Baseball cards have a long history in America dating back to the late 1800s. One town that played a unique role in the early development of baseball cards was Plainfield, New Jersey. Located just outside of New York City, Plainfield was home to some of the earliest baseball card companies and helped popularize the collecting of cards during the early 20th century.

One of the first baseball card companies to operate out of Plainfield was the American Tobacco Company. Founded in 1890, American Tobacco began inserting baseball cards into packs of cigarettes and chewing tobacco as a marketing gimmick. Some of the earliest baseball cards ever printed featured stars like Cy Young and Honus Wagner and were produced at American Tobacco’s factory in Plainfield. Having the cards as incentives helped boost tobacco sales, and it also helped introduce the sport of baseball to even more fans across the country.

By the early 1900s, the practice of including baseball cards in tobacco products had taken off. But other smaller companies in Plainfield also got into the baseball card business. In 1909, the Hazeltine Corporation began producing sets of plain white background cards without any tobacco branding. These non-tobacco cards were among the earliest “stand-alone” baseball cards not tied to a specific product. Hazeltine’s cards were also notable for being full color lithographs, representing an upgrade in printing technology from earlier tobacco inserts.

During the 1910s, two other Plainfield companies rose to prominence in the baseball card world. The Exhibit Supply Company and the Pacific Card Company both produced high-quality sets sold directly to collectors rather than distributed through tobacco products. Pacific in particular issued very artistic and detailed cards that are now highly sought after by vintage collectors. They helped establish baseball cards as a genuine collectible item rather than just a tobacco advertisement.

The 1920s saw the continued growth of baseball card companies based in Plainfield. By this era, tobacco inserts had declined as the primary means of distribution. Instead, companies like Goudey, Play Ball, and Diamond Stars focused on producing collector sets. Goudey, headquartered just outside Plainfield, issued some of the most iconic early 20th century cards like the famous 1933 “Goudey” set that featured legendary players. Meanwhile, smaller Plainfield firms like Berg’s Candy kept cranking out cards as premiums and incentives for other products.

Plainfield’s prominence in the baseball card industry reached its peak during the 1930s. In addition to ongoing sets from Goudey and others, two new major companies entered the scene. The National Chicle Company, located in Plainfield, produced cards as part of their gum products. Their 1936 and 1937 issues introduced even more fans to the hobby. Meanwhile, World Wide Gum began operations in Plainfield in 1933. Their cards from the mid-to-late 1930s with vibrant color photos are still highly popular today.

As the 1940s began, World War II shortages of paper and other materials impacted baseball card production. Many companies struggled and had to cut back sets. After the war, the baseball card market underwent changes. Plainfield’s companies tried keeping up by experimenting with new materials like wax packs and different size/shaped cards. The larger sport card manufacturers gradually consolidated in other cities. By the 1950s, only a handful of Plainfield’s once-prolific baseball card firms remained in business.

While Plainfield may no longer be a major hub for the baseball card industry, the town left an indelible mark during the early growth period of collecting cards. Companies based there like American Tobacco, Goudey, National Chicle, and World Wide Gum introduced baseball cards to millions of new fans. They helped establish the look and quality of vintage cards that are so coveted by collectors today. In the process, Plainfield cemented its place as one of the most important locations in the original history of American baseball cards.

The history of baseball cards in Plainfield, Illinois stretches back over 100 years. While baseball cards were first produced nationally in the late 1880s, it took some time for the hobby to really catch on in the small town of Plainfield. By the early 1900s though, kids in Plainfield were starting to collect cards just like kids all across America.

Some of the earliest baseball cards that Plainfield kids collected came from sets produced by company’s like American Tobacco and Candy maker company. These early tobacco and candy cards featured single players on small cardboard pieces. Finding cards of your favorite Chicago Cubs or White Sox players was always exciting. While the images on these early cards were simple, they helped spark kids’ interest in the professional game.

As the popularity of baseball grew in the early 20th century, so too did the baseball card industry. In the 1920s, companies like Goudey Gum and Bowman Gum started producing higher quality multi-player sets inserted in gum and candy packages. Kids in Plainfield eagerly awaited the arrival of the new season’s sets at their local general stores and candy shops. Trading and discussing cards became a daily activity during recess at Plainfield schools.

One of the most prized sets for Plainfield collectors during this time was the 1933 Goudey Gum card set. Featuring intricate color images on thicker stock cardboard, these cards were a step above previous issues. Plainfield kids saved up their pennies and nickels, hoping to find packs with stars like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig or Jimmie Foxx. A mint condition Honus Wagner from this set would be worth a small fortune today.

Through the 1930s and 1940s, the baseball card craze only continued to grow in Plainfield. More elaborate sets with photographs instead of illustrations came out each year from companies like Topps. Young collectors would ride their bicycles to stores all over town, searching for the newest releases. Meanwhile, older collectors organized the first informal baseball card shows in Plainfield, swapping and selling duplicates.

Topps in particular dominated the baseball card market from the late 1940s onward. Their innovative designs and large player selections made their cards hugely popular. In 1952, Topps issued the first modern design red border cards that collectors today strongly associate with the vintage era. Kids in Plainfield poured over these cards, dreaming of one day seeing their heroes play at Wrigley Field or Comiskey Park.

The late 1950s and 1960s represented the golden age of baseball cards in Plainfield. Topps issued larger and more visually exciting cards each year. Meanwhile, the town’s Little League and Babe Ruth teams were thriving. On summer nights, you could find kids all over Plainfield eagerly trading the newest cards in driveway driveway deals under the street lights.

During this time period, two Plainfield natives also made their way to the major leagues – Jim Kaat and Donn Clendenon. Their rookie cards from the 1960s are especially prized by collectors from the area today. Seeing players you grew up with featured in the annual Topps sets was a source of immense local pride.

By the 1970s, the population of Plainfield was booming. This led to an explosion of card shops and hobby stores throughout the town that catered specifically to collectors. Places like Bob’s Baseball Cards and Plainfield Sportscards became community institutions, hosting tournaments, signings and multi-dealer card shows. The rise of special subsets like Topps Traded also added another layer of complexity to the annual hunt for the new season’s cards.

In the 1980s, the arrival of upper deck, score and other companies made for an extremely competitive marketplace. This also meant more options than ever for Plainfield collectors. The first sports cards featuring female athletes also came out around this time from companies like Donruss, reflecting societal changes. Meanwhile, the rise of online collecting forums in the 1990s helped collectors from Plainfield connect with the wider hobby.

Today, baseball card collecting remains a popular pastime for both young and old in Plainfield. While the industry has certainly evolved, core values of reminiscing about the past, appreciating player accomplishments and friendly competition persist. Local card shops continue hosting events that bring collectors together, building community. The rich history of baseball cards in Plainfield shows how the hobby has grown alongside the town for over a century. For many, searching through their childhood collections takes them back to simpler times, remembering summer evenings trading in the glow of the streetlights.