What makes a baseball card vintage?

Answer 1

Baseball cards are officially categorized in the hobby as pre war era, and post war era (WWII). I don't believe there is an official definition for vintage baseball cards. The term vintage is typically used to describe an item from another or older era. Vintage cars generally refer to cars made between 1919-1930's, and vintage clothing is referred to clothing made between 1920, and 1980. The term antique clothing is used before 1920.

I find it ridiculous when sellers or dealers of baseball cards loosely use the term vintage for cards made 15 -25 years ago. A ballplayer's career can last 20 years, and sometimes more. Jamie Moyer has been playing baseball for 22 years, and will start his 23rd season in 2009. You would not refer to him as a Vintage ballplayer, especially as he's still playing. So vintage would still be a term loosely used for baseball cards made 25 years ago or later.

It would be difficult not to refer to 50 year old baseball cards made in the 1950's as vintage but, if you consider that baseball cards were first made in the late 1880's, 70 years before, you can still refer to the 1950 cards as modern day era but, I would not include them in the mass produced era that started in the mid to late 1980's. In 1981 a new era of baseball cards begun with the introduction of the Fleer, and Donruss companies, ending the Topps company Dominance in baseball cards.

Vintage Baseball Cards pre 1980 Era

With all said and done I think baseball cards made before 1980 could be referred to as Vintage Baseball Cardswhich clearly draws the line, and defines an older era of baseball cards.