Baseball cards have a long history in Oshawa, Ontario dating back to the late 19th century. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured players from Oshawa teams in the early minor and semi-pro leagues. While the city may not be as well known for baseball as larger markets like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver, Oshawa has had a rich baseball tradition over the decades that is reflected in its connection to vintage baseball cards from that era.
One of the first documented baseball card productions featuring Oshawa players came in the late 1880s from the Ontario Publishing Company. This company produced small photo postcards of players from teams in the Ontario Baseball Association, one of the earliest semi-pro leagues in Canada. Among the players featured were several members of the Oshawa baseball club from 1887. Names like pitcher William “Billy” Taylor, third baseman William “Bill” White, and outfielder George “Geo” Thompson appeared on postcards from that first Oshawa club roster.
As baseball grew in popularity in Oshawa through the early 20th century, more card companies took notice of the local talent. In the 1910s, the Dominion Cigarette Company began including cards in their tobacco products showing players throughout Ontario. Oshawa was regularly represented, with stars like catcher Charles “Chuck” Davidson and pitcher William “Billy” Foster appearing. Davidson went on to have a long pro career in the minors after being signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1915.
The heyday of Oshawa baseball cards came in the 1920s-30s era when the city fielded competitive semi-pro and early minor league teams. Companies like Exhibit Supply produced large photo sets highlighting leagues across Canada. Dozens of Oshawa Greyhounds players were featured, some signing exclusive contracts for use of their likeness on cards. Second baseman George “Whitey” Martin had one of the most widely distributed cards from 1922 after a breakout season.
In 1931, Oshawa was granted a franchise in the Class-D Ontario Baseball Association, later renamed the Intercounty Baseball League. This elevated the city’s status and drew more attention from card manufacturers. Topps, Canada Bubble Gum, and O-Pee-Chee all included sets highlighting top IBL players. Dozens of cards were produced over the 1930s showing Greyhounds stars like catcher Bill “Bunny” Wakeham, pitcher Ernest “Eppie” Barnes, and outfielder Harold “Moe” Berg. Their accomplishments in Oshawa helped some go on to even higher minor leagues.
World War 2 slowed baseball card production for a time but it resumed strongly after 1945. The IBL was thriving with teams in Oshawa, Guelph, Kitchener, and other Ontario cities. New companies like Bowman Gum and Parkhurst began issuing cards of current Greyhounds and alumni. Popular players of the late 1940s like pitcher Carl “Red” Daniels and third baseman Jack “Red” Donnelly appeared on many regional sets. The 1950s brought the dawn of the modern baseball card era with the introduction of Topps and their iconic design.
In the 1960s, Oshawa’s minor league franchise shifted to become the Oshawa Dodgers, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This opened the door to include their players in Topps’ major new product lines. Future MLB all-stars like pitcher Doug Griffin had rookie cards in 1960 Oshawa Dodgers uniforms. The 1970s saw the end of minor league ball in Oshawa but collectors still sought vintage Greyhounds and Dodgers cards. Regional hobby shops like Oshawa Sportscards helped fuel nostalgia for the city’s baseball history on cardboard.
Today, vintage Oshawa baseball cards remain popular with both local and international collectors. Websites, auctions, and card shows continue to showcase the rarer finds from Oshawa’s minor league past. Original photos and documents also help preserve the stories behind some of the more obscure names featured on early 20th century tobacco issues or postcards. While the teams have evolved, Oshawa’s baseball legacy lives on through the cardboard cutouts frozen in time from the formative years of collecting in Canada. The city’s contributions to our national pastime will be remembered each time a vintage Greyhounds or Dodgers card changes hands.
