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History Of Baseball Cards
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Published: August 17, 2006
Baseball Cards
One need not be an enthusiast of a particular sport to understand the value of collecting sports artifacts—especially baseball cards. Simply say "baseball cards" to anyone, and that person automatically understands the history, value, and investment of these picturesque little slips of sports heaven.
Typically printed on 2 -1/2 by 3-1/2 inches of thick card paper, baseball cards come in a variety of styles.
Usually the player's face is captured in the center, surrounded by border(s) - portrait style.
The oldest cards were printed in black-and-white, or sepia - for extra flair, but, shortly after, they were reproduced in color from photographs, to heighten appeal and interest.
However, many average people rarely know about the inception and rich legacy of baseball cards. Baseball cards have a beginning that is as uniquely American as soda pop, the automobile or jazz music. The inception was purely commercial.
Acquiring the moniker "America's past-time," baseball enjoyed an increasing popularity among people of a burgeoning industrial power. Baseball's popularity was such that, by the mid-nineteenth century, tobacco companies were producing baseball cards to put inside their tobacco boxes. This collectible form of marketing struck an affinity with a vast number of Americans (particularly men) who smoked. Two prolific giants - tobacco manufacturers and baseball players - merged to appeal to the smoking/snuff-dipping sportsman. Baseball players on tobacco cards with company logos on the back can be looked at as the first athlete-endorsed transactions.
Although baseball card collecting begins near the mid-1870's, there is much discrepancy as to who first popularized—rather capitalized upon—them. According to sports authorities Frank Ceresi and Carol McMains, formerly of the National Sports Gallery, the Goodwin & Company of New York first produced a sepia-colored series called "Old Judge cards" (Baseball-almanac.com). However, some cite Peck and Snyder, sports and recreational entrepreneurs, as the initial creators of baseball cards (Wikipedia.com). How baseball cards began is still hotly debated today and simply depends upon historical perspective.
By the 1910's, baseball card collecting had gained great momentum. In fact, shortly before, around 1909, the American Tobacco Company of America may have enjoyed the most success. With its T-206 white border series and latter T-205 gold border series, baseball's greats (Cy Young, Ty Cobb, and Honus Wagner, to name a few) were immortalized in card-form for all to enjoy.
But this success was not to be enjoyed for long. The First World War and the Black Sox scandal briefly put baseball out of commission. Baseball card production slowed down considerably. It would take a newfound interest and industry promotion to put the shine back on the diamond and baseball and baseball cards back in the public's hearts and hands.
In 1933, confectionery companies began acquiring licenses to commission players for their brand of baseball cards. The new and exciting baseball cards were more colorful and much thinner than their tobacco-produced predecessors - not to mention that they donned printed player stats on the back, instead of tobacco company trademarks. Goudey, the chewing gum manufacturer, developed a simple numbering system that has been used in every other subsequent series. Its rival, Bowman Gum, enjoyed much success also, until up-and-coming Topps edged it out of the market and reigned for twenty years.
Later, food companies developed small series of baseball cards but could not compete with notariety of Topps baseball cards. Unfortunately, Topps was not able to continually keep its lion's share of the market. By the early 1980's, duplicate companies began to rival Topps, splitting the baseball card market.
Despite market sharing, Topps remained a viable baseball card producer. To this present date, Topps and Upper Deck emerged as dominant forces in the baseball card arena. Much like a cross-town rivalry, Topps and Upper Deck survived and thrived, through competition. Both are truly a remarkable resemblance of the sport itself.
One need not be an enthusiast of a particular sport to understand the value of collecting sports artifacts—especially baseball cards. Simply say "baseball cards" to anyone, and that person automatically understands the history, value, and investment of these picturesque little slips of sports heaven.
Typically printed on 2 -1/2 by 3-1/2 inches of thick card paper, baseball cards come in a variety of styles.
Usually the player's face is captured in the center, surrounded by border(s) - portrait style.
Related Articles
However, many average people rarely know about the inception and rich legacy of baseball cards. Baseball cards have a beginning that is as uniquely American as soda pop, the automobile or jazz music. The inception was purely commercial.
Acquiring the moniker "America's past-time," baseball enjoyed an increasing popularity among people of a burgeoning industrial power. Baseball's popularity was such that, by the mid-nineteenth century, tobacco companies were producing baseball cards to put inside their tobacco boxes. This collectible form of marketing struck an affinity with a vast number of Americans (particularly men) who smoked. Two prolific giants - tobacco manufacturers and baseball players - merged to appeal to the smoking/snuff-dipping sportsman. Baseball players on tobacco cards with company logos on the back can be looked at as the first athlete-endorsed transactions.
Although baseball card collecting begins near the mid-1870's, there is much discrepancy as to who first popularized—rather capitalized upon—them. According to sports authorities Frank Ceresi and Carol McMains, formerly of the National Sports Gallery, the Goodwin & Company of New York first produced a sepia-colored series called "Old Judge cards" (Baseball-almanac.com). However, some cite Peck and Snyder, sports and recreational entrepreneurs, as the initial creators of baseball cards (Wikipedia.com). How baseball cards began is still hotly debated today and simply depends upon historical perspective.
By the 1910's, baseball card collecting had gained great momentum. In fact, shortly before, around 1909, the American Tobacco Company of America may have enjoyed the most success. With its T-206 white border series and latter T-205 gold border series, baseball's greats (Cy Young, Ty Cobb, and Honus Wagner, to name a few) were immortalized in card-form for all to enjoy.
But this success was not to be enjoyed for long. The First World War and the Black Sox scandal briefly put baseball out of commission. Baseball card production slowed down considerably. It would take a newfound interest and industry promotion to put the shine back on the diamond and baseball and baseball cards back in the public's hearts and hands.
In 1933, confectionery companies began acquiring licenses to commission players for their brand of baseball cards. The new and exciting baseball cards were more colorful and much thinner than their tobacco-produced predecessors - not to mention that they donned printed player stats on the back, instead of tobacco company trademarks. Goudey, the chewing gum manufacturer, developed a simple numbering system that has been used in every other subsequent series. Its rival, Bowman Gum, enjoyed much success also, until up-and-coming Topps edged it out of the market and reigned for twenty years.
Later, food companies developed small series of baseball cards but could not compete with notariety of Topps baseball cards. Unfortunately, Topps was not able to continually keep its lion's share of the market. By the early 1980's, duplicate companies began to rival Topps, splitting the baseball card market.
Despite market sharing, Topps remained a viable baseball card producer. To this present date, Topps and Upper Deck emerged as dominant forces in the baseball card arena. Much like a cross-town rivalry, Topps and Upper Deck survived and thrived, through competition. Both are truly a remarkable resemblance of the sport itself.
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