The First Baseball Card -- Latest Candidate

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Posted By: CoreyRS.hanus

Okay, I know we’ve been this route before. REA asked us to consider the Jordan Marsh CDV/ticket of Harry Wright (to be subsequently joined by other players of the same issue), the CDV/trade card of the Currier & Ives image “The American National Game of Baseball” and the “Old Man” CDV depicting Dave Birdsall. Other candidates would of course be the Peck & Snyder memorial trade card of James Creighton, the Peck & Snyder trade card of the 1868 Brooklyn Atlantics and the 1860-61 CDV of the Brooklyn Atlantics. While reasonable people may differ on the precise year of issuance of some of these items and, more important, whether some of them even should be defined as baseball cards, they are the candidates for that hallowed title of the first baseball card. That is, until now.

Presented below is the ticket (hereinafter referred to as the baseball card), costing $1, which gained the lucky holder entry to the first annual ball of the Magnolia Ball Club. Its dimensions are 5 1/8" x 3 1/4". It is blank-backed and printed on heavy cardboard stock. It was issued early in 1844 and is the oldest known baseball illustration depicting the modern game of baseball (i.e., the Knickerbocker game). What makes the image even more historically significant is that the game is being played at Elysian Fields, as confirmed by known images of the grounds and its structures. For those of you wondering who the Magnolia’s are, well they are a baseball club that played a version of baseball substantially identical to the game the Knickerbockers codified, referred to now as the modern game of baseball. They played at Elysian Fields (the home ground of the Knicks), dating back to at least the early 1840’s. They thus predate the formal organization of the Knickerbockers in 1845, though in fairness to the Knicks it should be pointed out that they certainly were playing ball together prior to the time they officially organized.

Now to anticipate a question, if it was issued as ticket, what suddenly makes it now a card. On that one REA adequately addressed the issue – it can be both, as long as it satisfies the criteria of each. As to its card characteristics, it was publicly available, depicts baseball subject matter, was issued for commercial purposes and has the physical characteristics of a card. As to those naysayers who will look to bring to the surface reservations I expressed at the time REA called the Jordan Marsh ticket a baseball card, let’s just say I have evolved in my thinking to be now in step with REA.

In regard to how the item can be dated to early 1844, here reprinted in its entirety is an ad that ran in the New York Herald February 6-8, 1844:

THE FIRST ANNUAL BALL of the New York Magnolia Ball Club will take place at National Hall, Canal st. on Friday evening, Feb. 9th, inst. The Club pledge themselves that no expense or exertions shall be spared to render this (their first) Ball worthy the patronage of their friends. The Ball Room will be splendidly decorated with the insignia of the Club. Brown’s celebrated Band is engaged for the occasion. Tickets $1, to be had of the undersigned, and at the bar of National Hall.
JOSEPH CARLISLE, Chairman.
PETER H. GRAHAM, Secretary