1870s Harwood and Sons National Game Baseball Trade Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title Harwood and Sons National Game Baseball Trade Cards
Year 1870s
Size Various
Images Black and White
Type Trade
Number in Set
2 (?)

1870s Harwood and Sons National Game Baseball Trade Cards Overview

1975 Harwood National Game Trade Card.jpgThese are trade cards promoting a baseball equipment manufacturer.

The cards served as an advertisement for Harwood and Sons, a manufacturer of baseballs and baseball bats. The cards are among the earliest baseball trade cards and were printed in the 1870s.

The earliest one was printed 1871 and includes the header, ‘The National Game.’ It includes their company name and that they are based in Natick, Massachusetts, manufacturing baseballs and bats. A second card printed in 1875 (and shown here) also uses ‘The National Game’ print and depicts a baseball scene from the third base vantage point. That picture is interesting since it shows a pitcher throwing underhanded.

Both cards included price lists for the company’s equipment on the back.

1870s Harwood and Sons National Game Baseball Trade Cards Checklist

To date, I have seen two Harwood and Sons trade cards from the 1870s. Others may exist.

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