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ARE MONTREAL EXPOS BASEBALL CARDS WORTH ANYTHING

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The Montreal Expos were a Canadian Major League Baseball team that existed from 1969 to 2004, playing their home games at Jarry Park Stadium and later Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec. The franchise relocated and became the Washington Nationals in 2005. As such, Montreal Expos baseball cards make up a unique subset of cards for collectors to pursue. Whether Expos cards are worth anything to collectors today depends on several factors regarding the specific players, years, conditions, and card sets involved.

Many vintage 1970s-era Expos rookie cards and stars from their early years hold some value for collectors today, often $5-20 or more depending on condition for common cards. Keys stars from that era like Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Tim Raines, and Bill Lee tend to pull in $20-50 or more for graded rookies or star cards in good condition from flagship sets like Topps and Donruss. Their 1979 cards in particular hold appeal as that was their best season to date, finishing second in the National League East.

Condition is extremely important when evaluating the value of any vintage card, and low-graded or poor condition Expos cards may have little worth outside an Montreal Expos PC collector. Mint condition or higher graded vintage Expos stars can pull several times their raw price, while their commons are generally only desired graded. The rarer the player, the more crucial grade is to the value.

As the Expos success waned in later years, so too did interest in their cards outside Expos collectors. 1980s stars like Tim Raines, Andre Dawson after leaving Montreal, and future stars like Pedro Martinez have maintained some value, but most commons from the 1980s and beyond have very little value outside an Expos PC. A few exceptions include Randy Johnson and Vladimir Guerrero rookies, which can pull $20-50+ in good condition despite being Expos cards.

Modern Expos cards from the 1990s-2004 have some niche collector interest and value to Montreal and Expos PC collectors. Stars like Vladimir Guerrero and Pedro Martinez rookies and inserts hold the most value in the $10-30 range typically in good condition for their rare Expos cards. Commons and stars from the late struggling Expos teams have very little monetary value otherwise. But even low-value modern Expos cards can be sentimentally meaningful keepsakes for fans of the former franchise.

Autographs and memorabilia have become one area where Montreal Expos cards and related items have shown renewed collector interest and higher values in recent years. Signed Expos star rookie cards can pull $50-100+ even in just good condition. Relics, autographs on cards, specialty inserts, and signed memorabilia have attracted Expos collectors intrigued by the overlooked franchise history and seeking unique niche pieces for their collections. These specialized autographed Expos collectibles often sell in the $50-250 range depending on the player and relic/auto.

With the Montreal Expos now defunct for almost two decades, their cards also hold more nostalgia appeal for collectors intrigued by the city’s “old” MLB team and wanting a piece of baseball history. Many modern card manufacturers in recent years have also issued popular Montreal Expos retro sets featuring design styles and players from their 1970s/1980s heyday. These high-end insert and parallel card varieties naturally hold higher collector value given their nostalgic subject matter despite being modern productions, often $10-50+ each.

Whether Montreal Expos baseball cards hold any collector value today depends much on the specific cards, players, years, and especially conditions involved. While commons from their later struggling years remain relatively low value, select rookie cards and stars from the 1970s-80s vintages have maintained collector interest levels allowing values of $5-50+ depending on desired players and conditions. Modern insert cards and autographed/relic cards related to the Expos also attract niche collectors, at times earning higher prices than their raw cardboard would suggest based purely on player merit alone. With the Expos now a defunct franchise, their cards retain an extra layer of nostalgia for collectors that leads to maintaining and renewing interest levels beyond what a similarly performing ongoing franchise might expect.

MONTREAL EXPOS BASEBALL CARDS

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The Montreal Expos were Canada’s only Major League Baseball franchise, playing in Montreal from their inception in 1969 until being relocated to Washington, D.C. and becoming the Nationals after the 2004 season. As with every MLB team, the Expos had a long history depicted through baseball cards from the early days of the franchise up until their departure from Montreal.

