Category: Baseball

Sports cards have come a long way to where they are today, with collectors getting ready to buy into digital cards. Some of the oldest sports cards go back even further than you might think, and their origins are as surprising as it gets. Whether you’ve been buying for years or you’re an aspiring collector, you’ll want to know just how deep this rabbit hole goes.

However, before we go back in time, we need to address what the term “first sports cards” means here. There are two ways to interpret this:

• The first single card (as part of a commemorative release, for example)
• The first cards from a dedicated set/hobby box

You’ll want to know about both if you love sports cards as much as we do. We’ll cover each of these “firsts” wherever relevant.

The 1st Baseball Card Ever Made

Baseball cards owe their origin to an entirely different industry: tobacco. This is part of a trend you’ll see as we move into other sports in this guide.

The very first card can be traced back to 1887 with a tobacco company named ‘Allen & Ginter.’ The company saw an opportunity to tie its ‘Old Judge’ chewing tobacco to baseball at a time when the sport was quickly gaining an enormous amount of popularity.

• Cigarette Cards: Some of the oldest sports cards were released as singles, each included in a cigarette pack. These packs would usually be stuffed with a ‘cigarette card,’ giving the pack its signature stiffness. The 1st baseball card ever made was printed on the back of one of these cigarette cards.
• Starting a Legacy: There is some dispute about which player card was the first to be printed. The initial run included some of the most popular players at the time, like Cap Anson and John Montgomery Ward. What’s really important here is just how quickly the first sports cards ever made took on a life of their own.

Baseball fans became avid collectors, eagerly seeking out their favorite players’ cards and creating a market for these unique pieces of history. These baseball cards, with their black-and-white portraits and simple designs, provided a rare window into the early days of professional baseball.

The 1st baseball cards ever made kicked off a country-wide craze for the collectibles. Other tobacco companies like T206 quickly jumped on the bandwagon and printed their own lineup. You might be surprised to hear that Bowman was also a part of this rush, creating their now-iconic line of bubble gum baseball cards back in the 1930s.

The Topps era wouldn’t begin until the 1950s when Topps acquired Bowman. This acquisition essentially gave Topps a monopoly over the market, and the oldest Topps sports cards were such hits that they’re still in demand today.

The Oldest Football Card

Interestingly, the 1st baseball card ever made and the first football card both originated from tobacco companies. The first football card can be traced back to 1894 with Mayo Cut Plug’s original Footballers set. This is the first dedicated football card box ever made, with Mayo Tobacco Works selling it alongside cans of plug tobacco.

The idea of football hobby boxes starting out as tobacco collectibles can be confusing, considering the current state of the NFL and its global appeal. Football might have mass appeal today, but it was largely the domain of upper-class Ivy League players in the 19th century. This is why the first Mayo set focuses on Harvard players like John Dunlop or Yale’s Hinkey.

Just like the 1st baseball card ever made, this football set is exceedingly rare today and nearly impossible to acquire unless an auction is held. As one of the first sports cards ever made, only six of the John Dunlop cards remain with a grade of VG-EX or higher. Even a card with a ‘Poor’ grading can sell for as much as $10,000 today.

The Oldest Soccer Sports Card

The first soccer cards emerged in the late 19th century as a marketing ploy by—you guessed it—tobacco companies. W.D. & H. Wills, a prominent tobacco manufacturer, introduced the first soccer cards in 1887, distributing them within cigarette packs. These early cards served as a means to entice consumers and solidify brand loyalty, just like the 1st baseball cards ever made.

The first dedicated set of soccer cards followed shortly after in 1902 with Wills’ 66-card arrangement. These soccer card boxes were instant hits with the average consumer, but the advent of both World Wars halted their growth. It wasn’t until the late 1940s that we saw a shift in the industry.

• The Rise of Panini: Panini cards hit the scene in the 1960s, inspired by the previous decade’s Bicicleta cards. These newer cards struck a chord with the public not just in the US but worldwide. The shift from black-and-white photography to vibrant designs was a stark contrast to the 1st baseball cards ever made, and Panini became synonymous with soccer cards.
• Post-90s: Panini’s domination continued unchallenged until the mid-90s when Topps eventually rose to the challenge with its Merlin acquisition in the EU. Both companies have been locked in fierce competition since then, but the scale might be tipping towards Topps as the future of the Panini license remains uncertain.

Collect The Old and The New

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Sports cards trace their humble origins to the 19th-century, but the 1950s are where things really kicked off. Many collectors consider the 1950s the ‘Golden Era’ for sports cards, a period where top brands like Topps and Bowman created iconic designs that would persist until at least the ‘80s. Find out which 1950s baseball cards are worth the money with this Giant Sports Cards guide.

