Pin trading in sports first started in the 1890s as a way to promote companies to baseball fans. Today, pin trading is a worldwide phenomenon in all sports.
You can find pin trading at trade shows for many industries. Pin trading is a popular activity at Disney theme parks. Athletes participate in pin trading at the Olympic Village during the Summer and Winter Games, a tradition that began at the first modern Olympic games in 1896.
For children just getting started in pin trading, sporting events provide a great opportunity to get involved. There is an avid pin trading world for collecting sports pins.
But before you have your child slide into the world of pin trading, there are a few key tips your child should know. Read on for tips to make the pin trading experience an enjoyable one for your child.
Even with unlimited time and money, it would be impossible for someone to collect every type of pin out there. When your child starts collecting pins, it is a good idea to set some limits.
Deciding how big a collection should be can involve discussions about how much space you have for the pins. For instance, some pin collectors use a corkboard to show their pins. When the board is full, they have to decide what to keep and what to trade or give away.
Another factor to consider is the cost of pins. Whether your child will purchase pins to add to their collection or purchasing pins that they can trade, setting a budget will be helpful.
Once you've got the ground rules established with your child, now the fun can begin. Talk about what types of pins they find most appealing. It could be for a particular sport, a geographic area, or even a particular color.
Determine whether the pins that your child trades for are ones they plan to keep trading away or if they will have some that end up in a permanent collection. Some children enjoy the act of trading pins more than the collecting of pins.
Some pins may have significant monetary value. While it is unlikely someone would trade a 1911 Philadelphia Athletics Press Pin to your child, if your child is told that a pin is particularly valuable from a collectible standpoint, take a look on ebay to get a general idea of its market value.
In addition to the fun aspect of pin trading, the act of pin trading itself provides valuable life skills. In order to trade, your child will need to engage in social interaction with another person, sometimes an adult.
Explain that to start asking about a trade, be polite. Don't interrupt if the person is speaking with someone else. Make eye contact and speak in a clear voice. Don't grab for a pin without permission.
Once they have the attention of the pin trader, your child can introduce themselves, and propose a trade.
This is also a great opportunity to learn more about the pin they are looking at. Let your child ask questions that they are curious about. Is the pin old or new? Is the pin about a team or does it commemorate an event?
Sometimes pins can have a fascinating story behind them.
Although most pin trades are one pin for one pin, some collectors may want to trade a couple more common pins for a rarer pin. You can teach your child the art of negotiation.
In some cases, a pin trader may have a particular pin that they don't want to trade, but just bring to show. Teaching your child how to handle rejection if a trade isn't successful is an important life skill.
Once your child has a collection of pins, this provides a great opportunity to teach responsibility in caring for the collection.
There are a variety of different pins created for trading, including soft enamel pins and molded pins. Some pins come with a safety back pin, and others are a pin that is covered by a rubber or metal clutch.
Pins that have a pin covered by a clutch backing are easily displayed on a corkboard or decorated foam board that can be mounted into a frame. For example, a foam board designed to look like a softball is great for displaying a softball pin collection.
You can wear pins on jackets or vests, and there are collectible pin booklets with padded pages for portability when trading.
The two main factors your child will need to know is to protect the pin front from scratches and protect the pin back from bending. Most modern pins are made from materials that are resistant to rust.
For pins that are worn on a jacket, hat, or vest, special locking pinbacks provide an added layer of security. These special backs are tightened in place with a small hex key, ensuring that a pin will not fall off of an article of clothing.
To keep pins clean, simply use a slightly damp cloth. Harsh cleaners can cause damage to pin surfaces and should be avoided. Aside from that, pins require minimal regular care, making them a perfect collectible for children of all ages.
Pin trading is a fun hobby that reinforces the values of camaraderie and good sportsmanship between pin traders. It gives a great way for kids to connect with different teams, players, and fans, along with valuable life skills. With a variety of unique designs, there will be something for every child to take an interest in when they start collecting pins.
Considering creating pins for your own softball team? Contact us today for a quote to help your fans or players start collecting softball pins.
Are you looking to order USSSA pins for your baseball team soon? The value of collector's items (including baseball pins and other sports memorabilia) may be on the rise.
Planning out how many pins to order, and deciding when to order them can be a hassle. You don't want to order too many and have a bunch left over, but you don't want to order too few, and not have enough for your players to trade.
Luckily, we put together this guide to help you decide when you should order your baseball pins, and how many to order.
