OPC, which stands for O-Pee-Chee, is a Canadian brand of sport trading cards that was founded in 1948 and produced cards featuring Major League Baseball players from that point until 2008. While it started as a subsidiary brand to Topps baseball cards in the United States, OPC became popular in its own right among Canadian collectors and gained recognition as a premium brand for quality photographs and card stock paper.
Some key facts and background on OPC baseball cards:
OPC was launched as a licensee brand of Topps in Canada to manufacture and distribute the same cards but with French language packaging and instructions to meet Canadian language laws. Topps produced the cards and OPC handled sales and distribution.
Early OPC sets from the 1950s and 1960s featured the same photography and designs as the corresponding Topps issues but with both English and French text on the fronts and backs. This included the famous 1952 Topps set which is considered the most iconic in the hobby.
OPC introduced color photography to baseball cards ahead of Topps starting in the late 1960s. This included the use of color action shots, team colors, and color team logo designs that made the cards stand out on the racks.
The superior card stock paper used by OPC gave the cards a higher quality feel compared to the thinner stock used by Topps at the time. This added to their appeal among collectors in Canada and worldwide.
Iconic OPC sets include the 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1973 issues which featured innovative photographic techniques like action close-ups, posed team shots, and amazing color photography that pushed the limits of trading card photography.
OPC became the dominant baseball card brand in Canada during the 1970s, surpassing Topps in popularity due to the creative designs and photography Showcased in their annual issues.
In the 1980s, OPC transitioned to producing sets that were distinct from Topps with original photo selections, factual error corrections, and in some cases new player imaging rights that gave the Canadian issues a separate identity.
Rookie cards of Hall of Fame players like Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, Dwight Gooden, and Ozzie Smith were first introduced in OPC sets before being featured in the 1986 Topps rookie class.
OPC became the official on-card sponsor of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame starting in 1992, giving the brand prestige and profile as a supporter of the sport in Canada. Cards honored inductees each year.
In the 1990s, OPC introduced innovative sets focused on streaks, records, playoff performances and other specialized topics beyond the standard season review format that dominated the industry.
High-end inserts featuring autographs, memorabilia, and serially numbered parallels pushed the company to produce some of the premium baseball card products of the decade.
From 1995 on, OPC and Topps existed as separate identities with no shared imagery or designs between the Canadian and American issues, allowing more creative freedom for both brands.
Late 1990s/2000s OPC sets like Diamond Kings, Clubhouse Collection, and Legacy captured the vibrant excitement of MLB through creative photographic techniques and cutting-edge card designs.
In 2006, The Upper Deck Company acquired the production rights for OPC from Topps. This new partnership moved distribution to the United States for the first time.
The final OPC baseball card set was 2008 OPC Platinum, featuring rookie cards of superstars like Ryan Braun, Tim Lincecum, and Hunter Pence in a luxury presentation format.
While no longer actively producing new cards after 2008, OPC remains one of the most collected vintage baseball brands worldwide due to the innovative photography, memorable designs, and association with the national pastime in Canada during the 20th century hobby boom.
Vintage OPC rookie cards, autographs, and rare parallel inserts command strong prices in the trading card secondary market. Icons like the 1969 and 1972 sets regularly break record prices in auctions.
The brand maintains popularity with a loyal collector base to this day and memories of OPC’s groundbreaking photography and presentation inspire modern sports card publishers to experiment with new techniques and creative card designs.
While OPC began as a subsidiary brand to Topps, it grew into a creative force that raised the photography and design standards for the baseball card industry from the late 1960s onward. Connecting fans to the MLB experience through memorable images and exclusive Canadian player rights, OPC cards defined the hobby experience for generations of collectors in Canada. Even after pack production ended, the innovative legacy of this storied brand lives on.Here is a 16,555 character article on OPC baseball cards:
OPC (Ontario Province Contest) is a brand of Canadian sports and entertainment trading cards published by Topps, the iconic American collectibles company known worldwide for its trading cards and confections. While Topps is best known for its American sports card releases, OPC carved out its own niche from the late 1980s through the early 2000s as a popular brand for Canadian collectors focused on hockey but also touching on other sports with a Canadian flair like baseball.
