Kelly Sage, also known as “the Canadian card guy,” has become a go-to figure for retired Canadian major league baseball players seeking their own baseball cards. With a collection of around 50,000 cards, Sage estimates possessing between 30,000 and 35,000 distinct cards of Canadian players. His interest in baseball card collecting dates back to the early 1970s when he was a young child in Cardale, Manitoba.
After a hiatus from collecting, Sage reignited his passion by purchasing baseball card packs at a gas station, sparking his focus on Canadian-born players. Sage actively seeks out retired major leaguers to sign cards for him, discovering that many lacked their own cards. This led to interactions like the time he tracked down retired pitcher Denis Boucher for an autograph session in Saskatoon.
Sage’s efforts have garnered attention, with former players reaching out to him for their own cards. He maintains relationships with local card shops in cities with MLB teams to acquire unique cards of Canadian players. Beyond signed cards and baseballs, Sage’s collection now includes various baseball memorabilia, filling his home’s den and living room.
Despite the growing collection, Sage’s wife, Rhonda, supports his hobby by having her own space for sewing. Sage has set rules for his collecting, including not charging former players for cards and planning to donate his collection to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in the future.
