SF Pelicans Vintage Baseball Cards
Custom vintage style baseball trading cards created for the San Francisco Pelicans vintage baseball club. The set featured sepia player photography and foil pack packaging designed to capture the feel of early baseball card history.
Project Overview
The SF Pelicans are a vintage baseball club that plays the game using historical rules, uniforms, and traditions from the early days of baseball.
Dan from the team wanted to create a collectible trading card set that captured the spirit of vintage baseball while celebrating the players on the roster.
I designed a custom team trading card set inspired by classic baseball card styles. The goal was to make the cards feel timeless while still highlighting the players and the character of the team.
One idea that came out of the design process was including a vintage baseball rule on the back of each card. It helped reinforce the historical theme of the team and added another collectible detail to the set.
Each player received their own card and the full set was produced as a collectible team release.
The finished cards reflect both the personality of the players and the nostalgic feel of vintage baseball.
What the Team Said
“Johnny walked me through multiple iterations, perfecting every detail until it was exactly what we wanted. The final cards were even better than I imagined..”
— Dan, SF PelicansProject Gallery
Pack Opening Reactions
The team shared a pack opening on the SF Pelicans Instagram page and the reaction was exactly what we were hoping for. Players immediately started asking if we could run another batch so more of the team could collect them.
That moment is really what these projects are about. It’s not just handing out cards, it’s the experience of opening packs together, seeing who you get, and sharing it with the team.
For this set, everything from the vintage design to the foil packaging was meant to recreate that classic feel. Seeing it actually land the way we intended is always the best part.
Since everything is already designed, running another batch is quick and easy if teams want more cards for new players, future events, or just to have more packs to open.
Card Details
• Full team trading card set for the SF Pelicans
• Individual player cards for the roster
• Vintage inspired front and back card design
• Player name and team information included
• Printed on premium trading card stock
Testimonial
“I came to Johnny with a specific vision for an 1886 vintage inspired design and he nailed it. What really set him apart was his collaborative spirit. He walked me through multiple iterations, perfecting every detail until it was exactly what we wanted. Johnny contributed ideas and creative suggestions that made the final product even better than I had imagined.
Communication was seamless, professional, and easy. If you're looking for high quality custom cards and a creator who truly cares about the craft, Johnny is your guy. 10 out of 10.”
— Dan, SF PelicansVintage Baseball Trading Card Design
Vintage baseball clubs celebrate the early history of the sport by playing with historical uniforms, rules, and traditions.
The trading cards were designed to match that same spirit. Instead of a modern sports card style, the design pulls inspiration from classic baseball cards and the early days of the hobby.
The result is a set of cards that feels both collectible and historically inspired.
Team Card Projects
Trading cards are a great way for teams to create something memorable for their players and supporters.
Instead of a traditional team photo or simple program, each player becomes part of a collectible set.
Projects like this are often created for
vintage baseball clubs
amateur baseball teams
community teams
tournament teams
league celebrations
Trading cards turn a roster into something fans and players can collect.
Vintage baseball teams, sandlot clubs, and amateur leagues often create trading card sets like these to celebrate their roster and give players and fans something collectible to keep.
Explore Trading Card Projects
Custom trading cards for teams, brands, artists, and events.
Have an idea for your own trading cards?
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