OPC got its start in 1987 by issuing sets spotlighting players from the Ontario Hockey League junior circuit before expanding into the National Hockey League in subsequent years. The brand became a destination for collectors north of the border seeking out hockey cards of Canadian and international stars playing in both Canadian major junior and the NHL. OPC releases tended to have a sharper, more photo-realistic visual style than comparable Topps hockey sets of the era that made the cards attractive additions for any hockey collection.
While hockey was always OPC’s bread and butter, the brand dabbled in other sports with Canadian connections over the years. This included various baseball sets in the late 1980s and 1990s highlighting Canadian major leaguers as well as prospects in the minor league system. OPC was one of the few trading card companies at the time that recognized baseball’s presence outside the United States by dedicating sets to Canadians playing America’s pastime.
One of OPC’s earliest forays into baseball was the 1988 Canadian All-Star Baseball set. Featuring 100 cards, it spotlighted both professional players from north of the border as well as Canadian-born prospects in the minors. Notable major leaguers in the set included pitcher Ted Lilly and infielder Matt Stairs. The cards had a colorful design with action photos and basic career stats on the front and player biographies on the back.
In 1989, OPC followed up with the OPC Canadian Baseball set at a larger 120 cards. This edition expanded the rookie and prospect coverage to also focus on Canadians playing collegiate ball for US universities. Future big leaguers in the set included pitcher Joey Eischen, who had a 10-year MLB career after being drafted in 1990. The visual design remained very similar to 1988 with colorful borders around large action photos and more detailed player bios on the rear.
During the early 1990s, OPC continued issuing annual OPC Canadian Baseball sets as the pipeline of Canadian players in the minors and majors grew. The 100-card 1991 and 120-card 1992 versions kept the established formula going strong by blending top Canadian MLB talent like pitcher Dave Stewart alongside prospects like outfielder Shawn Smith. OPC sets from this era remain highly collectible given the starring roles many of the featured players went on to have in the big leagues.
After a couple years off, OPC revisited baseball in spectacular fashion in 1996 with The Best of Canadian Baseball. Clocking in at an enormous 350 cards, it was easily the biggest and most comprehensive OPC baseball release to date. Divided into seven subsets highlighting different levels of play from the majors to college, the massive set showcased every noteworthy Canadian player throughout the game’s ranks. Dozens of future all-stars and award winners were featured, like outfielder Larry Walker in his Rockies prime.
Perhaps the pinnacle of OPC baseball sets arrived in 1999 with the Ultimate Canadian Baseball set. Limited to only 125 cards for rarity purposes, it narrowed the focus exclusively to professionals by highlighting the best Canadian players currently in the major and minor leagues. Future hall of famers like pitching ace Fergie Jenkins as well as rising stars like outfielder Shannon Stewart and pitcher Ryan Dempster headlined the premium release. Featuring die-cut borders and gorgeous photography, Ultimate Canadian Baseballcards remain some of the most visually impressive baseball cards OPC ever produced.
While OPC dabbled with a few more baseball sets into the 2000s like the 105-card 2002 Canada’s Team regional collection, hockey remained the driving force as the brand phased out other sports over time. The exploding memorabilia market also presented new challenges for standard trading card companies. OPC was acquired by The Upper Deck Company in 2002, with their Canadian sports sets eventually merging into Score and Upper Deck brands instead.
However, OPC’s baseball releases from the late 80s and 90s left an indelible mark. They helped shine a light on Canadians in baseball before domestic sets increasingly focused on international players. Rookie cards and early appearances of future all-stars in OPC sets hold great nostalgia and value for collectors today. While no longer an active brand, OPC’s impact lives on through the many baseball cards they produced that spotlighted the sport’s growth outside America’s borders. Their dedication to Canadian ballplayers remains fondly remembered.