Team baseball pins are collectible pins that can have the team name, player names, year, and other cool stats about your team on display. You can collect and trade other team's pins to have a great souvenir of the teams and games from that year.
Having custom baseball trading pins can be a great way to boost team confidence and morale. Players will be glad to have an official pin celebrating their accomplishments as a team.
First, you should consider when you want your team members to get the pins. Do you want to give them to your players for their first game? Or save it for the tournament?
If you want your players to have team baseball pins from the start of the season, you may want to order more than if you are just ordering them for the tournament.
Your players may want to trade pins throughout the season with other teams, and you'll want to have enough for them to trade with all the teams you'll play.
Many teams give the players their pins when they go to a tournament to celebrate the big game. This is a great time for players to get to know other baseball players and even make lifelong friends.
Once you decide when you want to get the players their pins, you'll need to know what kind of pins you are ordering so you can order in advance. There are a variety of customizations that can make for some really cool tradable pins, but these will take longer to make.
Generally, it can take anywhere from 3 days to 4 weeks to get custom pins made and delivered. You can get some ready-made USSSA pins or stock shape and size pins in as little as four business days. So this can be a great option if you're in a hurry.
If you're looking for custom baseball trading pins, creation and delivery can take up to 8-12 days for offset printed pins, or up to 3 weeks for enamel pins. Just to be safe, it's a good idea to order these pins about a month in advance of the big event or tournament.
When you're looking to order custom pins, you need to consider your budget. It can be cheaper to get some standard custom pins in bulk. Adding extra features such as glitter or spinners can cost extra per pin.
First, consider your total pin budget, and the total number of pins you want to order. This can help you determine a good price on how much you are willing to pay for each one. Pins with lots of customization options might take a little longer to produce, so make sure you're ordering them well in advance!
Once you've decided on a good price for the pin, you can start looking at what customization options you can afford to get the coolest pins you can for trading.
Having a cool pin means that many players will want to trade for it at the tournament. This also increases its value as a collectible item later on.
Finally, consider the economic effects of supply and demand. You want to make sure to order enough pins to keep all your players happy, without having too many that they won't be worth as much later on.
While the big pin trading teams sometimes buy up to 30-50 pins per player, there is no need for Little League teams to have that many.
If you are giving the pins to the players right before the tournament, you only need about as many Little League pins per player on your team as there are the number of teams playing, plus a few extras to give to their friends and family.
This way, players can usually collect a complete set if they find the right people to trade with. If you have around 15 players on the team, and you have a huge tournament of 16 teams, you'll want to order around 250-300 pins at least.
For smaller tournaments, you might not need quite that many, and you can always decide to order fewer to keep costs down. We also have a guide that can help you calculate how many pins to order based on your team.
Don't forget to order extra pins, just in case. Kids have a way of losing small items, especially if they have access to them for longer than just the tournament. Your players might also want to give some extra pins to their grandparents, other relatives, or friends from school.
Trading USSSA pins is a great pastime for Little League baseball players, and it can be a lot of fun to find rare and popular pins from other teams. It can also be a blast to ask your team members for their input on how to design your team's custom baseball trading pins.
Make sure you order about a month in advance for custom pins, or at least a week in advance for stock pins, and make sure you order enough pins for everyone on your team to be able to trade with all their friends.
Ready to order your custom USSSA baseball pins? Get a quote from us today! We can help you save money on your pins with stock shapes or help you create a fully customized pin to help your team stand out.
Pin trading is an activity where the players trade pins with other participants. Collecting these pins can be done by visiting team sponsors, swapping with friends, or trading at larger, competitive events. Pin trading is popular inside and outside of youth sports. For example, you can even find trading pins for theme parks.
Baseball is a great sport for pin trading, as there are plenty of opportunities to collect pins celebrating your team, as well as other teams that you play against. Many baseball players end up with quite the collection of pins from their days in youth sports. Here are some things to know about pin trading.
Baseball trading pins are wearable metal pins with unique designs that are also used to trade with other enthusiasts. The design of the pins can be anything that you like. We take custom orders, but we also have a large selection of options to choose from.
The trading pins can feature baseball bats and balls, mascots, and scoreboards. Depending on the size of the pin, each player’s name can be listed on the pin. Many baseball trading pins depict information from the tournament or league that ordered it. For instance, regional and national pins are extremely popular.
Baseball pins are usually traded by people who want to collect the pins and commemorate the youth baseball experience. It’s a social activity, too. Surprisingly, there are many groups of people that trade or collect baseball pins.
