was the opening of Medford’s first dedicated hobby shop, Bob’s Baseball Card Corner, in 1950. Located downtown, it gave collectors a dedicated place to browse, trade, and stay up-to-date on the latest releases. Bob’s helped foster Medford’s small but vibrant card collecting scene for decades. The second big change was the arrival of Topps in the mid-1950s. Their innovative modern design and larger player images were an instant hit with Medford kids.

Through the 1960s, Medford saw card collecting really take off in popularity locally. With over 20,000 residents by 1960, the community had grown significantly. This allowed for the rise of youth baseball card shows and conventions at local schools and churches. It was also common to see kids riding their bikes around town, visiting stores and asking if any new packs had arrived. Medford’s love of the San Francisco Giants also made local players like Willie Mays extremely popular. In the pre-internet era, cards were also a key connection to Major League players for Medford’s young fans.

The 1970s were a golden age for baseball cards in Medford, as the hobby reached new heights nationally. Local shops like Bob’s and Medford Cards & Comics stayed busy keeping up with demand. Series like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss featured colorful new designs and statistical information that resonated with collectors. Expos were also common in Medford during this decade, with hundreds of kids and adults packing gymnasiums and community centers to trade. Regional stars like Rick Monday and Dave Kingman found many admirers in Southern Oregon.

While the 1980s saw some contraction in the paper card industry, Medford’s scene remained robust thanks to the rise of the independent/regional card show circuit. Promoters like Greg Johnson helped bring some of the largest West Coast shows directly to Medford. Events like the annual Medford Sports Collectors Show in the late 80s regularly drew thousands from across Oregon and Northern California. This helped expose the next generation to the enduring appeal of baseball cards. The arrival of the internet in the 90s also connected Medford collectors to the wider hobby.

Today, while the physical card shop presence has declined, Medford’s love of the hobby remains as strong as ever. Cards provide a tangible connection to the history of the game for many in the Rogue Valley. Regional stars like Mark McGwire, Barry Zito, and Brandon Crawford remain popular in local collections. Online groups like Medford Sports Collectors Club have helped maintain a sense of community. And the annual Medford Card & Memorabilia Show, now in its 4th decade, continues to be a popular tradition. For generations of Medford residents, baseball cards have been intertwined with memories of summers past and the simple joy of the national pastime.