The Expos first season in 1969 featured their debut in the original MLB expansion that year along with the San Diego Padres. Topps captured the Expos’ inaugural season with a standard 66 card rookie cup design set highlighting the Expos players and coaches. Some of the notable rookie cards from that ’69 Topps set include Rusty Staub, Mike Marshall, and manager Gene Mauch. Staub would go on to have the most successful career of any Expo and is still regarded as one of the franchise’s most popular players.

Throughout the 1970s, Topps remained the sole issuer of MLB licenses and continued putting out standard design annual sets that featured the Expos players. Notable rookie cards from those ’70s sets include future All-Stars like Steve Rogers, Gary Carter, andWARren Cromartie. Carter in particular became arguably the greatest Expo of all-time during his Hall of Fame catching career largely spent in Montreal. As the franchise developed young stars and contended in the NL East at times in the late 70s, demand grew for their cards as collectors looked to build complete rainbow sets featuring the players on their favorite teams.

In 1981, Topps lost its baseball monopoly when Fleer was granted an MLB license and began producing rival sets in direct competition. This increased collector interest and gave the Expos increased cardboard exposure with Fleer highlighting the team. Notable rookie cards in the 1981 Fleer set include future 20-game winner Bill Gullickson and outfielder Tim Raines, who went on to a stellar career and is another of the franchise’s most beloved stars. Raines’ rookie card is among the most desirable and valuable from the entire Expos cardboard history.

Through the 1980s, the annual Topps and Fleer sets continued to chronicle the Expos with stars like Carter, Raines, Rogers, and Andre Dawson leading the way. Dawson’s dominant 1987 season was documented with a spectacular Fleer Update photo of him shattering his bat. Card companies also produced multi-player traded sets highlighting key Expos transactions to recapulate the franchise’s roster changes. The late 80s saw Montreal field competitive clubs that won division titles in ’81 and ’94 buoyed by the stars depicted on their cards.

The 1990s brought struggles on the field and business troubles that foreshadowed the eventual relocation. Players like Delino DeShields and Pedro Martinez had their early careers captured but stars of the past like Dawson and Carter were now featured on other teams’ cards as free agents. Upper Deck entered the baseball card market in 1989 and provided prestigious photo and style subsets highlighting Expos despite their declining fortunes. The franchise’s impending move was also referenced on certain late 90s cards captioned as their “Final Seasons.”

By 2001, the franchise was in dire straits with ownership wanting to move the team. Their declining on-field product and business woes were reflected in the cards. Brands like Leaf produced retrospective collections focusing on the glory years to commemorate a potential end of the franchise in Montreal. After the devastating 1994 strike andExamining attendance declines, MLB forced the sale and relocation of the Expos after 2004 to current owner Ted Lerner, moving them to Washington to become the Nationals.

To this day, completed vintage Expos card sets remain desirable for collectors seeking to preserve the cardboard history and memories of MLB’s only Canadian franchise. Keys cards like the rookies of Staub, Carter, Raines, and others remain pricey for serious Expos collectors. While the franchise no longer plays in Montreal, their full history from 1969-2004 continues to live on through the baseball cards issued each year that chronicled the ups and downs of the franchise on cardboard for generations of collectors.

PETE ROSE MONTREAL EXPOS BASEBALL CARDS

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Pete Rose has long been one of the most polarizing figures in Major League Baseball history due to his gambling scandal and placement on baseball’s permanently ineligible list in 1989. However, Rose was also an incredibly talented and determined player who holds the career records for most hits and games played in baseball. This makes his brief but eventful tenure playing for the Montreal Expos in the early 1980s an interesting footnote in his legendary career.

After a storied 17-year career playing primarily for the Cincinnati Reds where he established himself as one of the game’s great hitters and was a key member of the Big Red Machine championship teams, Rose’s performance began to decline in the late 1970s. Following the 1978 season, the Reds negotiated a trade that sent the 37-year old Rose to the Expos in exchange for catcher Bo Diaz and minor league outfielder Dave Collins. Rose had expressed a desire to remain close to his Ohio home so the move to Montreal was somewhat unexpected.