Youth baseball players love to collect trading pins, especially pins that feature graphics of their team or the tournaments that they participate in. They can trade pins with the players on other teams so that they can remember all of the teams they played against.
Siblings of youth baseball players also love to trade pins, as they wait for games to start and watch their brothers and sisters play. This can give them an opportunity to feel involved in their sibling’s sport. Some youth teams even order extra knowing that siblings would love to have one, too.
Each season is a new opportunity for youth baseball coaches to mentor and get to know a group of players. Coaches often love to collect pins for the special events and team members of the baseball teams they lead.
The parents of Youth baseball players often pay a lot of money for their children to participate in team sports. Having a baseball trading pin to keep is a great way to remember their children’s time spent in baseball leagues long after their kids graduate or move on to playing other sports. It’s always a good practice to keep families involved with baseball in this way.
Aside from parents, there are other family members of youth baseball players that might also love to have a trading pin. This includes grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles that attend the games to cheer their player on.
Sponsors that invest in your youth league may also love to have a baseball trading pin to thank them for their investment.
Local businesses may also want to display baseball pins from local teams, either as decoration or as part of a special promotion for end of season parties or other events.
There are so many places where you can trade or distribute pins for youth baseball players. Here are some of the most common ones:
Baseball trading pins are often distributed at games. This is especially true for the first and last games of the season, as these are the perfect points to really celebrate the team. However, trading can happen at any game. Some teams like to announce in advance that there will be a new pin available, so players can bring their pins from home to trade with other players. In other cases, coaches and parents like to surprise players.
Tournaments are wonderful places to get limited edition pins, such as blackout versions of team pins. It’s not uncommon to see fully upgraded pins with lights, spinners, bobbles, glitter, and glow in the dark paint distributed during these events. Tournaments include regionals and nationals.
Fun social events, such as the end of season party, lend themselves to trading pins. Getting new trading pins is an exciting time. It can make the social event seem even more exciting, if players know that they’ll get a new pin by participating. Be sure to advertise that players can get new pins by attending a social event as a way to increase RSVPs and attendance.
Sometimes you can get special baseball trading pins by visiting the businesses of sponsors. For instance, a sports restaurant might sponsor jerseys and give away pins or special discounts to players and their families that visit their establishment wearing jerseys or on certain nights.
Technically, players can trade baseball trading pins anywhere, including at party events, or at school. In terms of officially sanctioned baseball league events, they can trade pins at baseball games, social events, and most importantly tournaments. These are great opportunities to encourage all team members to participate in trading together.
To display the baseball trading pins at home or during trading events, players will need a way to store their pins. There are many options for how to store trading pins that can be easy to carry and look great. Some teams give away pin storage cases with team information on it at end of season parties for gifts to the players.
Youth baseball trading pins provide lots of opportunities for fun and memory making. It’s not a surprise that it’s become a tradition for many teams across the United States. For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out and complete our online form and we will be happy to assist you further.
Did you know that baseball has the highest participation of all team sports in the United States, with over 26 million participants? Every team from the little league to the professionals is experiencing a huge increase in players. Kids and adults alike love baseball.
As with any sport, motivation is key, especially when you're dealing with younger players. Boosting team spirit and celebrating achievements within the sport keeps your players engaged and excited to play.
You can accomplish all of these things with baseball pins. Baseball pins encourage and support your players while keeping them enthusiastic about their sport, all just with a shining piece of enamel. Read on to learn how to build team spirit with Cooperstown baseball pins!
You've probably heard the phrase "teamwork makes the dream work." In sports, this is a tested and proven phenomenon.
Team spirit is a feeling of trust, loyalty, and respect between your players. The more team spirit they have, the more pride they'll feel in their team. This results in greater performance, as they're inspired to do well for their teammates.
Team spirit leads to higher levels of morale, and better teamwork. Your team will enjoy more wins and have tons more fun on the pitch.
Team spirit can build naturally, but you can also help it along with team-building activities and some swag. Cooperstown baseball team pins give your players something tangible that represents the team you're building. It gives them something to hold onto and strive for and makes them feel appreciated and respected.
All of these aspects increase the amount of pride your players have in their team, and make them more likely to stick with it!
Confidence is essential for a good performance on the field. Confidence can be a fickle beast, especially when working with younger players.
Sports is a great way for kids and adults alike to build confidence. Seeing themselves grow and perform well gives them a concrete source of self-esteem. You can foster this feeling in your players by rewarding them for their achievements.
