McSweeney’s Author Trading Cards Bring Lit Legends to Life.

McSweeney’s has delivered the ultimate nostalgia hit with a brand-new twist: Author Trading Cards in classic baseball card style. Instead of home run heroes, caped crusaders, or pocket-sized monsters, this collectible set finally gives the spotlight to the true literary all-stars.

The last time I ripped open a pack of bubblegum trading cards was way back in the 90s, when every stick of gum felt like a coin toss between sugary bliss and a shard of pink concrete. But oh, when you scored a fresh one, powder-dusted, soft, and chewy. It was a pure playground jackpot. That sweet rush is burned into my memory, and honestly, it makes me want to collect cards all over again.

McSweeney’s Author Cards are available in three sets: the first released with their 74th issue, followed by Series 2 and Series 3. Each pack celebrates iconic writers who have shaped modern literature, including Octavia Butler, Judy Blume, Lauren Groff, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, George Saunders, Sarah Vowell, and Kurt Vonnegut.

For decades, fans have traded athletes, superheroes, and fantasy creatures, but now readers and book lovers can finally collect their own deck of storytelling giants. These cards are witty, nostalgic, and designed to be cherished by anyone who loves books, writing, or just the thrill of cracking open a new pack of cards.

Whether you grew up chasing bubblegum cards in the schoolyard or you’re just looking for a fresh kind of literary collectible, McSweeney’s Author Trading Cards are the perfect mix of old-school fun and bookish brilliance. It’s like a bubblegum hall of fame minus the rock-hard gum, but filled with stories worth chewing on.