Baseball Card Size – Complete Guide
Last updated on May 14th, 2022 at 01:30 pm
This article will show you the various sizes of baseball cards.
Baseball cards have been in production since the mid-1860s and are one of the highest collected sports cards in history.
Many baseball fans and collectors around the world buy and sell baseball cards to complete a certain collection.
Some of the most famous and expensive cards ever produced are baseball cards.
The size of baseball cards has varied over the years and some of them are more common than others.
What are the dimensions of a baseball card?
Most people are more familiar with the standard size baseball card today which is 2.5 inches wide x 3.5 inches long. (2-1/2” x 3-1/2”).
Older baseball cards from the 1930s measured 2.375” x 3.5” (2-3/8″ x 3-1/2″). Although the 1933 Goudey card was only 2.375″ x 0.875″ (2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″).
Cards from the 1980s measured 2.625” x 3.75” (2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″)
The following chart will show you how the size of baseball cards have changed over the years.
| Baseball card date and type | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| 1909 T206 | 1-7/16″ x 2-5/8″ |
| 1933 Goudey | 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″ |
| 1950 Bowman | 2-1/16″ x 2-1/2″ |
| 1970 Topps | 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ |
| 1975 Topps mini | 2-1/4″ x 3-1/8″ |
| 1988 Topps big | 2-5/8″ x 3-3/4″ |
| 2021 Topps | 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ |
How thick is a baseball card?
The thickness of a baseball card is measured in points. Most cards are 35 pt but they can also be anywhere from 55pt to 100pt. Not all baseball cards have the same thickness.
Measuring the thickness of a baseball card can be done using a card thickness point gauge. These are easy to use and can be downloaded and then used to measure a certain card’s thickness.
It’s important to know the thickness of your baseball cards if you want to protect and store them inside a top loader. These plastic protectors are available in a variety of sizes, so knowing the thickness of your card will ensure a proper fit.
How much does a baseball card weigh?
On average, a baseball card weighs 1 gram. This weight can vary based on the size of the card, what it is made of, the age of the card, and whether or not the card is inside a top loader.
A pack of 100 baseball cards weighs around 100 grams.
If a single card is placed in a top loader, the card can weigh between 6-8 grams.
What are baseball cards made of?
Most baseball cards are printed onto card stock but they can also be printed onto silk or plastic.
Most expensive baseball cards
As mentioned, baseball cards have been around for a long time. Some of the most expensive cards are older cards of famous players which are very rare. They will sell for a very high asking price.
Also, many of the highly sought-after expensive cards are not the standard size of 2.5” x 3.5” that you would see today.
Here is a list of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold.
1911 Honus Wagner – American Tobacco Company card T206 sold for over 6 million dollars ($6,606,000) in August 2021.
1952 Mickey Mantle – Topps card #311 sold for over 5 million dollars ($5,200,000) in 2021.
1933 Babe Ruth – Goudey card #53 sold for over 4 million dollars ($4,212,000) in July 2021.
2009 Mike Trout – Topps rookie card sold for 3.9 million ($3,900,000) in August 2020.
1968 Nolan Ryan – Topps rookie card #177 sold for $600,000 in August 2020.
Other items that are similar in size to a baseball card
If you are looking to get an idea of the size of a baseball card without measuring it, you can reference other items of similar size.
Other types of trading cards are similar in size.
For example, magic cards, playing cards, hockey cards, and other trading cards are most likely the same size as a baseball card.
Credit cards are not exactly the same size as a baseball card but can be used for reference. Credit cards have dimensions of 3.37” x 2.125”.
Half of a dollar bill can also be used as a size reference. A standard dollar bill has dimensions of 6.14” x 2.61”. If you folded a dollar bill in half, it would be close to the dimensions of a baseball card.