Rose joined an Expos team that had talent but was still looking to break through as a legitimate contender in the NL East division. Some questioned if Rose had enough left in the tank to be a meaningful contributor but he was determined to prove the doubters wrong. In his first season with Montreal in 1979, Rose responded by batting .275 with 11 home runs and 65 RBI in 139 games, showing he could still be a productive regular despite his advancing age.

Rose’s contributions helped lead the Expos to an 88-74 record and second place finish, their best season to date. His presence in the lineup and clubhouse also had a positive influence on the team’s young core of pitcher Steve Rogers, third baseman Larry Parrish, and outfielders Andre Dawson and Tim Raines. Rose had taken on a player-coach role and worked hard to impart his winning attitude and hard-nosed style of play to his Expos teammates.

Upper Deck was one of the pioneers of modern baseball cards when they began producing sets in 1989 that focused on photography and highlighting players’ career stats on the back of the cards. In 1991, Upper Deck released cards featuring Pete Rose as a member of the Montreal Expos from his playing days with the club in 1979-1981. Seeing Rose in an Expos uniform was still a strange sight for many collectors and fans accustomed to associating him primarily with the Reds.

The Expos cards highlighted Rose’s productivity despite his advancing age while with Montreal over those three seasons. They featured key stats like his .292 batting average, 46 home runs, and 208 RBI as an Expo. The photography on the cards also captured Rose’s intense and gritty style of play. Many felt these Expos cards help round out and tell the full story of Rose’s Hall of Fame career that spanned multiple franchises late in his career despite his offensive numbers starting to decline.

While Rose enjoyed a successful first season with the Expos in 1979 leading them to their best season at that point, 1980 was a disappointing campaign for both Rose and the club. Rose battled injuries and saw his production dip to a .260 average with 7 home runs and 47 RBI in 102 games. The Expos finished 78-84 and out of playoff contention in a tightly contested NL East race.

Hopes were high for a bounce back in 1981 but it was another frustrating season. Rose began the year sidelined with an injury and struggled to regain his form upon returning, batting just .264 with 4 homers and 41 RBI over 88 games. Meanwhile, the Expos scuffled to a 75-87 record, their lowest finish in years. Rose’s desire to remain in Cincinnati and be closer to his family also grew stronger as his on-field performance continued declining.

Late in the 1981 season, the Expos granted Rose his request and traded him back to the Reds. While his two-plus seasons in Montreal didn’t result in a playoff berth or rekindling of his offensive prime, Rose had proven he could still produce at an older age and left lasting impressions with Expos fans with his gritty play. His Montreal tenure also represented in baseball card form helped tell the full story of a legendary career that saw him contribute for multiple franchises in the latter stages.

Over the ensuing decades, Pete Rose’s Expos baseball cards from his 1979-1981 tenure with the club have become highly collectible and hold historical significance. They represent a unique period where one of baseball’s all-time great hitters suited up in Montreal’s silvers and blues rather than Cincinnati’s famous red uniform. While Rose is no longer actively involved in the game due to his gambling ban, his Expos cards serve as an artifact from his later career chapters and remind fans of a time when the feisty Rose took his talents north of the border to contribute to a rising Expos ballclub.

Whether discussing his stats and contributions to getting the Expos to new heights or capturing his tenacious style of play through the cards’ photography, Rose’s Montreal Expos baseball cards tell an important part of his legendary career story. They preserve the memory of a period that saw a fading but still driven superstar take his talents to a new franchise’s uniform. For collectors and historians of the sport, Rose’s Expos cards serve as intriguing remnants from this unique interlude and further cement his place as one of baseball’s most famous and colorfully complex figures.

BASEBALL CARDS MONTREAL

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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.

MLB BASEBALL CARDS FOR SALE MONTREAL CANADA

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MLB Baseball Cards for Sale in Montreal – A Collector’s Guide

Montreal has a long and storied baseball history, being home to the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 2004. While the Expos are no longer with us, the city remains passionate about America’s pastime. Baseball card collecting remains a cherished hobby for many Montreal residents young and old. Whether you’re looking to build your collection or sell some of your vintage cards, Montreal offers plenty of options. Here is an in-depth guide to finding MLB baseball cards for sale in and around the city.

