Baseball cards are more than collectables, they are time capsules. From the portraits of the 1800s to the holographic relics of today, cards have evolved with the sport, reflecting changes in society and fandom. In Canada, the story of cards is one of innovation and deep community connection. Whether it’s a piece of gum, a piece of a jersey, or a once-in-a-lifetime autograph, every card holds a moment in time and a piece of the game for us to treasure.
Curated By: Alexei DeLuca, 2025
YCW Archives Assistant at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
“Baseball.” Tobacco.stanford.edu, tobacco.stanford.edu/cigarettes/smoking-in-sports/baseball/.
Cracknell, Ryan. “2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Superfractor Sells for $3.94 Million, Most Ever for Baseball Card.” Beckett News, Beckett Media LLC, 23 Aug. 2020, www.beckett.com/news/2009-bowman-chrome-mike-trout-superfractor-sells-for-3-84-million-most-ever-for-baseball-card/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
DeJak, John M. “Baseball Cards without Bubble Gum, 20 Years On.” The Bellarmine Forum, Bellarmine Forum (Wanderer Forum Foundation, Inc.), 28 June 2013, bellarmineforum.org/baseball-cards-without-bubble-gum-20-years-on/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
“Dominion Chocolate Bars 1924-25 Sport Champion Cards Newspaper Ad | HockeyGods.” Hockeygods.com, 2023, hockeygods.com/images/21813-Dominion_Chocolate_Bars_1924_25_Sport_Champion_Cards_Newspaper_Ad. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Harrigan, Thomas. “Skenes MLB Debut Patch Card Sells for $1.11M at Auction.” MLB.com, MLB, 21 Mar. 2025, www.mlb.com/news/paul-skenes-mlb-debut-patch-card-sold-at-auction.
John. “The 1990 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson Autograph Was the First Major Chase Card – Post War Cards.” Postwarcards.com, 5 Dec. 2024, www.postwarcards.com/the-1990-upper-deck-reggie-jackson-autograph-was-the-first-major-chase-card/.
Marsh, James . “Canada’s Forgotten Baseball History | the Canadian Encyclopedia.” Www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, 3 June 2013, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadians-in-baseball-the-lost-tribe-feature.
Pre-War Cards. “1925 Dominion Chocolate Athletic Stars Set (V31) – Pre-War Cards.” Pre-War Cards, Dec. 2016, prewarcards.com/2016/12/01/1925-v31-dominion-chocolate-athletic-stars-set-and-checklist/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
—. “1932-38 Vancouver Peanuts Set and Checklist – Pre-War Cards.” Pre-War Cards, 10 Nov. 2016, prewarcards.com/2016/11/10/1932-38-vancouver-peanuts-set-and-checklist-baseball-cards/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Renaud, Jeff. “Western Prof Collecting Stories of the Iconic O-Pee-Chee Company.” Western News, 24 Jan. 2024, news.westernu.ca/2024/01/o-pee-chee/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Reyes, Ernest. “A 1887 Silver Bill Phillips Baseball Card – an Old Time Brooklyn Player.” Dodgersblueheaven.com, 2020, www.dodgersblueheaven.com/2013/10/a-1887-silver-bill-phillips-baseball.html. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
Staff, CardLines. “The Long History of Canada’s O-Pee-Chee Hockey and Baseball Cards.” Cardlines, CardLines.com, 15 Sept. 2022, cardlines.com/what-are-o-pee-chee-cards/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Topps. “About Topps NOW®.” Topps.com, 2025, www.topps.com/pages/toppsnow. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
—. “What Is a Relic Card?” Topps Ripped, 9 Jan. 2023, ripped.topps.com/definition/relic-card/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Villa, Kate. “The Mysterious Story behind the World’s Most Valuable Baseball Card | Bespoke Post.” Bespoke Post, 29 Jan. 2016, www.bespokepost.com/field-guide/the-mysterious-story-behind-the-worlds-most-valuable-baseball-card. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Wiles, Tim. “The Honus Is on You.” Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/baseball-history/honus-is-on-you.