Baseball cards have been an integral part of the sport for over a century, collecting and trading the colorful pieces of cardboard dating back to the late 1800s. While the hobby took off nationwide in the post-World War II era, Guelph has its own unique history with baseball cards.
One of the earliest mentions of baseball cards in Guelph comes from an article in the Guelph Mercury newspaper dated May 12, 1909. The article profiles a local teenager named Billy Thompson who had amassed an impressive collection of over 500 baseball cards depicting players from both the National and American Leagues. What made Billy’s collection particularly notable for the time was that he had cards representing every team, a rare feat when production was still in its early stages.
Through the 1910s and 1920s, baseball cards could occasionally be found as promotional inserts in packs of chewing gum or cigarettes sold in corner stores and convenience markets around Guelph. Production was still relatively low during this period, so complete sets were difficult to assemble. Local boys would trade, buy and sell individual cards to fill in the gaps in their collections.
One of the most iconic stores for baseball cards in Guelph throughout the mid-20th century was Stan’s Sport Cards, which opened its doors in 1947. From its original location on Wyndham Street to later moves to larger spaces, Stan’s catered to collectors of all ages and skill levels. It became a hub of activity, with kids gathering to trade and show off their newest acquisitions. Stan’s hosted the city’s first baseball card show in 1956, drawing collectors from across Southern Ontario.
The 1950s saw an explosion in the popularity of baseball cards, as production increased and sports-focused magazines helped grow the collector audience nationwide. In Guelph, stores like Woolworth’s, Kresge’s and A&P supermarkets all began stocking wax packs of cards in the candy aisle. The cards inside were mostly of poor photographic quality or lacked statistics, but for kids it was an inexpensive way to build a collection. By 1959, Guelph native Bobby Thomson could be found in packs after his famous “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” home run.
In the 1960s, a new generation of Guelph boys became obsessed with completing full sets from Topps, Fleer and other manufacturers. This was also the decade when the concept of grading cards’ condition took hold, to establish a standard for high-value vintage pieces. Local teen Dick McLaughlin began offering grading services out of his parents’ basement using a self-devised numerical system. While crude by today’s standards, it helped establish the first formal market for mint condition vintage cards in the city.
The 1970s saw two new shops open in Guelph specializing in sports collectibles – Bob’s Baseball Cards on Norfolk Street and Bill’s Sports Cards in the Eastview Mall. They helped fuel the growth of organized tournaments, where players would construct teams from their card collections and simulate games. This brought a new element of strategic team-building that expanded the hobby beyond just accumulating cards. Icons of the era like Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson could be pulled from packs at corner stores.
In the 1980s, the introduction of high-gloss, color photographs on cards made them a true collectible art form. Television coverage of the sport also expanded, feeding new interest. Two Guelph brothers, David and Andrew Hohenadel, gained local fame for their Guinness World Record baseball card mosaic depicting the Toronto Blue Jays 25-man roster, composed of over 15,000 individual cards. Meanwhile, shops like Pop’s Sportscards opened to cater to older collectors seeking rare vintage pieces. The burgeoning memorabilia market also took shape, with signed items entering the fold.
The modern era of baseball cards began in the 1990s. While mass production satisfied casual collectors, sophisticated grading services emerged to authenticate and preserve high-dollar vintage cards. Beckett Price Guides provided reference values. In Guelph, Robert Stewart’s Card Collector shop was a destination on Silvercreek Parkway, with monthly newsletter, website and regional circuit of card shows. Rookies of Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and Cal Ripken Jr. from Upper Deck sold for hundreds unsigned. Meanwhile, expos drew international dealers with 7-figure vintage collections.
Today, Guelph is still home to passionate baseball card collectors, traders and enthusiasts. While the internet impacts how some connect to the hobby, local shops like Collector’s Edge on Stone Road maintain brick-and-mortar destinations. The Guelph Card Collectors Club organizes monthly meetups. And collections handed down through generations, or new sets eagerly ripped from packs, ensure the tradition continues evolving for another century in Canada’s Royal City.