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BASEBALL CARDS BIKE SPOKES

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Baseball cards have long been a favorite collectible for many Americans young and old. Few people realize that baseball cards had another popular use in the mid-20th century – as decorations in bicycle spokes. From the 1950s through the 1970s, it was extremely common for kids to carefully slide their prized baseball cards into the spokes of their bicycles to create a rhythmic flapping sound as they rode. This novel use of cards in spokes became a cultural phenomenon and rite of passage for many children of the era.

The exact origins of this baseball card bicycle spoke trend are unknown, but it likely began as a creative way for kids to both personalize their bikes and show off their card collections at the same time. Bicycles were enormously popular with children in the post-World War 2 era as a main mode of transportation and recreation. At the same time, the baseball card collecting hobby was booming thanks to the rise of bubble gum companies like Topps that included cards as incentives. It was a natural progression for kids with both a bike and a stack of cards to experiment sliding them into the spokes.

Word quickly spread among friends and neighborhoods about the fun sound effect cards made in the spokes. Soon it became a widespread fad, with children carefully choosing prized cards of their favorite players to display on their bikes. The cards had to be inserted just right so they would flap noisily with each wheel rotation without flying out. Finding the perfect combination of card and spoke position became an art form. Kids would ride past each other showing off their customized bikes, often stopping to admire one another’s card selections and wheel configurations.

Parents initially had mixed reactions to the baseball card spoke trend. Some disapproved of their children potentially damaging valuable collectibles in the wheels. Others saw it as a harmless childhood amusement. Over time most accepted it as a nostalgic rite of passage, recalling their own days decorating bicycle wheels. Card companies also embraced the secondary usage, seeing it as free advertising for their products. By the late 1950s, it had become an iconic symbol of Americana and childhood summers.

In addition to personal expression, there were competitive aspects to customized baseball card bicycle wheels. Kids would challenge each other to races where the winner took a card from the loser’s spokes. Sometimes informal tournaments were held with prizes for the loudest, longest-lasting, or most creative card designs. Magazines of the era even published diagrams showing recommended wheel positions for specific cards and players. The hobby required patience, dexterity, and luck to avoid damaged cards.

At its peak popularity in the 1960s, nearly every neighborhood kid with a bike seemed to have baseball cards fluttering in the spokes. Many boomers recall the unique rhythmic sound as a nostalgic soundtrack of summer. The cards worn from weather and friction took on a tattered, well-loved appearance that added to their charm. Some cards became so fragile they disintegrated in the wheels, to be carefully replaced. Others remained intact through countless miles of riding.

By the 1970s, the baseball card bicycle spoke trend began to fade as kids discovered new hobbies and pastimes. The cards were a distinctly mid-century Americana phenomenon, tied closely to a postwar period when baseball reigned supreme and bicycles represented childhood freedom. Many early collectors now look back with nostalgia at their first childhood cards, remembering them not just as items to be treasured and traded, but as colorful decorations that once fluttered noisily in bicycle spokes across the country. Despite being an ephemeral custom, it remains an iconic symbol of the era when baseball cards were as much a part of summer fun as the bikes kids rode.

The novel idea of inserting baseball cards into bicycle spokes became a cultural phenomenon and rite of passage for many American children from the 1950s through the early 1970s. It allowed kids to personalize their bikes while showing off prized card collections. More than just a creative hobby, it fostered friendly competition and community among neighborhood children. While long faded, the image of colorful cards flapping rhythmically in the wheels remains an indelible symbol of mid-century Americana and childhood summers past.

A LOT HARDER TO PUT BASEBALL CARDS IN THE SPOKES

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Putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes as a kid seems to be a right of passage for many who grew up in the 1970s and 80s. It was a novelty stunt that kids would dare each other to try due to the loud noise and vibration it created. Upon closer examination, wedging baseball cards into moving bicycle spokes was actually a lot harder to do than it appeared and wasn’t without risks.

The first challenge was finding the right type of baseball card to use. Ideally it needed to be thin and somewhat flexible to allow it to be squeezed into the small gap between the spokes as the wheel spun. Thicker cardboard cards from newer sets weren’t the best choice as they were more likely to jam and cause the bike to wobble. Vintage cards from the 50s and 60s tended to work better as they had a thinner card stock that could bend without cracking. Actually locating older worn cards was difficult for many kids, so newer cards often had to do.

Next was the tricky task of timing the insertion of the card. Most bikes spun their wheels at a fairly high RPM, so the window to slip a card in was small. You had to wait for just the right moment when three spokes were spread slightly apart before the next one was approaching. Requiring good hand-eye coordination and steady nerves, it took practice to gauge that split second timing. Oftentimes kids would botch it and end up pinching their fingers instead of sliding the card smoothly between the spokes. More than one kid can attest to yelping in pain after a mishap.

Assuming you navigated the insertion without hurting yourself, the real test was if the card could stay wedged in place as the wheel continued spinning. Centrifugal force and vibration worked against keeping it lodged without immediately being flung out. Cards needed to be positioned just right, parallel to the spokes, to ride the “spoke surfer” wave. Even a slight angle could cause it to be ejected within seconds. When a card did manage to stay for more than a few rotations, it was quite an achievement.

Of course, the reward for a job well done was the incredible racket produced. A single card rattling around the circumference created an impressive buzz and rattle that could be heard from a block away. Adding a second or third card amplified the noise to a glorious crescendo that was sure to draw attention. The vibrating handlebars also provided an extra tactile sensation that completed the experience. It was definitely a thrill to achieve such a loud commotion from such a simple stunt.

