History of Baseball Cards

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Baseball cards have been an American collectible for over 115 years. They have been a featured item in everything from tobacco pouches to hot dogs. The year 1886 is generally regarded as the first year baseball cards, as we know them today, were produced. Tobacco and cigarette companies such as Old Judge, Allen and Ginter, and Mayo included cards in their packs as free give aways to advertise their product.
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From the early 1900's to 1915 other companies began producing baseball cards. Cracker Jack's issued a popular series of cards called the "Cracker Jack Players". Baseball cards began popping up in bread, newspapers, and other food products during this time period.
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If there ever was a down period for baseball cards it was during the 1920's and early 1930's. There were not as many cards produced during this time. Candy and other food companies continued to insert cards into their products mainly for advertising purposes. The most popular cards during this period were produced by Caramel companies, and were slightly bigger (2" x 3") than what had previously been issued.
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From 1933 to the early 1940's bubble gum companies began producing baseball cards, thus the name "bubble gum card" was born. The Goudey Company, and the Delong Company issued some of the more popular cards during this period. From the start of World War II, in 1941, until 1948 no cards were issued, because of a need to conserve paper during the war.
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From 1948 to 1951 the Leaf and Bowman companies were the big players in the baseball card business, then in 1951 Topps Chewing Gum Company issued its first complete set, and by 1956 had put Bowman out of business. Topps had the baseball card business to themselves from 1956 to 1981. The Fleer company issued a few sets during the 1960's, but didn't enter the baseball card market full-time until 1981.
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The 1980's brought baseball card collectors more choices, in 1981 Fleer and Donruss entered the market, and in 1989 the Upper Deck Company issued their first set as well. Since then Topps, Fleer, Donruss, and Upper Deck have issued numerous sets each year.
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In 1996 a company called Racing Champions revived the sports card industry by placing a piece of NASCAR race-used tire onto a card. This led Upper Deck, the following year, to place a swatch of game-used jersey onto a card. Today card collectors can truly own a piece of baseball history ranging from a jersey or bat, to a seat from a forgotten stadium.