What year were the first baseball cards?

Baseball cards have been a popular part of the sports memorabilia industry since the late 19th century. Baseball cards are a unique medium of collecting and displaying information about a player or a team. The earliest baseball cards were printed in the 1880s, but the first complete set of cards was produced in 1887. This set is known as the N162 Goodwin Champions and was created by the Goodwin & Co. tobacco company.

History of Baseball Cards

• 1850s

  The first baseball cards were produced in the 1850s by the New York City lithographer, Nathaniel Currier. The cards featured scenes from popular baseball games, as well as images of individual players. These cards were given away as promotional items and were not intended to be collected.

• 1860s and 1870s

  In the 1860s and 1870s, baseball cards were printed by the various regional tobacco companies. The cards included a variety of different images, such as a player’s portrait, or a team logo. The cards were inserted into packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products as a promotional item.

• 1880s

  In the 1880s, the first complete sets of baseball cards were issued by the tobacco companies. These sets were typically small, consisting of only a handful of cards.

• 1887 N162 Goodwin Champions

  The first full-size set of baseball cards was the 1887 N162 Goodwin Champions set. This set was produced by the Goodwin & Co. tobacco company and featured 175 different players. The cards featured a variety of information about the players, such as their stats and biographical information.

• 1888 N172 Old Judge

  The next major set of baseball cards was the 1888 N172 Old Judge set. This set was issued by the Old Judge Cigarettes Company and featured over 500 different players. The cards featured a variety of information about the players, such as their stats and biographical information.

• 1890s

  In the 1890s, the tobacco companies continued to produce sets of baseball cards. These sets typically featured larger numbers of players, and more detailed information about each player. The most popular set of this era was the Mayo Cut Plug set, which featured over 1,000 different players.

• 1900s

  In the early 1900s, the tobacco companies began to phase out the production of baseball cards. This was due to a variety of reasons, such as increased competition and the rise of other forms of entertainment. Despite this, baseball cards continued to be produced by other companies, such as the American Caramel Company.

• Modern Baseball Cards

  Modern baseball cards are much more complex than their 19th century counterparts. The cards typically feature a variety of different images, as well as detailed information about the players. The cards are typically collected by baseball fans, and are often traded and sold for a variety of reasons.

Conclusion

The first baseball cards were issued in the 1850s, but the first complete set of cards was produced in 1887. This set was known as the N162 Goodwin Champions and was created by the Goodwin & Co. tobacco company. Since then, baseball cards have become a popular part of the sports memorabilia industry, with modern cards featuring a variety of images and detailed information about the players.

References

• Gutman, Bill. “What Year Were the First Baseball Cards?” Mental Floss. May 23, 2011. Accessed April 23, 2021.
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• “Baseball Cards: History.” Baseball Almanac. Accessed April 23, 2021.
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• “History of Baseball Cards.” Baseball Card Exchange. Accessed April 23, 2021.
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• “History of Baseball Cards.” Trading Card Database. Accessed April 23, 2021.
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