Pricing The ‘50s

Printing issues tend to become a concern as we evaluate vintage sports cards, and the ’50s were no different. In fact, due to their age, it can often be an achievement to find a PSA 6, let alone a PSA 9. Some of the most valuable 1950s baseball cards are mere PSA 6/7s, since finding cards in better condition just isn’t feasible. We’ll see this right away with Mickey Mantle’s cards.

Printing aside, you’ll notice that card prices for the most popular ‘50s cards are drastically higher than baseball cards from the ‘60s. Many of the sport’s greatest legends, like Mantle, Mays, and Koufax, started their careers in this era, and their legacies have been irresistible for collectors. Let’s look at some of the biggest baseball cards of the decade.

The Most Valuable Baseball Cards From The 1950s

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311

This is the holy grail, the card you probably heard about even before buying your first baseball card box. This might not be Mantle’s rookie card, but it is his most valuable. In fact, collectors consider this to be the most valuable postwar card, period.

Why? Sheer scarcity. Topps 1952 high numbers didn’t sell well upon release, prompting a Topps executive to dump unsold crates of the series into the ocean. As a result, even a PSA 4 version of this 1950s baseball card is worth money, priced at $106,669. At the other end of the spectrum, an SGC 9.5 sold for $12.6 million in 2022.

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253

It might not be the most valuable 1950s baseball card, but Mick’s rookie card is no slouch either. This rookie card is the go-to for fans of the seven-time World Series champion, featuring a timeless horizontal design that looks unique even today. As Mantle’s only true rookie card, it’ll always be in hot demand.

A PSA 9 version of this card is currently priced at $3,192,000. If you’re willing to go down to a PSA 4, you can pick it up for $15,099. Despite not being as scarce as the newer #311, this rookie card’s value comes from its sentimentality and symbolizes Mantle’s extraordinary career.

1952 Topps Willie Mays #218

This Topps sports card closely beats out Mays’ Bowman 1951 release for a spot in our ranking of the most valuable 1950s baseball cards. The 12-time Gold Glove winner entered the Hall of Fame during his time with the NY and SF Giants, and his extensive list of achievements makes this the card to get for fans of the team.

The #218 card was particularly prone to centering issues, which is why only nine PSA 9 versions of this card exist today. These PSA 9s are priced at $245,000, while PSA 6s go for $15,034.

1955 Topps Roberto Clemente #164

Roberto Clemente’s story is one of the best in baseball, and his sports trading card reflects that legacy. His career with the Pirates won him 12 consecutive Gold Gloves and a .317 overall batting average. If you’re a Pirates fan eager to own a piece of an all-time icon, this 1950s baseball card is worth the money, even at a PSA 7.

His #164 rookie card is believed to be one of Topps’ best designs, with a clean horizontal design and a calming light green background. Collectors can pick up Clemente’s most valuable 1950s baseball card for $960,000 (PSA 9). Prices for subsequent grades are drastically lower, with PSA 8 and 7 priced at $66,598 and $13,161 respectively.

1954 Topps Henry Aaron #128

Hammerin’ Hank’s rookie card is worth the investment purely based on his athletic achievements alone. Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record gracefully, a feat most fans at the time would’ve considered impossible.

As one of the most valuable 1950s baseball cards of all time, this rookie card is priced at $600,000 (PSA 9). The #128 is immediately recognizable with its distinct orange background (notorious for its print defects) and green reverse. If you can find an unchipped version of this card today, it will almost certainly be worth something.

1955 Topps Sandy Koufax #123

This Dodgers baseball card might not be as challenging to locate as, say, a Roberto Clemente, but it’s still in a league of its own. Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young awards, and he was a player to watch even from his earliest games at the University of Cincinnati as a 19-year-old.

As one of the most valuable 1950s baseball cards on our list, a PSA 9 #123 is priced at $360,000 with a population of just 25. While you won’t find any original hobby cases lying around at an affordable price, you can pick up a PSA 5 at a much more affordable $1,875.

1952 Topps Ed Mathews #407

Koufax and Mathews are neck and neck if we’re comparing 1950s baseball cards worth the money. Mathews’ rookie card was part of the famous premier postwar set that also featured the 1952 Mantle, and it’s the second most valuable card of that set.

More importantly, #407 was the last card of that Topps set, which made it extra prone to damage during handling. The surviving pieces are some of the most valuable 1950s baseball cards today. A PSA 9 is priced at $250,000, and only two such cards are known to exist.

Discover The Old and New

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