How to Buy or Sell — Sports Collectibles

Baseball cards and other sports cards have been collected since they were first distributed in the 1880s. The first cards were placed in packs of cigarettes or tobacco as free advertising promotion pieces. From 1910 to 1915 cards were made by the millions, then only a few were made until the 1930s. The second period of baseball cards came with their use by candy and gum companies. The modern baseball card really started in 1933 with the Goudey Gum Company. World War II caused paper shortages and baseball cards were not made. In 1948 the Bowman and Leaf companies made cards. Topps Gum Company cards were introduced in 1951.