Over the course of the past three decades, custom trading pins have become hugely popular in Little League baseball. The pins have become a worldwide symbol of the teamwork, camaraderie and friendship that sports can engender. The growth of custom trading pins has paralleled the growth of Little League and other youth sports leagues in recent years.

Custom trading pins are popular in other games as well, but they are an enormous part of youth baseball and softball leagues. The popularity of custom trading pins in Little League has grown exponentially every year since the 1980s. In some areas, the trading pins are almost as popular as the baseball games themselves.

It’s not hard to understand why custom trading pins are so popular. They’re small, which makes them easy to collect and carry. Their attractive artwork appeals to both children and adults alike. And last but not least, they’re affordable enough that just about anyone can build a substantial collection of custom trading pins.

Another contributing factor is that custom trading pins can easily be linked to specific events such as tournaments. They can serve as reminders of events collectors of custom trading pins have attended.

Custom trading pins originated early in the 1900s, when Olympic athletes and officials began trading pins from their native countries. The movement caught on as a way to share the spirit of unity the Olympics engender. Around the time of the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980, spectators started trading too. Three years later Little League Baseball introduced its first official custom trading pins, an act that really prompted the hobby of collecting custom trading pins to soar.

A few simple tips can make ordering custom trading pins fast, fun and easy. With some advance preparation your team will have the coolest trading pins at the tournaments.

The main thing to keep in mind is easy: Order your custom trading pins as early as you possibly can. If you wait ‘til tourney time, it might be too late to get your team’s custom trading pins in time for the big game.

There’s a good reason for that. Every year, millions of custom trading pins are ordered. By the heart of the season, June and July, every factory in the world that produces custom trading pins has a lengthy backlog of orders waiting to be filled. That means it takes longer for the pins to get made and shipped to you.

When it comes to pin design, bigger pins trade better than smaller ones, so keep that in mind when you order your custom trading pins. Then you can boost your pins’ trading power with options.

Available add-ons really increase the "wow" factor of your custom trading pins, making them something that others will be clamoring to trade for. Common options include glitter enamel, bobble heads, spinners, sliders, even LED lights. A good supplier of custom trading pins can help you create the design that’s perfect for your team.

No matter what style you choose, you really can’t go wrong with custom trading pins. Players, coaches, parents and officials are sure to love them. Find a reputable supplier of custom trading pins and you’re all set for the greatest season your team has ever seen!