the.com/baseball cards
cardboard promises that a nine-year-old's allowance might someday be worth a car.
means collectible trading cards printed with player photos and stats, originally bundled to sell something else entirely.
from tobacco companies in the 1880s slipped stiff cards into cigarette packs to keep them from crushing, then realized kids and collectors loved the players more than the smokes; gum companies like Topps took over the format in the 20th century.
honus wagner1909 card sold for over 7 million dollars
topps monopolyheld exclusive mlb card rights from 1956 to 1980
gum stainsearly cards were packaged with actual bubblegum, ruining corners