1888 The National Game – Vintage Baseball Playing Cards Patent Poster

Step back into the golden age of America’s pastime with this digitally hand-colored poster featuring the original 19th-century patent for baseball playing cards—a quirky, brilliant invention that turned the ballpark into a card game.

This design, pulled from a patent filed in 1888, lays out a full lineup of player-position cards—pitchers, catchers, shortstops, outfielders—each tied to a specific team and ranked according to their field position and club status. It was a game within the game: a playable tribute to baseball mania at its peak.

Rich in detail and subtly colorized by hand to enhance its aged-paper charm, this poster is perfect for:
Baseball lovers
Vintage game collectors
Unique gift seekers
Anyone who appreciates the weird genius of forgotten fun

Whether you're a fan of the Detroit catcher (the highest-ranking card, naturally) or just love the intersection of sports and strange history, this piece is a home run for your wall.

Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper. Add a wonderful accent to your room and office with these posters that are sure to brighten any environment.

• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!