Card Shops – The obvious first stop for any card collector is the local card shop. Montreal has a handful of dedicated card shops that cater specifically to sports card enthusiasts. Perhaps the most well-known is La Cache dans le Placard, located in Old Montreal. This small shop has been a fixture in the city for over 30 years, stocking new releases as well as maintaining an impressive inventory of vintage cards from the 1960s onwards. Another excellent option is Sport Cards Montréal in LaSalle, which focuses more on high-end cards and rare finds from across all sports. Both shops buy and sell cards daily, ensuring collectors have an avenue to build their collections.

Online Marketplaces – For those not able to make it into a physical shop, online marketplaces offer an abundance of baseball card options right at your fingertips. Sites like eBay, COMC (Collectors.com), and Mercari allow collectors around the world to list their duplicate cards for sale. While shipping times may be longer, with careful use of search filters you can still zero in on exactly the cards you’re looking for from Montreal-based sellers. Prominent users like LCSCollection showcase their high-end Montreal Expos inventory for serious collectors. With competitive pricing and authenticity guarantees, these sites provide a safe and convenient remote buying experience.

Card Shows – A few times a year Montreal plays host to major card shows that attract dealers and collectors from across Quebec and beyond. These events offer the chance to browse tables upon tables of cards under one roof, with literally thousands of options. Many of the city’s top shops will have a presence to showcase their highest-end inventory. Shows are a perfect opportunity to find those harder to locate cards you’ve been searching for. The largest annual show is held each February at the Olympic Stadium, while smaller summer shows are organized at Knights of Columbus halls. Admission generally ranges from $3-5, with ample free parking available.

Facebook Marketplace – While not as robust as the dedicated platforms, Facebook’s localized Marketplace has become a popular spot for collectors in Montreal to list cards they have duplicates of for sale. Browsing your area is easy, and interactions tend to be quick since most sellers prefer local meetups. With photos and detailed descriptions provided, Marketplace lets you glimpse collections from people in your very own neighborhood. Risks of dealing with unknown parties exist, but overall it’s a convenient way for collectors to move lower-value cards without shipping hassle or platform fees.

Consignment Stores – Unique from the dedicated card shops is Ian’s Sports Cards, a consignment store that takes cards from collectors hoping to sell from their personal collections. Cards are kept neatly stored in binders customers can flip through with sellers taking a small commission of any sales. It’s a low-pressure way to potentially find rare gems someone is quietly trying to move without setting up elsewhere. Ian’s keeps their percentage reasonable at 15%, with payment going directly to the original owner after a card sells.

Card Grading – While raw cards can be fun to collect, visually graded vintage and modern standouts can fetch big premiums. PSA and BGS are the top two card grading services collectibles dealers in Montreal utilize for highest authenticity assurance. Submitters receive guaranteed numbered slabs that help establish market value. While in-person submissions aren’t available locally, dealers like LCSCollection and Sport Cards Montréal offer group submission services multiple times a year, bundling collections together for cost savings. With care taken in joining group orders, the leading card grading options are accessible to Montreal collectors.

So whether you’re flipping through vintage binders at shows, hunting eBay listings late at night or stumbling on a Montreal Expos ’79 Red to add, MLB baseball cards remain very obtainable in the city that once proudly cheered on le beau joueurs. With friendly local shops, thriving online communities and organized events, collectors have all the tools needed to build memorable Montreal Expos collections for years to come.

MONTREAL EXPOS BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MONEY

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The Montreal Expos were the first major league team located in Canada. They played in Montreal from 1969 through their final season in 2004 before moving to Washington D.C. to become the Nationals. As an expansion franchise, the Expos issued many baseball cards during their 36 seasons in Montreal. Some key Expos cards from the 1970s through 1990s have increased greatly in value in recent years due to the team’s nostalgia and scarcity of the cards on the secondary market. Let’s take an in-depth look at some Expos cards that could be worth a significant amount of money today depending on condition and rarity.