Pins for exceptional play boost confidence, making even your most underconfident players more brave and proud. And, when they're feeling low, they can look at the pins as a reminder of all the things they've done well and feel encouraged.
Sometimes your players will be nervous before big matches. This insecurity can easily be driven away by the tangible record of their achievements. With pins that reflect big wins and personal success, your team will have a sense of security and confidence, even before scary games.
In a recently published study, groups of students were told to make as much origami as they could within 20 minutes. In the one group, no recognition was given. In another group, the top performer was recognized with public acclaim.
After the acclaim, the test was repeated. In teams where top performers were recognized, both team and individual performance increased. In teams with no recognition, no improvement occurred.
In light of this, using Cooperstown pins to reward high performers can improve the performance of everyone on the team, and how well they work together. Celebrating individuals and the team as a whole will greatly improve your team's performance.
You can order custom pins for things like the most improved player, most valuable player, most home runs, most bases stolen, and more! In addition, you can order end-of-season pins to celebrate the achievements of the year!
In addition to recognizing achievements and boosting morale, you can improve your team's sportsmanship by keeping a large quantity on hand and allowing your players to trade pins with other teams.
Trading pins keeps a record of games played, important victories, valuable learning experiences. In addition, trading with other teams fosters good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat. Sportsmanlike conduct is a valuable life skill, and one of the main reasons why parents enroll their kids in team sports.
Learning how to compete in a healthy way develops the player's humility, compassion, and allows them to make more friends.
In addition, trading pins can increase your reputation, allowing you to get more noticed. The more people talk about you, the better it is for your team and your players!
In order to calculate how many Cooperstown trading pins to order, multiply the number of games during a season by the average number of players on a team. Don't forget coaches and bat boys!
When you players have team pins, they're easy to identify. Fans can easily see top players and big achievements, making them cheer more. The louder the cheers, the better your team feels!
In addition, if your players have a lot of pins on their outfits, recruiters and other managers can pick up on them quickly. This is a great motivator for your team members!
Now that you understand some of the benefits of baseball pins, there's no reason to hesitate. Start ordering pins for your team and experience the difference. Your team will be more confident, they'll work better together, and they'll be more gracious in defeat and in victory.
At Cooperstown, we pride ourselves on making high-quality pins for all your team's needs. Custom pins for Cooperstown are our passion, and we love helping your team reach its full potential. Reach out to us today for a free quote on your pins!
Someone thought long and hard about your baseball team's logo. They probably envisioned it being printed on shirts and hats and maybe even as a bumper sticker. But have you thought about turning your team logo into a baseball pin?
There are a few good reasons why adding trading pins can work in your favor on many levels for your team.
A good baseball pin is durable, painted and sealed so that the colors don't fade or chip with use. And that's great considering so many people will have the chance to see your team's logo because of the pin!
Pins are an easy way for kids or other fans of your baseball team to show support. A baseball pin can be attached to a collar or a shirt; it can be pinned to jean pockets or stuck onto a bookbag or other luggage.
Supporters of your team will likely sport their pins on gamedays, traveling from the stands to the vendors and back again while showing off your baseball trading pin.
Even when they aren't at the games, team supporters can wear a baseball pin out to strike up conversations and draw a little more attention to your team. Regardless of where it's worn, the pin is like a traveling marketing piece showcasing the ongoing support of your baseball team.
If you haven't heard of the world of pin trading, then you have been missing out on a practical addition to the sporting world.
You might have heard about pin trading at theme parks, birthday parties, and even the Olympic Games, but baseball games are a perfect time, too.
Pin trading allows for kids (or adults, we're not judging) a chance to interact with either fellow supporters or those from another team. Pin traders will meet before or after a game and trade pins for others that they prefer.
Pin trading is especially popular for little league baseball teams, where kids build their own networks of friends based on the trading game. Similar to any other collectible (like coins, cards, toys, etc.), it's something to take pride in.
Players and fans can get involved and develop relationships with people they might not have otherwise. And if you do your trading pin right, you might discover that your team can become a trend during baseball trading season.
Players endure a lot during baseball season: the physical aches of practices and games, the time and energy required for the sport, the taunts of rival teams, living up to expectations... it's a lot.
What wyou can do to help your baseball team is bring out their fans and show love and support by making customized pins for their team.
When they feel they have fans who support them and are wearing their customized baseball pins, you might find that their performance goes up.
