Baseball Cards, 1887-1914
Card Sets in Chronological Order


Allen & Ginter World's Champions (N28)
1887
LOT 13163-01

Medium: 9 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.5 inches

This set is generally acknowledged as the first significant tobacco set issued. Ten baseball players are included in the set, which also depicts six other sports.

Sample Card
John M. Ward, shortstop, New York Giants, National League
LOT 13163-01, no. 6

Buchner Gold Coin (N284)
1887
LOT 13163-02

Medium: 58 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 3 x 1.75 inches

D. Buchner & Company issued this set which includes portraits of actual players, as well as general representations of players by position.

Sample Card
Ned Williamson, second baseman, Chicago White Stockings, National League
LOT 13163-02, no. 6

Gypsy Queens
1887
LOT 13163-03

Medium: 4 photographic prints : albumen
Dimensions: ca. 2.5 x 1.5 inches

Goodwin & Company issued this set, using the same photographic portraits as the Old Judge (N172) set.

Sample Card
Ezra Sutton, third baseman, Boston Beaneaters, National League
LOT 13163-03, no. 1

Kalamazoo Bats (N690)
1887
LOT 13163-04

Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen
Dimensions: ca. 4 x 2.25 inches

Charles Gross & Co. of Philadelphia issued this set comprised of players from four teams: the New York Giants and Mets, and the Philadelphia Athletics and Phillies.

Sample Card
Harry Lyons, left fielder, with Taylor Trainer, Philadelphia Quakers, National League
LOT 13163-04, no. 1

Old Judge (N172)
1887-90
LOT 13163-05

Medium: 476 photographic prints : albumen
Dimensions: ca. 2.4375 x 1.5 inches

Players from over 40 major and minor league teams are depicted in this set, one of the largest 19th century sets issued.

Sample Card
Ned Hanlon, center fielder, Detroit Wolverines, National League
LOT 13163-05, no. 116

Allen & Ginter World's Champions (N29)
1888
LOT 13163-06

Medium: 4 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.5 inches

This second set issued by Allen & Ginter includes six baseball players.

Sample Card
Chas. H. Getzin (Charlie Getzien), pitcher, Detroit Wolverines, National League
LOT 13163-06, no. 3

Allen & Ginter World's Champions (N43)
1888
LOT 13163-07

Medium: 5 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 3.25 x 2.875 inches

This set of unusually large and elaborate cards adds decorative imagery around the same portraits used for the Allen & Ginter N29 set.

Sample Card
Jas. H. Fogarty (Jim), right fielder, Philadelphia Quakers, National League
LOT 13163-07, no. 4

Goodwin Champions (N162)
1888
LOT 13163-08

Medium: 8 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.5 inches

Goodwin & Company issued this set of lithographic cards printed in color, which includes eight baseball players.

Sample Card
Cap Anson, first baseman, Chicago White Stockings, National League
LOT 13163-08, no. 2

S.F. Hess California League (N321)
1888
LOT 13163-09

Medium: 2 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 2.875 x 1.5 inches

S.F. Hess & Company issued this set, comprised entirely of players in the California League.

Sample Card
Lawton, left fielder, Haverly, California League
LOT 13163-09, no. 2

S.F. Hess Newsboys League (N333)
1888
LOT 13163-10

Medium: 1 photographic print : albumen
Dimensions: ca. 2.875 x 1.5 inches

S.F. Hess & Co. issued this set depicting newspaper boys from eight newspapers in eight Northeastern cities.

Sample Card
McDowell, catcher, Rochester Post Express, Newsboy League
LOT 13163-10, no. 1

W.S. Kimball Champions (N184)
1888
LOT 13163-11

Medium: 4 prints : chromolithograph
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.5 inches

Four baseball players are portrayed in this set, which features a posed portrait above a drawing of the player in action.

Sample Card
Hardie Henderson, pitcher, Brooklyn Trolley-Dodgers, American Association
LOT 13163-11, no. 3

Yum Yum Tobacco (N403)
1888
LOT 13163-12

Medium: 5 photographic prints : albumen
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.375 inches

August Beck & Company issued this set which includes studio photo portraits and full-length action line drawings similar to those used in the Old Judge (N172) set.

