The history of baseball cards in Redding, California stretches back over 100 years. While baseball cards first emerged on a national scale in the late 1880s as promotions for chewing gum and cigarette companies, it took some time for the hobby to catch on in Redding. Some of the earliest baseball cards that made their way to Redding included those issued by cigarette brands like Mayo Cut Plug and Sweet Caporal in the 1890s. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that baseball cards really began circulating in the Redding area.

In the 1910s and 1920s, the most popular baseball cards available in Redding were issued by companies like American Caramel, Indian Head, and T206 White Border tobacco cards. Local general stores and corner markets would stock packs of cards as a way to promote their gum, candy, and tobacco products. Kids in Redding eagerly collected and traded these early cardboard issues, featuring stars from the deadball era like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Grover Cleveland Alexander. Some of the first organized baseball card shows and conventions in Redding date back to the late 1920s as well, showing the growing local interest in accruing complete sets.

The 1930s through the 1950s represented the golden age of baseball cards in Redding. More children were able to participate in the hobby thanks to mass-produced cardboard issues from companies like Goudey, Play Ball, and Topps. Local drugstores and five-and-dime shops stocked wax packs by the case to meet demand. Kids would crowd around local ballfields on weekends, eagerly trading duplicates to finish their sets of stars like Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial. It became a beloved pastime for many Redding-area youth during this era. Some early Redding collectors amassed complete runs of 1930s Goudey Baseball Immortals and 1951 Bowman sets during this time.

In the postwar 1950s, the baseball card market in Redding really took off. Topps secured the exclusive rights to produce modern cardboard and cranked out affordable packs annually. Their innovative design and the photorealism of the images captivated a new generation of Redding collectors. The 1954 and 1955 Topps sets featuring rookie cards of Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax are still considered some of the most coveted in the history of the hobby. Meanwhile, the rise of Little League Baseball and youth leagues in Redding spurred many kids to complete their first sets during this golden era.

The 1960s represented the peak of the baseball card boom in Redding. Topps issued larger and more visually appealing designs each year to meet demand. Their 1966 and 1969 issues are still fan favorites. Meanwhile, the first Redding Card Show was held in 1963, bringing collectors together from across Northern California to buy, sell, and trade. Local card shops like George’s Sportscards opened to cater to the hobby. Some of the first Redding-area collectors to amass complete runs of 1960s Topps, Fleer, and Post sets emerged during this decade as well. Stars of the era like Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, and Tom Seaver were the most popular subjects.

The 1970s marked a transitional period for baseball cards in Redding. The anti-trust lawsuit Topps faced allowed new competitors like Fleer and Donruss into the market in 1975. This created a collector’s paradise of variety for Redding hobbyists but also diluted the market. Meanwhile, the decline of the sport’s popularity in the late 1970s saw interest in cards wane a bit as well. Still, dedicated Redding collectors worked on mastering sets from the new companies and completing runs of 1970s greats like Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt. The first unopened wax box collections also emerged during this decade.

In the 1980s, the baseball card market in Redding rebounded thanks to a new generation of young collectors. Stars of the era like Ryne Sandberg, Kirby Puckett, and Roger Clemens drew kids back to the hobby. Expos, Cubs, and A’s teams of the era were especially popular subjects among Redding collectors. The rise of card shows, conventions, and Redding-area shops like North State Sports Cards fueled interest. The discovery of pristine early 20th century T206 and 1914 Baltimore Terrapins cards in local attics in the mid-1980s also excited the local hobby scene. Values grew rapidly during the boom years of the late 1980s.

The modern baseball card era in Redding arrived in the 1990s and 2000s. Insert cards, parallels, autographs, and memorabilia cards expanded the options for collectors. Redding saw the rise of its first dedicated card shop, Top Shelf Sports Cards, which hosted signings and special releases. The boom in values of rookie cards of Griffey, Piazza, and Jeter drew in new collectors. Meanwhile, the Internet allowed Redding hobbyists to learn, trade, and stay on top of the exploding market. Sites like Beckett helped appraise local collections and fueled the rise of today’s mega-collections in the area.