If you're interested in taking your baseball pins to the next step for your baseball team, definitely consider a reliable pin company that makes quality products. Our company, Baseball Trading Pins, has been a leader in pin manufacturing since 2003. We have helped thousands of baseball teams! We have a talented team of artists and knowledgable customer care team to help you every step of the way with your next pin design.
Contact us today for a quote or browse through our blog to learn more about trading pins! You can also call us at:
If you play baseball and you haven't been introduced to the world of baseball trading pins, you're missing out.
This tradition is almost as timeless as the sport itself, and many people find great joy in this past-time. It offers players and fans alike a chance to share their love for baseball with something special.
But why are trading pins so special? It's really up to the beholder, but they can stand for the team effort.
These items represent the trials and tribulations that finally got you that championship win. Other pins in your collection might represent teams that you admire.
Not to mention that you can even find trading pins beyond the world of sports!
If you've never collected anything before, it can be difficult to know where to start. That's why, in this article, we're discussing how you can start your own baseball trading pins collection. Keep reading to learn more.
This tradition has its roots in the 1920s in Rochester, NY. It was a bakery that started the trend by distributing pinback buttons that featured hometown heroes or baseball players. You could collect a pin with each purchase of a loaf of bread, and the pins came in sets for collection and/or trade.
These original trading pins are quite valuable today. Fans wear them and collect them for various reasons that include supporting a team or honoring its history.
There are several different kinds of baseball trading pins that you can find for your collection:
Many collectors that are just starting out begin with soft enamel pins. They are long lasting and affordable.
Stock trading pins are simple and basic without personalized details.
Offset digital pins use designs that are encrypted on a metal plate. Photo-etched pins display images.
No matter what type of baseball trading pins you prefer, you should start a collection.
Trading pins is a great way to get involved in your sport. You can make new friends among those who collect and show support for all of your favorite teams. You can even trade with other players from different states and regions to expand your collection further.
Collecting trading pins will give you something to talk about during the downtime at games and off the field. It's even more exciting when you find someone who has a pin that you've been looking for. Now, which pins are you willing to trade for that one special pin?
That's the fun in it. See how many pins you can collect in a season, and think about which friends you enjoy trading with the most. Remember that you can keep collecting for your whole life, so the opportunities to find your favorite pins are endless.
Start by finding baseball trading pins that really catch your eye. Pins that represent your own team are a good starting point too. You can also ask your friends if they have duplicates of any pins they may have collected.
You only need one pin to start collecting. Later, it will feel like a game to see when and where you'll find your next pins. Hopefully, it's not too challenging, and you'll be well on your way to a fine collection in no time.
Now that you have a few trading pins in your inventory, check everything you've collected so far.
You want to make sure you know which pins you have, and which ones mean the most to you. This can help you organize your pins, which will prevent you from accidentally trading them.
If you have any duplicates, ask your friends if they're up for trading something. Or you can wait until the next game and see if there are other players with pins that you might not ordinarily find.
Keep duplicates separated from the rest so you'll be able to access them easier when it comes the time to trade.
Believe it or not, baseball trading pins can hold significant value.
It's not likely that your local team pin is worth more than what you paid for it. Who knows, maybe you'll even find one of those original trading pins from the 1920s!
The Internet is a good place to start researching values. You can also take your pins to a local collector's shop where they may be able to assess their worth for you.
Look up trading pin forums and collector's sites online. Don't forget to ask questions.
Don't ever give up a pin if you think it holds value. Do your research first.
Beyond catching up with the other players at your games, try to find out where other pinheads are.
You can find pin meets where collectors come from far and wide to see what other pin collectors have. These are extremely social events that add a little dose of competition to the mix.
Ask teammates and fellow collectors where to find a pin meet near you.
Check online forums to find out where other collectors are meeting in your region or state.
The most important thing to collecting trading pins is to have fun.
This is an awesome hobby for many sports enthusiasts who want to further involve themselves in this awesome sport.
Don't be let down by a shutout. Get out there and trade some baseball pins with your opponents, and make friends.
Starting a new baseball trading pins collection is exciting because you'll have an opportunity to share with all of your friends.
As you get older, your pins might even be worth some money. Not to mention the sentimental value they hold for years to come.
Look for other 'pinheads', those that also enjoy collecting these items, so you can have others to trade with. You can easily display your pins on a cap or backpack so that they know you're interested in trading too.
Keep this timeless tradition alive by starting your own collection today. You won't be disappointed.
If you're interested in purchasing baseball trading pins, or if you have questions, contact us. We offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee!
