The history of baseball cards in Canada dates back over 100 years. Some of the earliest Canadian baseball cards were included in cigarette packs and candy in the late 19th century, similar to the beginning of baseball cards in the United States. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that dedicated baseball card sets began to be produced specifically for the Canadian market.
One of the first Canadian-produced baseball card sets was the 1912 Leafs of the National League set issued by the American Tobacco Company of Montreal. This 36-card set featured players from the National League of Major League Baseball. Other early Canadian baseball card producers in the 1910s and 1920s included Britannia Cigarettes, Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, and Ogden’s Guinea Gold Cigarettes. These cards were included randomly in cigarette and candy packs.
In the 1930s, dedicated baseball card sets continued to be produced by Canadian tobacco companies. O-Pee-Chee, a Canadian confectionery company, began issuing baseball cards as promotional incentives. Their 1933 and 1935 sets included both American and Canadian players. Also in the 1930s, Parkhurst Cigarettes issued a set focusing on Canadian players in the minor leagues. These early Canadian baseball card producers helped grow interest in the sport among Canadian youth.
After World War 2, the popularity of baseball cards in Canada greatly expanded. In 1948, O-Pee-Chee began a long run producing iconic Canadian versions of the Topps sets that were hugely popular in the United States. These O-Pee-Chee cards featured both American and Canadian content but were printed, distributed, and designed specifically for the Canadian market. They continued this parallel Topps production well into the 1980s. Other Canadian card producers in the post-war era included Maple Leaf and Bowman.
A major milestone for Canadian baseball cards was the 1959 O-Pee-Chee set which was the first to exclusively feature players from the Canadian major and minor leagues, without any American league content. This helped strengthen national pride and interest in homegrown talent north of the border. Subsequent O-Pee-Chee sets in the 1960s continued this all-Canadian focus. Other Canadian-exclusive sets in the 1960s included those produced by Parkhurst, Maple Leaf, and Fleer.
In the 1970s, the popularity of baseball cards in Canada reached new heights. O-Pee-Chee and Topps competed fiercely, with OPC gaining popularity among Canadian collectors for its exclusive Canadian content. Some iconic Canadian cards from this era included the first cards featuring Quebec-born players like Rusty Staub. The annual OPC sets were must-have items for Canadian youth. Minor league and independent Canadian sets also proliferated in the 1970s from producers like Fleer, Maple Leaf, and Enro Shirtmakers.
The 1980s saw the rise of sports card shops and conventions across Canada catering to the booming hobby. O-Pee-Chee continued its run of Canadianized Topps reprints but also began producing innovative original sets like their 1986 set featuring Canadian Olympians. Other top Canadian producers in the 1980s included Fleer, Donruss, and Score. Iconic rookie cards emerged for future Canadian baseball greats like Dave Stieb, Larry Walker, and Joey Votto. The sport’s popularity in Canada was evidenced by the success of the Canadian national team and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s induction of legends like Ferguson Jenkins.
In the 1990s and 2000s, while American sports card giant Upper Deck gained market share, Canadian producers still thrived. Score, Fleer, and later Leaf produced sets highlighting Canadian minor and independent league players. Iconic Canadian issues included the 1992 Upper Deck set featuring Canadian Olympians and a 1998 O-Pee-Chee set celebrating the 100th anniversary of baseball in Canada. The 2000s saw the rise of direct sales from Canadian sports card companies online, helping collectors across the country easily obtain the latest Canadian releases.
Today, while O-Pee-Chee and other vintage Canadian brands are no longer active producers, the tradition carries on. Top Canadian sports card companies currently include Leaf, Press Pass, and Great White North Authentic. They continue to issue innovative sets focusing on Canadian players in the MLB, minors, indy leagues and Olympics. The annual Hockey Card & Memorabilia Expo in Toronto is a major convention for collectors. And Canadian players like Joey Votto and Russell Martin remain highly collected modern stars. Baseball card collecting remains an integral part of Canadian baseball fandom and heritage over 100 years after the first Canadian issues were released.