Sample Card
Jimmy Ryan, center fielder, Chicago White Stockings, National League
LOT 13163-12, no. 3

Old Judge Cabinets (N173)
1888-89
LOT 13163-13

Medium: 26 photographic prints on cabinet card mount: albumen
Dimensions: ca. 6.5 x 4.25 inches

The cards in this large format set were offered as premiums in exchange for coupons distributed in cigarette packages.

Sample Card
Art Whitney, third baseman, New York Giants, National League
LOT 13163-13, no. 9

S.F. Hess (N338-2)
1889
LOT 13163-14

Medium: 2 photographic prints : albumen
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.5 inches

The Edwards collection contains two cards from this small set issued by S.F. Hess & Company. The complete set includes players from four teams.

Sample Card
Buck Ewing, catcher, New York Giants, National League
LOT 13163-14, no. 1

Mayo's Cut Plug (N300)
1895
LOT 13163-15

Medium: 3 photomechanical prints : halftone and stencil
Dimensions: ca. 2.875 x 1.625 inches

These cards were distributed in tins of chewing tobacco rather than in cigarette packs.

Sample Card
Amos Russie (Rusie), pitcher, New York Giants, National League
LOT 13163-15, no. 2

Obak (T212)
1909
LOT 13163-16

Medium: 14 prints : chromolithograph with relief
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.5 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this minor league set for the Pacific Coast League. The three Obak card sets are distinguished by the color and style of lettering, and the content of the text on the back.

Sample Card
Nagle, Los Angeles, Pacific Coast League
LOT 13163-16, no. 1

Ramly Cigarettes (T204)
1909
LOT 13163-17

Medium: 55 photomechanical prints : halftone and stencil
Dimensions: ca. 2.5 x 2 inches

This set features black-and-white photographic portraits surrounded by ornate gold-embossed frames and borders.

Sample Card
Roger Bresnahan, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals, National League
LOT 13163-17, no. 26

White Borders (T206)
1909-11
LOT 13163-18

Medium: 520 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.4375 inches

This set, among the largest and most widely distributed, includes nearly 525 color portraits surrounded by a white border.

Sample Card
Kid Elberfeld, shortstop, New York Highlanders, American League
LOT 13163-18, no. 307

Domino Discs (PX7)
1909-12
LOT 13163-19

Medium: 2 photomechanical prints : halftone
Dimensions: ca. 1.125 inches diameter

The American Tobacco Company issued this set of circular cards with metal rims.

Sample Card
Art Devlin, third baseman, New York Giants, National League
LOT 13163-19, no. 1

Contentnea First Series (T209)
1910
LOT 13163-20

Medium: 10 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.6875 x 1.5625 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this set featuring players in the minor leagues from the Carolinas and Virginia.

Sample Card
Hoffman, Raleigh, Southern League
LOT 13163-20, no. 1

Contentnea Photo Series (T209)
1910
LOT 13163-21

Medium: 1 photomechanical print : halftone
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.625 inches

This second Contentnea series, comprised of black-and-white halftone photographs rather than color prints, features players from the same minor league teams as the First Series.

Sample Card
Johnson, Norfolk, Southern League
LOT 13163-21, no. 1

Nadja Philadelphia Athletics (E104)
1910
LOT 13163-22

Medium: 18 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.75 x 1.5 inches

These cards, distributed with candy caramels rather than tobacco, feature only players from the Philadelphia Athletics.

Sample Card
Eddie Collins, Sr., second baseman, Philadelphia Athletics, American League
LOT 13163-22, no. 4

Obak (T212)
1910
LOT 13163-23

Medium: 116 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.5 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this minor league set for the Pacific Coast and Northwestern Leagues. The three Obak card sets are distinguished by the color and style of lettering, and the content of the text on the back.

Sample Card
Seaton, Seattle, Northwestern League
LOT 13163-23, no. 9

Old Mill Cigarettes (T210)
1910
LOT 13163-24

Medium: 8 prints : relief, halftone and stencil
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.5 inches

This set is made up of eight distinct series, each representing a different minor league.

