Great Old Photos of Baseball Cards

[The Nasty Nati]

I came across this great photo from William Klein taken in 1955 that shows kids holding up freshly opened 1955 Bowman baseball cards. I love this image.

Does anyone know of any other great photos like this that showcase vintage sports cards taken during the time period that they were opened?

[GasHouseGang]

Not a photo, but a magazine cover.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Not a photo, but a magazine cover.

This photo accurately portrays how a 1950’s kid collected baseball cards - cards spewed all over the floor, rubber-banded and items, such as a bat, on the cards.

I think that 1954 Ted Williams is this picture’s most valuable card.

[prewarsports]

I once had a 1915 photo of a cracker jack vender with piles of boxes and cards out for display including a Wagner, it is one of the few items I have sold over the years I wish I had back. I know who owns it now though and he is a great guy and loves the photo so it is all good!

[TheBig6]

[dbrown]

1980 now qualifies as a long, long time ago

[The Nasty Nati]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

I once had a 1915 photo of a cracker jack vender with piles of boxes and cards out for display including a Wagner, it is one of the few items I have sold over the years I wish I had back. I know who owns it now though and he is a great guy and loves the photo so it is all good!

Do you have a picture of that picture?

[dbrown]

Looks like T205s but tough to really tell.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by dbrown

1980 now qualifies as a long, long time ago

Man, that picture looks ancient. I feel so old, but I take solace in the fact those kids scored a Tony Armas card.

[The Nasty Nati]

Originally Posted by dbrown

Looks like T205s but tough to really tell.

That picture is incredible. Any way to confirm if they are T205s? Looks like it to me.

What is the background behind that photo?

NOTE: I found the photo and it was shot in 1912. So I'd say it's almost definitely T205s.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by The Nasty Nati

That picture is incredible. Any way to confirm if they are T205s? Looks like it to me.

What is the background behind that photo?

NOTE: I found the photo and it was shot in 1912. So I'd say it's almost definitely T205s.

I tried to visually identify any of the cards as baseball, and couldn't conclusively. Some of them almost look like non-sports issues that do not picture people.

Brian

[chalupacollects]

He's a shoe shine boy..

[gonzo]

I love the shoe shine boy photo. A couple of the cards look to me like T205s. The card closest to the boy's heel looks like a National leaguer with a white cap and uniform - maybe Bates or Bransfield.

The card next to that looks like an American Leaguer with a red diamond interior, a light green frame, a white cap, and a white uniform - possibly Russ Ford (white cap), Ed Cicotte, or Bill Carrigan.

One or two of the cards straight down from those two might also be T205s. Many of the others look like they could be non-sports, but it's hard to tell.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by gonzo

I love the shoe shine boy photo. A couple of the cards look to me like T205s. The card closest to the boy's heel looks like a National leaguer with a white cap and uniform - maybe Bates or Bransfield.

The card next to that looks like an American Leaguer with a red diamond interior, a light green frame, a white cap, and a white uniform - possibly Russ Ford (white cap), Ed Cicotte, or Bill Carrigan.

One or two of the cards straight down from those two might also be T205s. Many of the others look like they could be non-sports, but it's hard to tell.

Thanks Mike...now I can see that those two appear to be T205.

Brian

[Bcwcardz]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Man, that picture looks ancient. I feel so old, but I take solace in the fact those kids scored a Tony Armas card.

And a Kingman too!


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[Forever Young]

Kids holding cards to have him sign

[orioles70]

Originally Posted by The Nasty Nati

I came across this great photo from William Klein taken in 1955 that shows kids holding up freshly opened 1955 Bowman baseball cards. I love this image.



Does anyone know of any other great photos like this that showcase vintage sports cards taken during the time period that they were opened?

Looks like the card on the left upside down may be Randy Jackson and the card in the center looks like Gil McDougald

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[orioles70]

What card is this little boy admiring?

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[50sBaseball]

1952 Topps #238 Art Houtteman, I do believe.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by orioles70

Looks like the card on the left upside down may be Randy Jackson and the card in the center looks like Gil McDougald

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Cool photo

[iwantitiwinit]

Originally Posted by TheBig6

If this is a true period photo, which it appears to be, can that be an uncut sheet of t206's in the background? The vertical spacing between cards looks too uniform to be individual cards pasted up. Can this be the answer to the layout of t206's on a page (at least across the top) and somewhat of an answer as to which cards are next to each other? Tough to tell if those are all t206's lined up though there could be some t205's in there in which case nevermind.

[G1911]

Not an uncut sheet, on zoom you can see too much space between cards, and can see the edge of the cards compared to the brighter white background of what the cards are pasted/affixed too.

[TCMA]

My parents and my sisters surrounded by 1975 SSPC. This was shot for a Sports Illustrated article that I don't think ever made it's way to print.

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by orioles70

What card is this little boy admiring?

Looks like a '52 Topps Detroit Tiger. At first, I thought it was Pat Mullin but looking closer I'm not sure. I can't get a larder image to upload and remain big enough to help much.

Untitled.jpg

[Kutcher55]

The movie Born on the 4th of July has a scene with Tom Cruise in his room listening to Mel Allen on the radio with Mickey Mantle batting. Cruise has a bunch of 54 Topps on the wall as well as 61s and 62s.

[Bigdaddy]

[ASF123]

Whoa, what happened to that kid’s hand??

[Bram99]

Originally Posted by 50sBaseball

1952 Topps #238 Art Houtteman, I do believe.

Was hoping it was Allie Reynolds but it does look like the Tiger logo.

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

If this is a true period photo, which it appears to be, can that be an uncut sheet of t206's in the background? The vertical spacing between cards looks too uniform to be individual cards pasted up. Can this be the answer to the layout of t206's on a page (at least across the top) and somewhat of an answer as to which cards are next to each other? Tough to tell if those are all t206's lined up though there could be some t205's in there in which case nevermind.

There used to be a fair sized thread about this picture (maybe 10 years ago) and if memory serves correct someone traced it origins back to the Panama Canal Project as it was ongoing. Also, as someone else stated - the cards include multiple sets so they are just neatly adhered to the wall.

[todeen]

Get in the spirit of Christmas. Couldn't think of where else to post this. Circa 1954/55, since my mother's Raggedy Ann doll is in the picture. My uncle received a bat and glove. The bat lettering says Little League, and not a player name.

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[Vintagedeputy]

Still in the wrappers!

[Leon]

Great photos, guys. Thanks for sharing..
.

[mrreality68]

Lots of great photos

Love them all

Keep them coming

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

Still in the wrappers!

God, if only I had a time machine!

[4reals]

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[4reals]

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[Jobu]

B18 blankets sewn together, with what looks like it might be Cobb on the top.