Baseball cards are small cardboard pictures with a player’s stats, originating in the 1800s. They were first produced as trade cards and later by tobacco companies. Topps was the leading manufacturer until competitors emerged in the 1980s. Today, baseball cards are still produced by various companies and their value depends on rarity, player stats, press, age, condition, and completeness.
A baseball card is a wallet-sized cardboard picture with a picture of a baseball player and stats about his play. The term “baseball card” can sometimes be used to refer to a pocket image for any subject. Baseball cards first originated in the 1800s in the United States and have enjoyed popularity over the centuries since.
The first baseball card was seen in the 1800s, around the time of the Civil War. Baseball was becoming popular at the same time photography was first gathering public interest. Fans enjoyed the baseball-themed images on the card stock. The large versions were called “closet cards” and were meant to be displayed on or near a closet. The “Carte de vistas” were pocket versions of these cards.
The first commercial cards were produced by baseball equipment manufacturer Peck and Snyder who used them as advertisements for their products. They were called “trade cards” as they advertised a particular trade. They were distributed on the street just like a paper leaflet.
During the latter part of the 1800s, commercial papers increased in popularity. There were trade cards available not just for baseball, but for a variety of subjects. The baseball card found a solid home with tobacco manufacturers during this time period. Cards with pictures of baseball players or team photos have been inserted into packets of cigarettes and tobacco products to try to boost sales and alienate customers from competitors.
Cabinet papers also saw a comeback during this period. They were used as a form of reward for loyal customers. Tobacco users could collect rewards on redeemable packs for large versions of their favorite cards.
The cards grew significantly in popularity during the 1909-1915 period, which is often called the golden age of the baseball card. There were several tobacco companies competing for customers at this time producing a wide range of papers which in many ways were works of art. They are some of the most highly regarded cards of all time, with some card values going as high as $500,000 US Dollars (USD) per card.
Chewing gum became the next big outlet for baseball trading cards. Goudey Gum of Boston was one of the first, followed by the National Chicle Company and the Delong Gum Company. Baseball cards took a brief lull in popularity during World War II as paper became more scarce.
After World War II, Bowman Gum began manufacturing baseball cards, followed by Topps Chewing Gum. The two competed for some time until Topps Inc. eventually bought Bowman. The first set of cards produced by Topps in 1952 is still one of the most sought after collectible card sets. Topps was for some time the leading manufacturer of baseball cards.
In 1980, the courts ruled that Topps could no longer have a monopoly on baseball cards, and competitors Fleer and Dunruss were drawn into the fray. In the late 1990s, there were numerous companies selling cards, each with different branding options. In the early 21st century, baseball cards were still being produced with competing companies such as Topps Company, Inc and Upper Deck Company leading the pack. Values are based on rarity, player stats, press, age, condition, and completeness in the case of full sets.
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