Baseball Card Size Guide

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 by Egle Goleckyte

A baseball card is a kind of trading card that features an image of a baseball player together with their performance statistics, printed on silk, cardboard, or plastic. Baseball cards gained popularity in the mid-20th century and were generally owned by fans and collectors.

While some baseball cards are bigger or smaller than others, the standard size today is 2.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches long (2-1/2″ by 3-1/2″). Early baseball cards from the year 1930 were 2.375 inches wide by 3.5 inches long (2-3/8″ by 3-1/2″). However, Goudey cards from 1933 measured 2.375 inches wide by 0.875 inches long (2-3/8″ by 2-7/8″). Baseball cards from the 1980s were 2.625 inches wide by 3.75 inches long (2-5/8″ by 3-3/4″).

Baseball Card Size Guide size-charts.com — _{Image Source: StadiumTalk}

Baseball cards have different thicknesses. The card thickness is measured in points.

The weight of a baseball card is typically 1 gram. This weight depends on the size of the card, what it consists of, and how old the card is. In addition, whether or not the card inside a top loader influences the card’s weight. If a single card is positioned in a top loader, its weight is around 6 to 8 grams.

Almost all baseball cards are printed onto card stock. Although, some cards are printed on silk or plastic. There is no established specification for baseball card size for card collectors and fans. However, using standard trading card size lets you buy as well as use standard collectible card pages for your cards.

Jump right into the Frequently Asked Questions

Baseball card size Table of Contents

Baseball card size chart
Baseball card thickness chart
How to choose the right baseball card size
Baseball card thickness
Frequently asked questions

Baseball card size chart

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Baseball card type	Baseball card date	Dimensions in inches	Dimensions in cm	Dimensions in ft
T206	1909	1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″	3.66 x 6.68	0.12 x 0.22
Goudey	1933	2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″	6.05 x 7.32	0.2 x 0.24
Bowman	1950	2-1/16″ x 2-1/2″	5.23 x 6.35	0.17 x 0.21
Topps	1970	2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″	6.35 x 8.89	0.21 x 0.3
Topps mini	1975	2-1/4″ x 3-1/8″	5.72 x 7.95	0.19 x 0.26
Topps big	1988	2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″	6.68 x 9.53	0.22 x 0.31
Topps	2021	2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″	6.35 x 8.89	0.21 x 0.3

Baseball card thickness chart

Number of layers	Range in pts	Example cards
1	35 pt	Thin or Regular base card
1 (!)	55 pt	Thick base card
2	75 – 80 pt	The double thick base card
3	90 – 100 pt	Thin relic or thick-framed mini cards
4	120 – 138 pt	Average relic
5	180 pt	Premium relics
6	200 – 230 pt	Extra thick premium relics
8+	360 pt	Booklet cards

How to choose the right baseball card size

The orientation of trading cards can either be portrait or landscape. Normally printed on the front side of the card is a photograph of a baseball player, drawings, or any artwork. The back side consists of the baseball player’s details.

As we said earlier, the sizes of baseball cards are not specific. Therefore, the size of the cards counts on when they were made and printed. Kindly refer to the baseball card size chart above for more information.

To help you choose the right baseball card size, let us take a look at how the measurements have evolved from popular brands:

Tobacco baseball cards or T206

These flawless series of vintage baseball cards were made for the American Tobacco Company between the years 1909 to 1911. They measure 1-7/16 inches wide by 2-5/8 inches long.

Also called the white border cards, these baseball relics comprised of baseball players portrait on the front side and a display for a tobacco brand on the backside.

Since tobacco chewing was popular at the time, a collection of tobacco cards was a great strategy to market tobacco products. In addition, T206 baseball cards were used to strengthen tobacco packages, making them rigid.

Goudey baseball cards

The dimensions of baseball cards shifted in sizing when an idea to pack them with gums came up in the 1930s. Before that, baseball cards were packaged with tobacco, thus people cared more about cigarettes than the cards.

These gum vintage baseball cards were invented by the Goudey Gum Company based in Boston. The cards featured substantial advancements in the card design as well as color. The Goudey baseball cards measured 2-3/8 inches wide by 2-7/8 inches long.

The Goudey 239-card collection granted eminence to the image and shots of baseball players in action at the front side. At the back was a brief biography of the player together with the promoter’s details at the bottom.

Bowman baseball cards

The Bowman Gum Company issues a sequence of valuable baseball cards in various sizes from 1948 to 1955. The Bowman baseball cards were at first nearly square before transforming to a rectangular design. The shape is more harmonious with modern cards.

The most outstanding feature of the Bowman baseball cards was that paintings were used in place of photographs in the 252 sets of cards in 1950. Images on the cards included action shots, a combination of a custom portrait of players, stadium backdrops, and a painted performance of the ballpark.

They measure 2 inches by 2-1/2 inches and 2-1/8 inches by 3-1/8 inches.

