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
Whether you’re hunting down the oldest sports cards or the newest, there’s only one place every collector trusts. Pre-order upcoming sports card releases in mint condition and enjoy same-day shipping with Giant Sports Cards. Unbox Your Love Of The Game™ with a sports card store that cherishes it as much as you do.
More interested in the first sports cards ever made? Head over to the Ultimate Collector’s Cave™ in Alpharetta, GA, and shop authentic rare singles and autographed memorabilia.