Sample Card
Foxen, Portsmouth, Virginia League
LOT 13163-24, no. 8

Gold Borders (T205)
1911
LOT 13163-25

Medium: 200 photomechanical prints
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.4375 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this set of cards named for their gold borders and depicting major and minor league players.

Sample Card
Frank Baker, third baseman, Philadelphia Athletics, American League
LOT 13163-25, no. 169

Helmar Stamps (T332)
1911
LOT 13163-26

Medium: 12 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 1.375 x 1.125 inches

The Helmar Tobacco Company issued this set of stamps, not cards, with as many as 50 different decorative designs. The stamps were placed in glassine envelopes within the cigarette packages.

Sample Card
Tex Erwin, catcher, Brooklyn Dodgers, National League
LOT 13163-26, no. 1

Mecca Double Folders (T201)
1911
LOT 13163-27

Medium: 50 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 4.6875 x 2.25 inches

Distributed with Mecca Cigarettes, each card portrays two players--one when the card is open, another when the card is folded.

Sample Card
Zack Wheat, left fielder, Brooklyn Dodgers, National League, Bill Bergen, catcher, Brooklyn Dodgers appears on back
LOT 13163-27, no. 4

Obak (T212)
1911
LOT 13163-28

Medium: 41 prints : lithograph with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.5 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this minor league set for the Pacific Coast and Northwestern Leagues. The three Obak card sets are distinguished by the color and style of lettering, and the content of the text on the back.

Sample Card
Zacher, outfielder, Oakland, Pacific Coast League
LOT 13163-28, no. 24

Turkey Red Cabinets (T3)
1911
LOT 13163-29

Medium: 95 prints : chromolithograph with hand-color
Dimensions: ca. 8 x 5.75 inches

The American Tobacco Company offered these large format lithographic cards printed in color as premiums in exchange for coupons distributed in cigarette packages.

Sample Card
Nap Lajoie, second baseman, Cleveland Naps, American League
LOT 13163-29, no. 63

Brown Backgrounds (T207)
1912
LOT 13163-30

Medium: 200 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.4375 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this set, which features player portraits with brown backgrounds and player biographies on the back.

Sample Card
Rafael Almeida, third baseman, Cincinnati Reds, National League
LOT 13163-30, no. 38

Hassan Triple Folders (T202)
1912
LOT 13163-31

Medium: 123 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.25 x 5.5 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this set featuring a black-and-white action photograph flanked by color portraits of two different players.

Sample Card
Rube Marquard, pitcher and Chief Meyers, catcher, New York Giants, National League. Center image entitled "Just before the battle".
LOT 13163-31, no. 78

Series of Champions (T227)
1912
LOT 13163-32

Medium: 4 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 3.375 x 2.3125 inches

Four baseball players are included in this series.

Sample Card
Chief Bender, pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics, American League
LOT 13163-32, no. 4

Fatima Team Cards (T200)
1913
LOT 13163-33

Medium: 13 photographic prints : gelatin silver
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 4.75 inches

The Liggett & Myers Company issued this set of team photographs.

Sample Card
Chicago Cubs, National League
LOT 13163-33, no. 2

Fatima (T222)
1914
LOT 13163-34

Medium: 7 photographic prints : gelatin silver
Dimensions: ca. 4.5 x 2.5 inches

The American Tobacco Company issued this set of slightly larger photographic cards.

Sample Card
Slim Sallee, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals, National League
LOT 13163-34, no. 3

Piedmont Art Stamps (T330-2)
1914
LOT 13163-35

Medium: 2 prints : relief with halftone, color
Dimensions: ca. 2.625 x 1.5 inches

The Liggett & Myers Company issued this set of stamps based on the earlier Gold Borders (T205) card set.

Sample Card
Eddie Collins, second baseman, Philadelphia Athletics, American League
LOT 13163-35, no. 2

Obak Cabinets (T4)
1911
LOT 13163-36

Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver
Dimensions: ca. 6.9375 x 4.9375 inches

The cards in this set were offered as premiums in exchange for coupons distributed in cigarette packages. Issued in conjunction with the Obak T212 card set.

Sample Card
Harry Wolverton, manager, Pacific Coast League
LOT 13163-36