Long before fantasy sports came along, there were these things called “cards.” They were simply pieces of cardboard that had a player’s picture on the front and their bio and stats on the back. In short, they told us everything we needed to know about an athlete. They were widely popular. In fact, there were actually stores dedicated to selling cards, and collector’s spent an endless amount of time searching and trading to complete their collections.
Out of all the sports, however, there were no other cards more popular than baseball cards. Even if you collected basketball, football, or hockey cards, you still called them baseball cards. Perhaps it’s because baseball was just that popular or maybe it’s because the game has a long history with introducing players to their fans. Even during the early years of baseball in the late 1800s, there were these.
Well, I guess we’d call them promo shots today. They may seem weird and hilarious to us now, but did things really change all that much during the 20th century as the game became America’s pastime? Check out these 19 hilariously bad baseball cards, and you be the judge.
19. Steve Lake
Dude. You’re a Philadelphia Phillie, not a Pittsburgh Pirate.
Image Source: Nerd Baseball
18. Gary Mota
How was this considered appropriate?
Image Source: Astroland
17. Rich Folkers
Is it us or does Rich Folkers look like he’s in physical pain?
Image Source: Weird Palace
16. Doug Drabek
Were the White Sox playing an exhibition game in Russia?
Image Source: Can’t Have Too Many Cards
15. Don Mossi
Mossi makes Jamie Moyer look like a rookie.
Image Source: flickriver
14. Dick Pole
Self-explanatory.
Image Source: Random Funny Picture
13. Adam Piatt
Can we even verify that this is indeed Adam Piatt?
Image Source: Baseball Card Bust
12. Oscar Azocar
Someone really loves his bat.
Image Source: Check Out My Cards
11. Chuck Finley
Chuck Finley may not be a household name, but the dude can shred.
Image Source: Blue Grass Rivals
10. Jay Johnstone
The facial expression would be enough, but that umbrella hat is classic.
Image Source: Nerd Baseball
9. Bip Roberts
It’s not everyday that you see a sombrero in the dugout.
Image Source: Quora
8. Mike Armstrong
Why so serious?
Image Source: Stefan Banderson
7. Wally Moon
Laugh all you want at the uni-brow, but Moon won the 1954 NL Rookie of the Year.
Image Source: Pengo Sports
6. Brian Harper
Nice phone Brian.
Image Source: Mustaches & Baseball
5. Randy McCament
Probably the greatest back to any baseball card ever produced.
Image Source: Strange Cosmos
4. Steve Kline
Is this considered child endangerment?
Image Source: Dime Boxes
3. Greg Minton
This can’t be real, right?
Image Source: Cardboard Gods
2. Rex Hudler
Sorry Coach. Rex doesn’t want to play today.
Image Source: Bjarkman’s Latino and Cuban League Baseball History Page
1. Keith Comstock
Ouch.
Image Source: Total Pro Sports
