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USPS MEDIA MAIL BASEBALL CARDS

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USPS Media Mail has long been one of the most popular and cost-effective shipping methods for baseball card collectors and dealers when mailing cards. Media Mail is specifically intended for mailing printed materials like books, catalogs, manuscripts, recorded audio and video, and even trading cards like baseball cards. While slower than other USPS options, Media Mail offers significant postage savings over First Class Mail or Priority Mail when mailing larger quantities of cards.

To qualify for Media Mail rates, the items being shipped must be classified as “printed matter.” This includes printed books, pamphlets, music, photographs, postcards without messages, prints, pictures, charts, plans, maps, documents, and printed educational reference charts. Single loose or mounted photographs not exceeding 1⁄4 inch in thickness also qualify. Baseball cards fall under the “printed matter” category since they are essentially printed photographs of baseball players mounted on cardstock.

Some key things to know about using Media Mail for baseball cards:

Media Mail packages can only contain qualified printed materials. Things like coins, letters, notes, additional packaging materials do not qualify and will result in additional postage due or return of the package if discovered during transit or delivery. Stick only to the printed cards.

The maximum weight limit for a Media Mail package is 70 pounds. Individual cards or a team set could easily fit within this limit. Larger collections may need to be broken into multiple packages to stay under the weight restriction.

Delivery is not guaranteed and can take 7-10 business days on average once accepted by the USPS. Cards sent Media Mail should not be time-sensitive items. Expect longer transit times compared to Priority Mail.

Insurance and delivery confirmation are available for Media Mail, but at a higher price than standard First Class or Priority options. Insuring a valuable collection is recommended.

Media Mail rates are based on weight and zone. For example, a 1 pound package within the continental US costs around $3.50 currently. Rates do not include insurance or delivery confirmation if added.

Cards must be cleanly and securely packaged to prevent damage during transit. Team sets in stiff card savers or toploaders work well. Bundles of loose cards should be placed between thicker cardboard for protection. Overly thick or rigid packages can be subject to additional postage as well.

Contents must remain random and not arranged in any programmed manner. Individual teams, players or years together is fine, but the entire package contents cannot be a coordinated set or appear to follow a “program” that could be considered educational or otherwise. Random assortments are key.

The recipient address is the only writing allowed on a Media Mail package per USPS regulations. No personal notes, return addresses or other text. Address label only.

Media Mail packages are not scanned by the USPS system like other mail classes during transit. Tracking beyond acceptance is not possible without adding delivery confirmation.

For the hobbyist collector or small dealer, Media Mail remains one of the handiest and most cost-effective solutions for mailing baseball cards. Larger shipments in excess of a pound often make better use of flat rate options like Priority Mail which have fixed pricing regardless of weight. But for trading with fellow collectors locally or mailing out individual team sets, bundles or partial collections nationwide, it’s tough to beat Media Mail postage rates when used properly according to USPS guidelines. Just be aware of the potential longer transit windows and lack of tracking beyond acceptance processing. Media Mail excels for routine mailings where delivery speed is less important than postage savings on the whole collection.

Proper packaging is crucial to protecting cards in transit via any mail class. For Media Mail shipments, extra care should be taken to securely box contents without excess rigidity or non-qualifying inclusions that could lead to refusals or additional charges. By sticking to only the printed cards, random assortment of teams/players and plain address label format, baseball card collectors can continue enjoying affordable rates via Media Mail for their common trading and selling activities. Just manage expectations for potentially slower delivery in exchange for meaningful postage discounts versus pricier tracked options. Used correctly, Media Mail remains a favorite cost-cutting tool in the cardboard collector’s shipping toolbox.

BASEBALL CARDS MEDIA PA

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Baseball cards have long held a special place in American popular culture and collectibles. Originally included as an advertisement or promotional item inside tobacco products in the late 19th century, baseball cards evolved to become coveted pieces of memorabilia that capture moments in time and allow fans to collect pieces of their favorite players and teams. In Pennsylvania especially, the baseball card industry took root and still has a strong presence today.

One of the first companies to mass produce baseball cards was the American Tobacco Company, which inserted cards into cigarettes and chewing tobacco starting in 1886. Their production of cards featuring major league players helped popularize the new national pastime of baseball across the country. In the early 1900s, other tobacco brands like Fatima, Sweet Caporal, and Piedmont also released sets of cards. These original tobacco era cards from the late 1800s through the World War I era are among the most valuable collectibles today.

As concerns about marketing to children grew in the 1950s, tobacco companies were restricted from including baseball cards in their products. The Topps Chewing Gum Company of Brooklyn, New York had been packaging baseball cards with gum since 1951 and was well positioned to fill the void. Topps became the dominant force in baseball cards for much of the post-war era and beyond. Their iconic design aesthetic and comprehensive annual sets helped propel the hobby into a golden age of collecting during the 1960s.

While Topps produced their cards in New York, the company established significant operations in Pennsylvania that helped drive the local baseball card industry. In 1960, Topps opened a large production and distribution facility in Duryea, Pennsylvania near Scranton. Here they oversaw all aspects of baseball card manufacturing from design, printing, and cutting to packaging and shipping. The Duryea plant employed hundreds of workers and was a major economic boost for the region. It also allowed Pennsylvania residents easier access to the latest baseball card releases and memorabilia.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Topps reigned supreme but also faced new competition. In 1971, the Fleer Company began producing a competitive baseball card set for the first time since 1911. This introduced new card designs, photo variations, and parallel sets that increased collecting options for fans. In 1981, Donruss entered the market with glossy photography and oddball promotions. These rival brands were licensed and printed by the Philadelphia firm Studio Card Company, growing the city’s stake in the baseball card industry.

While production shifted overseas in later decades, Pennsylvania maintained a strong memorabilia retail presence. Card shops, memorabilia stores, and sports card shows proliferated across the state. Major cities like Philadelphia and smaller towns alike all hosted vibrant baseball card collecting communities. Two of the largest and most prestigious national sports card and memorabilia conventions also found homes in Pennsylvania – the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City and the Pittsburgh Sports Card and Memorabilia Show. These multi-day extravaganzas drew tens of thousands of attendees annually.

The rise of internet auction sites in the 1990s like eBay further connected collectors around the world and increased demand for vintage cards, autographs, and one-of-a-kind pieces of baseball history originating from Pennsylvania. Stores like Steiner Sports Memorabilia in Allentown and Lelands.com in Wynnewood helped authenticate and broker six and seven figure baseball card and autograph transactions. In the 2000s and 2010s, card shows and memorabilia signings continued across the state from Wilkes-Barre to Pittsburgh. New inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame would routinely make Pennsylvania appearances.

While the baseball card industry today is a fraction of its peak physical size due to the internet, mobile apps, and online collecting, its roots and rich history remain intertwined with Pennsylvania. The state played a pivotal role from the manufacturing and distribution heyday of Topps to the thriving memorabilia retail and collecting communities that still exist statewide. Original tobacco era cards to modern rookies, rare autographs to complete vintage sets, Pennsylvania continues connecting fans to their favorite ballplayers through the universal language of baseball cards. Few hobbies are as nostalgic or proudly displayed as one’s baseball card collection, keeping the tradition alive across generations of Pennsylvania collectors.