The hobby of collecting lapel pins began many years ago. A lot of times during the United States Presidential election of earlier years the lapel pins gave Americans a first look at the candidates. In the sporting world, trading of lapel pins began at the Olympics. Collectors would gather at the Olympics to buy, sell, and/or trade. Once the internet came into existence these social gatherings disappeared.
Trading Pins have long been an integral part of many baseball tournaments and team sports all across the country. At the beginning of baseball pins were made and were called press pins. They were made for the World Series game in 1911. Then about twenty-seven years later press pins were issued for the annual midseason exhibition. This was five years after the first All-Star game. No pins were made for the 1939 and 1940 games. The reason for the name press pins was because the pins were made for the media to be able to enter the press box. They were made lavishly. Once the The Great War, World War I had started and rationing of raw materials began the look of the press pin changed. No longer were the pins so large and lavish. The average size became the size of a nickel and the size still holds the same for today. Since 1964, people have contacted companies to make pins for them to take to regular season games, playoffs, tournaments, and the World Series to trade and sell to other collectors. The larger and heavier the pins are the more expensive the pins are. An interesting fact is that the New York Yankees hold the record for the most sold in the United States among collectors and fans.
Today a collector can have custom pins made from $1.10 to $4.80 depending on the size and amount of pins being purchased. Collectors are also able to purchase pins that the company has made for as little as $0.15. Collectors have pins made to sell or trade at baseball games and events. Collectors normally specialize in one certain team. They do not just purchase random team pins to just have the pins. Collectors have certain teams or themes they collect. The hobby has become a serious yet fun past time.
From little leagues to the big leagues, baseball trading pins have been a fan tradition for many decades. If you are seeking trading pins for your team or if you are simply a fan - visit Trading Pin Zone for examples and designs for your next order.