In the 2010s-present, the baseball card market in Redding has remained strong despite the rise of digital cards. Local shows still draw hundreds while dedicated hobby shops serve collectors. Stars of the present like Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, and Fernando Tatis Jr. are popular subjects. Meanwhile, the rise of online communities has connected Redding collectors with others worldwide. Vintage Redding collections from the early 20th century have realized six-figure prices at national auctions as well. The future remains bright for the rich history of baseball cards in Redding, California.

Baseball cards have been a popular collectible item in America since the late 19th century. Whether it’s chasing rare vintage cards from the early 1900s or collecting the latest modern issues, people across the country enjoy building baseball card collections. The city of Redding, located in northern California, has developed a passionate baseball card community over the years with several local shops catering to collectors.

One of the largest and most well-known baseball card stores in Redding is Bob’s Sportscards, which has been in business for over 30 years. Located downtown, Bob’s Sportscards occupies a large retail space filled from floor to ceiling with boxes upon boxes of cards available for collectors to look through. In addition to carrying the latest releases from Topps, Panini, Leaf and other major manufacturers, Bob’s also has an immense inventory of vintage cards dating back to the earliest tobacco issues from the late 1800s on up through the 1980s.

Bob and his staff have spent decades acquiring large collections from collectors and dealers across the U.S. This has allowed them to amass one of the most extensive vintage selections in Northern California. Bob takes pride in having reasonably priced commons and short prints from old sets mixed in with his higher end rarities, giving collectors of all budgets a chance to build their vintage collections. Along with singles, Bob’s also carries factory sealed wax boxes and cases of vintage sets.

For those chasing the biggest stars and rarest gems from the early days of the hobby, Bob’s vault in the back of the store houses his true crown jewels – complete vintage sets still in their original wrappers, unopened cases of the iconic 1952 Topps set, and single mint condition cards like 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, 1914 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson and 1914 E134 Shoeless Joe Jackson. While priced far above what most collectors could afford, being able to view these masterpieces in person is a thrill for any card fan.

In addition to its impressive retail store, Bob’s Sportscards also runs a large online business with an website featuring thousands of individual vintage cards and complete sets available. They ship worldwide and work hard to accurately grade condition on even their lower-end vintage cards. Bob and his staff are also more than happy to help collectors put together want lists to fill in holes in their collections.

Another Redding baseball card shop with a strong focus on vintage is Dave’s Sportscards, located just a few blocks away from Bob’s. While smaller in size, Dave prides himself on having a very meticulously organized vintage inventory sorted alphabetically by player into long boxes. This makes it easy for collectors to quickly look up specific players they need for their sets.

Like Bob’s, Dave has spent decades acquiring collections to stock his shelves. He’s constantly going through his inventory to break apart incomplete sets someone may have sold him in order to make individual cards available. This benefits collectors trying to piece sets like 1959 Topps, 1970 Topps, or 1981 Donruss back together. Dave also carries a nice selection of vintage team and league sets.

In addition to his extensive singles selection, Dave’s also has unopened wax packs, boxes and factory sets from vintage years like 1952, 1956, 1960 and more. He enjoys helping collectors try to pull the stars and short prints they need from these untouched products. Dave’s friendly, low key approach to the hobby has made his shop a favorite gathering place for the Redding card collecting community for many years.

While Bob’s and Dave’s lead the way for vintage cards in Redding, the city is also home to several other shops with strong baseball card offerings. Sportscards Galore specializes more in modern issues, with a huge stock of newly released cards still in packs, boxes, and cases for collectors to break. Owner Tom enjoys helping organize group breaks that are always a fun social experience.

North State Sportscards in Anderson, just 20 minutes south of Redding, also carries a deep selection of both vintage and modern cards. Owner Jeff is a talented graders and is happy to analyze condition on potential collection purchases. He also runs a well-attended Redding-area card show each spring that draws dealers from all over Northern California.

With its concentration of high-quality, well-stocked card shops, Redding has developed a real hotbed of baseball card collecting activity and community over the decades. Whether browsing vast vintage selections, chasing down modern parallels and autographs, or simply chatting with other fans, the hobby is alive and well in this Northern California city. Collectors near and far appreciate having such great local resources to fuel their baseball card passions.