It’s been a little over 30 years since the first pro bass trading cards were released. In today’s Friday Finale historical photo, a news photo that went along with a story on the cards from back in 1992, which I thought was also timely because the top card featured in that photo is of one of Rick Clunn’s cards, as the industry continues to recognize him this year for his milestone of 500 professional Bassmaster events.
Terry did a detailed story on the cards with Michael Jones, originator behind the idea which you can find at the following link: Big League Bass Trading Cards.
I’ve also added a few quotes below from the 1992 newspaper story that went along with the picture.
Stacey King: “Like a lot of kids, I used to collect baseball cards. But I never in a million years thought I’d ever see a trading card with my picture on it. I guess that shows how far bass fishing has come. I still can’t believe the number of people who come up to me at tournaments and ask me to autograph my card.”
Rich Tauber: “I’ll sign 200 to 250 cards at some tournaments. And it’s not just kids who come up to us with cards. We’ll even have little old ladies come up to us. It’s a lot of fun because it makes bass fishing more of a spectator sport.”
Michael Jones, brainchild behind the idea: “When I covered the Classic, I watched all the people come up to these guys for autographs. I saw guys 45 years old standing in long lines to get an autograph from Rick Clunn, looking at him reverently like a baseball fan would at Nolan Ryan. That convinced me that these trading cards would go over. I knew fishing was ready for something like this.
“And the cards seem to be in demand. Joe Thomas (of Cincinnati) told me he brought 500 cards to the Classic with him, and he still ran out.”