Hello Pin Traders! Today’s post talks about another one of our most frequently asked questions: What size pin should I get for my team? This article should lead you in the right direction:
As the baseball trading pins size reflects the amount of material used and shipping weight, sports pin size has a direct correlation to price, which is often the most important factor our customers consider. Using your budget is often a good place to start with your trading pin size.
If you know roughly how many pins you’re ordering (check out this article if you don’t) and divide your budget by that number, you can get a good starting point for your trading pin size.
For baseball, 2.0” pins are the most common to the tune of 70% of our orders. With a 2.0” pin the amount of detail typically incorporated on a trading pin can be included and made highly visible.
Just because 2.0” is the norm does not mean it’s the best for you, especially when it comes to tradability (For more on tradability check out this article). If most of the trading pins your kids are trading for are 2.0”, 12 year old logic dictates anything larger will be more popular. We’re not saying you need to go all the way to 3.0” to stand out. As trading pins are 2D, a 3”x3” pin (9 sq in) is more than twice the area of a 2”x2” (4 sq in) pin, so the price jump is considerable.
2.25” pins are a great way to stand out without incurring too much cost, especially if you’re buying less because of the increased size. Not to say only larger pins are more popular, a well designed 1.75” pin with some catchy upgrades will trade much better than a simple 2.0” pin.
When deciding on a trading pin size, another item to consider is the amount of detail going on in your trading pin design. In another article we talked about details to include on your design. If a detail is important enough to include on the pin you want to make sure it’s big enough to see. The more you want to include on your pin, the better off you are with a larger size. Player names, for example, don’t show well on an enamel pin 2.0” or smaller unless they are the primary focus of the pin, as shown below
Printed trading pins can include more detail at a smaller size, if you’re curious to learn more about the different styles we offer, check out this article: What's the difference between baseball trading pin styles.
Our artists have designed thousands upon thousands of pins so and they will certainly make recommendations throughout the design process, so if you’re stuck by all means ask us during your design process.
To find out more about these pins, click the red ‘Get Pricing Now’ button below, or give us a call at 888-998-1746 to get started on your teams design today!
Collectible trading pins have been around for over one hundred years and continue to be popular among sports fans, players, and collectors, alike. But, there's more to trading pins than simple trinkets that attract the eye. Trading pins as a pastime is just as much about tradition as it is about supporting your favorite team or sports players.
Knowing the history of the trading pin will only make you a more popular person to trade with. Not to mention that you'll feel a sense of connection to those that started the tradition and have a shot at becoming a part of history yourself.
If you've always wondered about the history of the trading pin, then you're in the right place. In this article we're discussing how it all began and why collecting baseball trading pins should be a priority for your team. Keep reading to learn more.
Once you know all about the history of the trading pin, you can share your knowledge with other pin traders to help keep the tradition alive. The history is what makes it all so fun and exciting in the first place. And, regardless of your affiliation to the pastime, you'll be better equipped to find pins for yourself and your friends or family that make an impact on your collections.
In today's day and age, it's actually difficult to find a reason NOT to collect trading pins. Many sports teams from youth leagues to professional enterprises engage in creating, designing, and trading pins as a way to promote team spirit among players and fans. Some people trade pins solely as a hobby, even if they don't usually participate in the events for which the trading pins are made.
Many baseball pin traders have probably heard the story about how trading pins got their start. For baseball, in particular, it began in the 1920s in Rochester, New York when a local bakery began distributing pinback buttons featuring local baseball players. The bakery offered the pins in four-packs for collection or trade.
But, the real origin of the trading pin itself began at the end of the 19th century in Athens, Greece. It was the first Olympic games where athletes, judges, and officials all wore different cardboard discs with multiple colors to identify themselves. Wearing, distributing, and trading such type pins eventually evolved into the custom that we know today.
When the first Olympic Village opened in Paris in 1924, trading pins grew in popularity because athletes had more frequent contact with each other and officials. Each country featured its own pin. It was not long after that spectators took an interest in trading pins and collections which eventually urged Olympic organizers to limit the number of pins produced in order to maintain exclusivity.
By now, it was 1948 and pin trading and collecting was becoming a popular hobby. Sports fans began organizing their own trading events and the tradition took off with great enthusiasm.
In 1988, Coca-Cola saw an opportunity to get in on the fun and set up an official pin trading center at the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. This was the first time a corporation became involved with pin trading and it was a great success. Some people arrived at the Games just for the pin trading rather than to watch any sports.