There were some very real risks to putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes that kids didn’t always consider. For one, it significantly affected the rideability of the bike. All that vibration and noise meant the rider had little control over steering or braking. Even at relatively slow speeds, it only took a small bump or wobble to potentially cause a crash. With impaired control and reduced reaction time, injuries were far more likely.

Over time the constant friction could damage both the card and the bicycle. The thin cardboard risked tearing or shredding, leaving pieces embedded that were difficult to remove. Grit and debris trapped between card and spoke acted like sandpaper, wearing down the surfaces. Prematurely worn wheel bearings and brake pads were another expense parents had to deal with. Bikes were not meant to function with foreign materials jammed into such a critical moving part.

Perhaps the biggest danger was how the makeshift noisemaker could distract other riders, drivers, and pedestrians. The screeching and clattering drew attention away from watching the road or path. This was a major safety issue, as it could cause collisions. With impaired hearing while also focusing on the source of the racket, it was all too easy to overlook oncoming traffic until it was too late. Considering the noise carried for blocks, the risk wasn’t just to the card-wielding rider. Anyone in the area was potentially put in harm’s way.

So while wedging baseball cards into bicycle spokes provided a thrill for kids and a good scare for others, the activity was actually quite difficult and risky when examined more closely. It’s easy to understand the appeal as a young daredevil, but the potential consequences of impaired control, equipment damage, and distracted transportation far outweighed any momentary excitement. It’s no wonder parents and community leaders discouraged the practice. In retrospect, kids were taking a bigger chance than they realized at the time for just a brief burst of noise and vibration. Perhaps it’s best their stunts remain a nostalgic memory rather than a continued real-world endeavor.

PUTTING BASEBALL CARDS IN SPOKES

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Putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes is a classic childhood prank and pastime that has been enjoyed by generations of young boys. While often seen as just silly fun, this old tradition is actually rooted in both practical bike maintenance techniques as well as reflective of broader societal trends from the mid-20th century.

The genesis of this practice can likely be traced back to the post-World War II era when baseball card collecting and youth bicycling were both experiencing tremendous growth in popularity across America. During this time, production of baseball cards skyrocketed as did the emerging sport of bicycle motocross (or BMX) racing which emphasize flashy, attention-grabbing tricks and stunts on custom chopper-style bikes.

It was within this context that experimentally minded youngsters began wedging souvenir baseball cards into the spokes of their wheels to create eye-catching visual effects and bizarre sounds while riding. The flapping and slapping of the cards against the metal produced a distinctive noise that undoubtedly caught the attention of peers. For children in predominantly car-centric suburbs, decorating bikes in novel ways also helped assert individual expression and rebellion against the conformist rules of typically conservative postwar communities.

But beyond just being a source of amusement, inserting baseball cards or other thin materials like newspaper into bicycle spokes also served practical bicycle maintenance purposes. As the paper wedged into the laced wheel caused intermittent vibrations and friction within the metal components, it helped identify needs for timely tightening or readjustments. Loose or improperly tensioned spokes could potentially lead to dangerous wobbling or wheel failures at high speeds. So engaging in this supposedly frivolous hobby actually reinforced valuable bike safety skills.

As the postwar era gave way to the counterculture revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, putting cards in one’s spokes took on added symbolic significance. For rebellious teenagers, personalizing their rides through edgy customization projects represented a statement of nonconformity and independence from parental authority figures. Altering mass produced bikes into loud, attention-grabbing machines paralleled the rise of protopunk aesthetics emphasizing crude individualism over mainstream tastes. In essence, decorating bicycles in unconventional ways mirrored broader adolescent desires to challenge social conventions through bold self-expression.

The ubiquitous popularity of baseball cards themselves also helped propel this trend. With millions being inserted into gum, cereal boxes and candy across America each year, discarding or modifying cards was virtually inconsequential. Their flimsy paper stock and small size made them ideal for fitting into narrow confines between fast spinning metal spokes. And because baseball represented hallowed tradition within family-oriented postwar suburbia, sabotaging cards almost carried an added rebellious thrill.

By the 1970s and 80s, modifying bicycles through the addition of neon paint jobs, flashy accessories and baseball cards in spokes had fully evolved into an integral part of BMX culture. Professional competitions emphasized fluid riding skills as well as spectacular stuntwork performed on personalized choppers. Corporate sponsorships from bike and sports brands further fueled interest in radical customizing projects amongst keen young fans. Putting cards in one’s wheels remained a rite of passage that helped cement membership within tight-knit neighborhood bike gangs.

The dangers of this activity should not be understated. Loose objects wedged near rapidly spinning bicycle components present clear safety hazards. Flying baseball cards, loosened spokes or unexpected wobbles all risked throwing young riders and distracting motorists. Some communities and schools eventually banned the practice outright due to liability concerns over potential injuries. And with greater urbanization reducing opportunities for unfettered street riding by the 1990s, engaging in stunt-focused hobbies like BMX also declined in mainstream popularity.

While unlikely to ever fully disappear, inserting baseball cards into bicycle wheels has thankfully diminished significantly as a widespread youth pastime over the decades. Yet nostalgically, the simple novelty and tactile joys of modifying one’s ride through this peculiar modification still captures the imaginations of millions who came of age during bikes’ golden era. In retrospect, it served as a harmless outlet for adolescent experimentation, skill-building and rebellion against conformity – just as the postwar era intended. Ultimately, putting baseball cards in your spokes represented both a practical approach to vehicle maintenance and a symbolic gesture of individual self-expression within rigidly-structured communities.