Why People Collect Baseball Cards

The Origins of Baseball Card Collecting: From Tobacco Packs to Topps Empire

Baseball card collecting is one of America’s most enduring hobbies. What began as a humble marketing tool has transformed into a multi-billion-dollar industry, capturing the imagination of generations. The history of baseball cards reflects not just the evolution of a hobby, but also the growth of American sports, advertising, and pop culture. From early tobacco cards to the innovation of Topps, and the meticulous work of collectors like Jefferson Burdick, the story of baseball card collecting is as fascinating as the game itself.

The Birth of Baseball Cards: Tobacco and the 19th Century

The earliest known baseball cards date back to the mid-19th century. In the 1860s and 1870s, trade cards were used by businesses to advertise their products. These often included illustrations of baseball players or scenes from games, but they were not standardized collectibles.

Baseball cards as we know them truly began with the tobacco companies in the 1880s. Companies like Allen & Ginter and Goodwin & Company inserted cards into cigarette packs to stiffen the packaging and encourage brand loyalty. These cards featured famous baseball players of the day and were part of larger multi-sport or celebrity sets. The most famous of these is the 1909-1911 T206 set, which includes the legendary Honus Wagner card—often dubbed "the Mona Lisa of baseball cards."

The Pre-War Era and Decline

From the 1910s to the early 1930s, baseball cards began to branch out from tobacco to other industries. Caramel and candy companies, such as the American Caramel Company, produced cards aimed at children. These were often crude in design but played a major role in keeping the hobby alive.

However, the Great Depression severely impacted the production of baseball cards. Economic hardship meant fewer promotional products and less discretionary income for hobbies. By the mid-1930s, Goudey Gum Company briefly revived interest with colorful and innovative card designs featuring legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Despite this resurgence, the baseball card industry once again went dormant during World War II due to paper shortages and economic constraints.

Jefferson Burdick: The Father of Card Collecting

During this period of fluctuating interest, one man laid the foundation for baseball card collecting as a serious hobby: Jefferson Burdick. An eccentric and passionate collector from Syracuse, New York, Burdick dedicated his life to documenting and preserving trading cards.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Burdick began cataloging cards across all genres, culminating in the publication of The American Card Catalog in 1939. This book gave card sets standardized classifications that are still used today, such as T206 for tobacco cards and E92 for caramel issues. Burdick's classification system brought structure to an otherwise chaotic hobby.

Even more impressively, Burdick donated his massive collection—over 300,000 cards—to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they remain preserved in the museum's collection. His tireless work legitimized the hobby and laid the intellectual and historical groundwork for future collectors.

 

 

 

 

The Rise of Topps and the Modern Era

The post-World War II era marked a turning point for baseball cards, primarily due to the emergence of the Topps Chewing Gum Company. Founded in 1938, Topps initially produced gum and candy, but in 1951, they entered the baseball card market with a set of cards that included a game element. In 1952, they revolutionized the industry with their now-iconic full-sized baseball cards.

The 1952 Topps set included a then-rookie Mickey Mantle, whose card has become one of the most coveted and valuable in the hobby. Unlike previous cards, Topps included comprehensive player statistics and biographical information on the back, creating a deeper connection between collectors and players.

Topps quickly became the dominant force in the market, buying out competitors like Bowman in 1956 and securing exclusive licensing deals with Major League Baseball. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Topps held a near-monopoly, producing annual sets that became staples for generations of fans.

The Boom of the 1980s and 1990s

By the 1980s, baseball card collecting experienced an explosive surge in popularity. New companies like Fleer, Donruss, and Upper Deck entered the scene, breaking Topps' monopoly and introducing innovations such as high-quality photography, holograms, and limited editions.

Cards became not just collectibles but investments. People began treating cards as commodities, expecting them to appreciate in value over time. Rookie cards of stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., and Derek Jeter were hoarded and traded like stocks.

However, this boom led to overproduction. The 1990s became infamous for "junk wax" – mass-produced cards that flooded the market and diminished overall value. Still, the hobby persisted, buoyed by nostalgia and the occasional rare find.

The Digital Age and Resurgence

The 2000s saw a decline in casual collecting, but also a consolidation of the market. Topps, now holding exclusive licensing rights for MLB cards again since 2010, maintained its place at the top. They introduced high-end products, autographed cards, and game-used memorabilia pieces that reignited interest.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected resurgence. With more people at home, interest in hobbies soared. Online marketplaces like eBay and new platforms like Whatnot and Alt helped drive sales and auctions. Breaks and live-streamed box openings turned collecting into an interactive experience.

Meanwhile, grading companies like PSA, BGS, and SGC became central to the hobby, assigning condition-based scores that greatly affect a card's value. This authentication process has added legitimacy and helped mitigate counterfeiting.

Conclusion: A Hobby That Reflects America

Baseball card collecting has come a long way from its tobacco-laced roots. It has weathered economic downturns, market oversaturation, and changing consumer habits. Its history is marked by innovation, passion, and a deep love for baseball and Americana.

The legacy of figures like Jefferson Burdick ensures that card collecting will always be more than just a business; it's a preservation of history. Companies like Topps, through decades of adaptation and creativity, have maintained the heartbeat of the hobby.

Whether you're opening a pack of 2024 Topps Chrome or tracking down a century-old T206, every card holds a piece of the story. And that story is far from over.