Ever since Coca-Cola's promotion and dedication to pin trading started, it has become known as the number one spectator sport at the Olympic Games. There are now thousands of designs and millions of pins and collectors found throughout the world.
Disneyland parks have always carried pins for their guests to purchase and collect. But, it wasn't until the Millennium Celebration in 1999 when pin trading was introduced at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The Disneyland Resort in California soon followed.
Now pin trading is popular at Disneyland Parks worldwide. This was the first time in history that a corporation unaffiliated with sports became involved with the tradition of trading pins and it has been a great success. Each branch of Disney, including Disney Cruise Lines, has their own pins and trading traditions.
Many pin traders, known as pinheads, started their collections by finding trading pins that they really love. These can be pins that are colorful and made with soft enamel to photo-etched pins that depict their favorite sports players. They started trading as a way to broaden their collections as well as make new friends.
Whether you enjoy sports as a player or a fan, or you're just intrigued by the many different types and styles of pins, it's a good reason to collect and trade. You'll not only have fun, but you'll also have something to brag about when your collection takes off.
Make a game of it in itself and see how many pins you can collect in a given year or season. Think of your friends when you're trading so that you'll have something to share with them when you find a pin that they've been looking for. Best of all, create a tradition in your family that's sure to last for generations.
The tradition of collecting pins is a pastime for many that enjoy sports and other events like scholarly competitions. Some pins even hold significant value depending on how old they are and how many are in circulation. If you're lucky, you may find rare pins that not only add value to your collection but also motivates other pinheads to trade with you.
Trading sports pins is all about camaraderie on and off the playing the field. Whether you're a player or a fan, trading pins is a great way to make lasting friendships. You may even build your own network of pinheads to trade with on a regular basis so that your collection remains diverse and up to date at all times.
If you want to be a part of the history of the trading pin and start your own collection, feel free to contact us! We've been manufacturing and distributing baseball trading pins since 2003 and we look forward to helping you get involved with this timeless tradition.
Looking to make your own custom trading pin? We can help,. Fill out our online form to begin!
Do you want to get your baseball trading pin design just right?
There are over 2 million little league baseball players in the U.S. It's a way to learn skills and lessons that will last a lifetime.
Baseball is about teamwork, community, and camaraderie.
A way to commemorate that community and the lessons learned are through trading pins. You want the pins to stay with the kids as long as the life lessons they learn.
That's where a good eye for design comes into play. A good baseball trading pin design will be remembered for years to come.
Keep reading to learn how to design a baseball pin that people will want for a long time.
When you're beginning the design process, you'll want to start out by brainstorming ideas. Ask yourself a few basic questions about the trading pins.
When you start to think about the end result, it becomes easier to decide how you want your trading pins to look.
You'll also want to think about how someone feels when they receive the pin. The reason why pins are traded and have such a long history is that the pin creates an emotional connection between players, teams, and events. Will they be excited to have a baseball trading pin from your club?
Start to jot down ideas and sketches on paper. Note if there are any elements you want in the design, such as a logo or a symbol.
You'll want to look at other trading pins for a couple of reasons. The first is that if you want your baseball pins to be a collectible, you need a baseball trading pin design that stands out.
The second reason is that you can draw inspiration from other pin designs.
Trading pins come in all sorts of shapes and designs, and it helps to know what you like about certain pins and what you don't like about other pins.
You can take that knowledge and apply it in your own design.
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When it comes to basic elements of design, there are a number of things to consider. Color, symbols, text, logos, and spacing all have an impact on the final product.
Symbols & Icons
In baseball, there are typical icons. There's the baseball diamond, bat, baseball, glove, and home plate, just to name a few.
If you want to have a pin that stands out, you can move beyond the typical imagery and have a pin shaped like your team's state instead. That's a great option if your little league team travels to tournaments all over the country.
Another symbol or icon to add to your design is a logo. You can add the logo of your team into the design for an added boost of recognition.
Colors
Did you know that colors have psychological meanings?
Before you automatically put your team's colors on the pin, think about the impact and connection you want your pin to make. Match that up with the colors in your pin.
Text
The main point of the text you use is to keep it easy to read and keep it to a minimum. You probably don't need a big fancy font if it's going to be difficult to read. A lot of teams like to add their team numbers, baseball team name, or team players first names. Get creative!
You can spice up your trading pin design by adding a little sparkle to it.
Trading pin enhancements include items such as crystals, sparkles, and glitter can attract attention and make your baseball pin design become an instant hit.
Good design is usually very simple. There are only a few elements and that's it. You don't need to add too much information because it will detract from the design.
