Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby and collectible for over a century. In Edmonton, Alberta, the passion for these cardboard treasures runs deep within the local collector community. Whether you’re looking to start your own collection or sell vintage cards you’ve had tucked away, Edmonton offers plenty of opportunities to engage with baseball card culture.
Some of the top shops in Edmonton to browse cards include Sports Card Trader, located in the downtown core on Jasper Avenue. With over 25,000 square feet of retail space, Sports Card Trader boasts one of the largest inventories in the city. Here, you’ll find rows upon rows of newly released packs and boxes as well as collectibles from decades past. Their knowledgeable staff can also help evaluate vintage cards and offer appraisals.
For a more curated selection, check out Ace Card World on Calgary Trail. While smaller than Sports Card Trader, Ace Card World takes pride in their organization and condition grading of vintage cardboard. They specialize in high-end investments and key rookie cards from the sport’s early years that could be worth thousands to the right buyer. Both shops also host regular trade nights and special events that draw collectors from across the province.
When it comes to selling cards, the local Facebook group ‘Edmonton Sports Cards Buy/Sell/Trade’ sees heavy traffic. With over 15,000 members, it’s a popular online marketplace for locals to post individual cards, complete sets or entire collections they want to part with. Pricing vintage plays a big factor, so doing research on recently sold eBay listings is recommended before posting. Card shows are another selling avenue, with the ‘Edmonton Sports Card and Memorabilia Show’ taking place multiple times a year.
Edmonton’s baseball card history dates back to the early 20th century fad for tobacco cards inserted in cigarette packs and bubblegum cards later produced by Topps, Fleer and others post-World War 2. Some of the most iconic and valuable cards ever made feature players who suited up for Edmonton’s minor league teams over the decades.
In the 1950s, the Edmonton Eskimos played in the Western International League and Pacific Coast League. Their roster included future MLB all-stars like Don Drysdale who have since become highly sought after by collectors. From 1959 to 1962, the Edmonton Trappers represented the city in the PCL and had future hall of famers like Joe Morgan in their ranks. Even earlier, the Edmonton Eskimos baseball club played in the Western Canada League in the first decade of the 1900s.
With Edmonton being located so close to the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays, passion for the parent club runs deep as well. Many collectors in the city focus on building sets and finding key cards from the Blue Jays’ history since 1977. Hometown heroes like Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar and Roy Halladay command top prices in the local marketplace.
For those looking to start their own Edmonton-based collection, hunting down vintage cards of former players like outfielder George Puccinelli are a fun challenge. Puccinelli played for the Eskimos in the early 1950s before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and making his MLB debut. Other notable Alberta natives to collect include former MLB pitcher and Edmontonian Terry Felton as well as Olympian and Hanna, AB native Larry Walker.
Whether you’re a lifelong collector or newcomer to the hobby, Edmonton’s vibrant baseball card culture ensures there’s a thriving community to engage with. From the history of local minor league clubs to following today’s Blue Jays, the cardboard treasures that bring the sport to life remain a popular pastime for fans across generations in the River City.