One of the most desirable and valuable Expos cards is the 1969 Topps Rico Carty rookie card. Carty only played part of one season for Montreal in 1969 before being traded. His rookie card sporting the early Expos uniform and logo is very scarce to find in high grade. In gem mint condition, Carty’s 1969 Topps rookie has sold for over $2,000. Another high value Expos rookie is the 1972 Topps Steve Rogers card. Rogers went on to win 139 games for Montreal and became the franchise leader in wins. High graded examples of his rookie in the PSA 8 to PSA 10 range can garner several hundred dollars.

Two of the most iconic Expos players were Andre Dawson and Tim Raines. Dawson won the 1977 Rookie of the Year award as well as the 1981 NL MVP award as a Montreal outfielder. His 1978 Topps and 1979 Topps rookie cards in high grade are quite valuable, with the 1978 regularly selling for well over $100 in PSA 8-10 condition. Raines debuted with Montreal in 1981 and was one of baseball’s top base stealers and leadoff hitters of the 1980s. His 1981 Topps and Fleer rookie cards have seen prices spike in recent years, with mint examples rising above the $200 price point. Another scarce and desired Raines rookie is his 1982 Donruss.

Gary Carter was the veteran leader of the Expos for many seasons in the 1970s and 80s before winning a World Series with the Mets in 1986. High graded versions of his 1974 Topps and 1975 Topps rookie cards as a Montreal catcher can sell for over $100. Other Carter Expos cards like his 1976 through 1981 issues are also collectible, with several in the $50 range depending on condition. Carter remained a fan favorite in Montreal even after his playing days ended.

The 1979 Topps Tim Raines card is also one that sharply rose in value in the 2010s due to Raines’ election to the Hall of Fame. In PSA 9-10 condition, his 1979 Topps now trades hands for $300+. Raines broke out with a 190 hit season in 1979 and was well on his way to becoming one of the game’s hardest players to strike out. His 1979 rookie card captures this and is a key piece of Expos history.

Two of the biggest stars from the Expos’ 1980s playoff teams have premium cards as well – pitcher Dennis Martinez and second baseman Delino DeShields. Martinez tossed over 200 innings annually for Montreal from 1983-1990 and was the franchise leader in wins upon his departure. His 1983 Topps rookie card in high grade is a $100+ card. DeShields was a fan favorite in Montreal during his stint from 1987 to 1991 and made his lone All-Star game as an Expo. His 1987 Topps rookie card still holds collector appeal today at $50-70 in top condition.

Moving into the 1990s, Montreal featured players like Larry Walker, Marquis Grissom, and Moises Alou. Walker made his MLB debut in 1989 and went on to a Hall of Fame career. His 1989 Score and 1990 Score rookie cards have increased steadily since his Cooperstown induction, with the 1989 at roughly $60 in PSA 10 shape. Alou broke out with six straight 30 home run seasons for Montreal from 1992 to 1997 before being traded just before the team moved. His 1992 Bowman rookie card is the standout from his Expos tenure, reaching $30-40 in higher grades.

As the Expos faded from contention in the late 90s, their stars like Grissom, Ugueth Urbina, and Vladimir Guerrero took center stage. Guerrero dazzled at the plate during his Montreal campaigns from 1996 to 2003 before the team relocated. His 1996 Topps rookie card is briskly popular with collectors, hovering around $15-20 for graded examples. The team’s final representative in Topps is Orlando Cabrera from 2003. Overall condition and well-kept Montreal Expos cards can hold strong nostalgia value for collectors with lasting memories of the storied Expos franchise. With limited remaining inventory, prices should stay firm or potentially appreciate further down the line as older collectors reminisce about Canada’s sole MLB team.

Iconic Expos rookie cards like Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Tim Raines, and Larry Walker are at the top of the heap in terms of value thanks to their success and nostalgia for long-time fans. Other foundational players from the 1970s like Rico Carty, Steve Rogers also command higher prices. Keysters from championship caliber 80s teams like DeShields and Martinez are highly regarded as well. And Montreal stars from the 90s like Grissom, Alou, Guerrero retain value due to their attachment to one of baseball’s unique franchises before the relocation. Well-preserved Expos cards, especially rookies of franchise greats, are a worthwhile part of any collection.