Baseball cards have a long history in Montreal dating back to the late 19th century. Some of the earliest baseball cards produced featured players from Montreal’s early professional baseball teams. While Montreal no longer has a Major League Baseball franchise, baseball cards remain popular with collectors in the city and continue to commemorate the rich baseball heritage of Montreal.
One of the first baseball card sets to feature Montreal players was issued in 1887 by Old Judge tobacco. This set included cards of players from the Montreal franchise in the International League, one of the top minor leagues of the time. Some of the Montreal players featured in this early set included pitcher Billy Taylor and outfielder Dan Moynihan.
In the early 1900s, several Montreal players achieved fame and were included in some of the biggest baseball card sets of the time. Infielder Claude Rossman played for the Montreal Royals franchise in the Eastern League from 1905-1908. He went on to have a long career in the majors and was featured in iconic T206 and E90 sets issued around 1910. Pitcher Grover Lowdermilk also broke into pro ball with Montreal in the Eastern League in 1909 before enjoying MLB success. He was included in the very rare and expensive 1909-11 T206 set.
The Montreal Royals franchise gained prominence in the 1930s-40s as one of the top farm teams in the International League. Future Hall of Famers like Bill Dickey, Luke Appling, and Red Ruffing all spent time with Montreal before reaching the majors. They were featured in sets from the 1930s like 1933 Goudey and Play Ball. Montreal stars from this era like pitchers Fritz Ostermueller and Russ Bauers also gained card coverage in sets like 1939 Play Ball and 1941 Play Ball.
In the post-World War 2 era, the Montreal Royals continued producing future major league talent. Stars of the late 1940s/early 50s Royals teams that received baseball card coverage included pitchers Warren Spahn and Billy Pierce as well as infielders Johnny Logan, George Crowe, and Eddie Yost. They appeared in 1950s sets like Bowman, Topps, and Red Man. The 1951 Topps set in particular featured over a dozen Montreal Royals players.
The late 1950s-1960s were considered the golden era for the Montreal Royals franchise. Future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Maury Wills, and Bob Gibson all honed their skills in Montreal before reaching the majors. They were featured in many 1950s and 1960s sets during their time in the International League like 1957 Topps and 1965 Topps. Other Montreal standouts from this era included pitchers Mudcat Grant and Dick Radatz, who gained widespread card coverage.
The decline of minor league baseball in the 1960s-70s coincided with the end of the historic Montreal Royals franchise. Their final season was in 1960 before the team relocated. However, Montreal was still represented in the International League by the Montreal Expos starting in 1961. Future MLB stars like Rusty Staub, Steve Renko, and Mike Jorgensen played for Montreal in the 1960s and received card coverage as prospects.
When the Montreal Expos joined the National League as an expansion franchise in 1969, it ushered in a new era for baseball cards in Montreal. The 1969 Topps set was one of the first to feature the entire inaugural Expos roster, including future stars like Rusty Staub and Mack Jones. Throughout the 1970s-80s, Expos players appeared regularly in the major card sets from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. Future Hall of Famers like Andre Dawson and Gary Carter achieved their greatest baseball card popularity as Expos.
Even after the unfortunate relocation of the Expos franchise after the 2004 season, Montreal players have continued to be featured in baseball cards. Former Expos who went on to MLB success like Vladimir Guerrero and Larry Walker have remained popular with collectors. In recent years, modern sets have also paid homage to the rich baseball history of Montreal by including cards of the city’s legendary players and teams from the 19th-early 20th centuries.
Baseball cards have served to commemorate over a century of baseball played in Montreal. From the earliest tobacco cards to modern releases, they preserve the legacy of stars who wore the uniforms of the Royals, Expos and other Montreal franchises. And they remain a connection to the national pastime for collectors in a city that lost its MLB team but not its love of the game.
