Collect the Top Players from 1921-1930
The decade spanning 1921 to 1930 marked a turning point in baseball history, ushering in the beginning of the live-ball era. Offensive firepower surged, home runs became a defining part of the game, and a new generation of superstars rose to national fame. It was a thrilling time, full of dramatic moments and larger-than-life players who helped turn baseball into America’s pastime.
Their legacies live on today — not only through their legendary performances, but also through some of the most iconic and sought-after trading cards in The Hobby.
This list highlights the best players of the 1920s by position, alongside some of their most celebrated and collectible cards ever produced.
Best Baseball Players & Their Cards: 1921-1930
Catcher: 1933 Goudey #76 Mickey Cochrane RC
Player info
• three-time world series champion
• hall of famer
• two-time al mvp
Set info
• 240-card set
what they said
• “He showed us how to get a man on first, move him over to third and then get him in. We needed somebody to take charge and show us how to win and that’s what Mickey did.” – tigers teammate hank Greenberg.
First Base: 1925 Exhibits Lou Gehrig
Player info
• Hall of famer
• six-time world series champion
• two-time al mvp
set info
• 128-Card set
• some believe this is gehrig’s first card
What they said
• “Lou Gehrig was a guy who could really hit the ball, was dependable and seemed so durable that many of us thought he could have played forever.” – teammate george selkirk
Second Base: 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy/Boston Store #80 Rogers Hornsby
Player info
• hall of famer
• 1926 world series champion
• two-time nl mvp
set info
• 200-Card set
What they said
• “mightiest of all National League hitters and the roughest right-handed bruiser in human history.” – new york tribune columnist red smith
Shortstop: 1933 Goudey #22 Pie Traynor
Player info
• hall of famer
• 1925 World Series Champion
• two-time all-star
Card/Set info
• 240-Card Set
What they said
• “He had the quickest hands and the quickest arms of any third baseman I ever saw.” – teammate charlie grimm
Third Base: 1933 Goudey #165 Joe Sewell
Player info
• hall of famer
• Two-time world series champion
• Cleveland guardians hall of famer
set info
• 240-Card set
what they said
• “There’s no excuse for a major league player striking out 100 times a season, unless, of course, he’s blind.” – joe sewell
Left Fielder: 1933 Goudey #35 Al Simmons
Player info
• hall of famer
• two-time world series champion
• two-time al batting champion
Set info
• 240-Card Set
what they said
• “On the field Simmons was a warrior, intent on damaging the opposition and demolishing pitchers with his bat, stifling opposing teams’ rallies with his glove, and upsetting infielders with violent takeout slides. He never lost his intensity for baseball even when he was an Athletics’ coach after his playing days.” – sabr.org
Center Fielder: 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait
Player info
• One of the five original Baseball hall of Fame inductees
• 1911 al mvp
• 12-time al batting champion
set info
• 524-Card set
What they said
• “I never saw anyone like Ty Cobb. No one even close to him. He was the greatest all time ballplayer. That guy was superhuman, amazing.” – Casey Stengel
Right Fielder: 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait
Player info
• hall of famer
• seven-time world series champion
•1923 al mvp
set info
• ruth’s first professional card
What they said
• “It wasn’t that he hit more home runs than anybody else, he hit them better, higher, farther, with more theatrical timing and a more flamboyant flourish. Nobody could strike out like Babe Ruth. Nobody circled the bases with the same pigeon-toed, mincing majesty.” – new york tribune columnist red smith
Starting Pitcher: 1933 Goudey #220 Lefty Grove RC
Player info
• hall of famer
• tw0-time world series champion
• nine-time al strikeouts leader
set info
• 240-Card Set
What they said
• “Lefty Grove may have been baseball’s greatest all-time pitcher. He was certainly its most dominant.” – sabr.org