Remember that first impressions are everything. People will look at your baseball pin very quickly. If they can't figure out immediately what the pin is about and who it's from, they'll quickly move on to something else.
If your design is simple, they'll be able to know what the pin is immediately and make that connection.
For a very simple pin, have the design feature the team's logo, name, and location. Another simple pin includes a tournament name, the year and location, and a little bling.
Now it's up to you to test your design. Mock up a few ideas on paper or by using trading pin design software.
Take your ideas and show them to other people for feedback. You can ask other coaches, players, and parents for their thoughts. Keep it to a few people so you don't get overwhelmed with feedback. Don't take it personally. Good design rarely happens on the first try.
Take the feedback and apply what you heard into a new design. You can take it for another round of feedback, or if you're happy with the design, go with it.
Now that you have your design down, you'll want to pick your material for your pin. There are two main types of pins to choose from for your custom design.
Soft enamel is the highest quality material that gives you the most options for your designs. This is a good fit if you have colors that you don't want to bleed together. You can get different types of metals such as silver or brass.
Offset printing is the best choice if your design has a lot of details or if you would prefer not to have colors separated by metal lines.
Baseball trading pins have a long history. They're a hit with collectors, players and parents alike.
Baseball trading pin design isn't difficult as long as you know what people are looking for in a trading pin and know the basic elements of good design.
If you'd like to get started with baseball pins for your team, we can help.
Contact us today if you have any questions or fill out the quote form below.
Hello Pin Traders! A Sports Trading Pin encapsulates the full identity of a team when you present at the tournaments. With limited real-estate on a sports trading pin, a question we often get from parents What details should you put on your sports trading pin design? As there is no right or wrong answer, we’ll look at what teams typically put on pins to give you a better idea heading into your pin design.
Team City (Region), Mascot (Logo) & Team Name: This one is obvious; often the most prominent part of the pin is the Team Mascot or Logo, often centered between the City or Region name and the Team name which is depicted by the logo.
State: Although typically left off in a local or regional tournament, the home state of the team is typically next in prominence for a) Teams playing in a national tournament like Cooperstown or a World Series event or b) Teams playing in an out of state tournament where they are one of a few teams hailing from a certain state.
This is occasionally referenced with the state name or nickname written on the pin, but more often than not, the state is represent in in outline, either as part of the pin design or containing the other elements of the design. As pins are sized by the longer of length & width, it’s a good idea to avoid making a narrow state the entire pin outline. Often with a state like New Jersey or Delaware we’ll incorporate the state outline as part of the design but not make it the entire outline.
Player Identifiers: Including the Player’s Numbers, Names, or both is quite common, and in my honest opinion, recommended. The look on a kids face when he or she sees their identifier on a trading pin is priceless. Numbers are the easiest to include, often placed on baseballs surrounding the pin design, but an easy way to stand out is to a less common holder like gloves, batting helmets, or bats. Names can give even more meaning, but be aware they introduce intricacy. Although Numbers are either one or two digits, names can vary in length and force a compromise in size to other design elements or require a larger pin size to achieve a legible final product.
The Year: Team names are recycled within organizations so a good idea to put the current year on the pin. For kids that trade multiple years this also helps identity pins in the future.
Age Group: If playing in a tournament hosting multiple age groups its typical for teams to put their age group on the pin, like 12U, 10U. This is almost always left off for tournaments like Cooperstown where are teams are the same age group.
Baseball Themes: It’s common for team logo’s to incorporate a baseball element like a bat or a ball, but even still many teams include baseball themes like a Diamond or full field, a bat or crossed bats, a baseball or glove, home plate or a base, sometimes even a scoreboard.
Region Identifiers: Often when team logo’s are non-existent or less prominent, region identifiers are included. Some examples: a team from the Bay Area including the golden gate bridge, a team from New York with an outline of lady liberty or the Empire State building, or a team from the coast having sand & palm tree. Don’t be afraid to include local flavor if you’re from a small town, something less known can be a great ice breaker at trading time.
Upgrades: Pins in the ‘popular’ threshold typically include upgrades. Most pins will include 1-2 or more of: Glitter, Crystals, Glow Enamel, Blinkers, or a second pin that slides, spins, or dangles (called sliders, spinners, and danglers). Make sure to check our article on Maximizing Tradability to see how upgrades can actually save you money!
To find out more about these pins, click the red ‘Get Pricing Now’ button below, or give us a call at 888-998-1746 to get started on your teams design today!