Topps baseball cards

A term that has become proportional to baseball cards, Topps originally was known as American Leaf Tobacco before it renewed itself in 1938 as a chewing gum company. Topps bought the Bowman Gum Company in 1955 after the MLB season.

Eventually, the Topps Company drifted into making trading cards and other valuables for the sports industry. Momentarily, Topps dominated the baseball card production. Additionally, the company was the only MLB-licenced producer of baseball cards on the brink of the 21st century.

The popular producer of baseball cards is recognized widely for its creative card design elements. The cards feature the player’s images and biography. Moreover, Topps baseball cards were the first to review individual baseball players’ statistics, which were not easily accessible at that time.

The cards measure 2-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches long.

Topps was purchased by Inc in early 2022.

Frank H. Fleer baseball cards

The Frank H. Fleer company was a bubble gum manufacturer since the 1920s. It ventured into card-making through the 1950s. Although there was stiff competition in the card industry at the time, Fleer maintained their focus on profits.

The Frank H. Fleer baseball cards measure 2-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches long which is equivalent to 6.4 cm by 8.9 cm.

To survive in the industry, the company made audacious talks with some of the greatest players at the time, Ted William and Babe Ruth. This move gave them a massive boost.

These baseball cards revolve around some of the best baseball players beyond compare. The 80-card collection is very cheap.

1960 Fleer Baseball cards’ front side consists of a player’s posed photograph, normally a shot of the head and shoulders. However, some baseball cards feature action photos. Additionally, some cards feature colored photos while others feature black and white colored photos. The baseball player’s name is situated at the bottom of the card.

On the card’s back side, the baseball player’s short bio and pitching statistics are displayed.

The orientation used on the cards is vertical for most cards and horizontal for some. It all depends on the type of image used.

Panini baseball cards

Panini America company was founded in the year 1961. The company started making baseball cards in 2009. Despite the late entrance, baseball cards have been in production since the early1900s, the company was so focused that it’s among the few baseball card manufacturers to last to this day.

Presently, the company achieves most of its prosperity from the Donruss Playoff cards rights that it bought in 2009. They inherited its license in the process.

The Panini baseball cards measure 2-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches long which is equal to 6.4 cm by 8.9 cm.

Upper Deck baseball cards

Upper Deck is a popular baseball card brand established in the year 1989. Their card sets are of exceptional quality which sets standards for the card industry at large.

They have an Upper Deck Authentication (UDA) program introduced in 1992. The program features a five-step process that ensures the authenticity of their autographed cards. The process involves having a witness present whenever an athlete signs an autograph.

The Upper Deck baseball card set is comprised of 1,250 baseball cards that measure 2-1/2 inches wide and 3-1/2 inches long or 6.4 cm by 8.9 cm.

Baseball card thickness

Since baseball cards have different thicknesses, it’s important to understand them. Baseball card thickness is measured in points (pt). One point is equal to 0.001 of an inch or about 0.00254 cm.

Most baseball cards have a thickness of 34 pt (which is about 0.035 inches) though there are other sizes ranging from 55 pt to 360 pt.

However, how do we get the thickness of a baseball card? A card thickness point gauge tool is used to measure a card’s thickness. You can download the tool from online card distributor stores, and print it.

Knowing the thickness of your baseball card helps you protect them. Comprehending the thickness of your cards assists you find an ideal plastic Toploader.

Learn more about Baseball Card Size (video)

_{NEW RELEASE! 2022 TOPPS CHROME UPDATE SAPPHIRE BASEBALL CARDS! by JabsFamily}

Frequently asked questions

What size is a trading card?

The standard card size is 6.4 cm by 8.9 cm. This applies to trading decks or top trumps or sports cards for collectors.

What size are most trading cards?

Most trading cards measure 2-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches long (6.4 cm by 8.9 cm).

How long are sports cards?

The standard length of a sports card is 8.9 cm (3.5 inches).

What size are Topps baseball cards?

The Topps baseball cards measure 2-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches long.

What size are Panini Prizm cards?

The standard size for Panini Prizm cards is 2-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm) for the custom card size and has a thickness of 20 pt.

Can I make my baseball cards?

With the advancement of digital printing, you can. There are various baseball card maker sites and apps online that allow you to design baseball cards.

What’s the weight of a baseball card?

You must know the weight of baseball cards before you purchase a baseball card.

Conclusion

Baseball cards are available in different sizes. Even card collectors face challenges when choosing baseball cards of the right size. Others are into collecting with a single purpose, to collect weird and different cards. All in all, they all need to know about baseball card sizes.

By reading this guide, you are equipped with the tools needed to select the perfect size for your baseball cards. We hope that this guide has helped you whether you are a beginner, fan, or card collector.

Thank you for reading this article. Feel free to leave any comment or question in the comment box below.

Picture in this post is from CNN