A feature published on October 25, 2025, introduced Kelly Sage, known as “the Canadian card guy,” to retired Canadian major league baseball players. Sage, residing in Saskatoon, has amassed a remarkable collection of baseball cards, with an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 unique cards of Canadian players out of his total collection of around 50,000 cards. His passion for collecting baseball cards dates back to his childhood in Cardale, Manitoba, in the early 1970s.
Although Sage took a break from collecting when it became easier to obtain complete sets, his interest was reignited when he stumbled upon Canadian players’ cards in a pack he bought for nostalgia’s sake. This led him to focus on collecting cards of Canadian-born players, finding it more captivating due to their relative scarcity and lesser-known status compared to American players in the sport.
Sage initiated a unique practice of sending cards to retired major leaguers for autographs, discovering that many of them did not possess their own cards. Notably, he successfully obtained the autograph of Denis Boucher, a retired pitcher from the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos, during a chance encounter in Saskatoon.
His reputation spread quickly within the baseball community, prompting players to reach out to him for their cards. Sage has established ongoing relationships with players like Fergie Jenkins, who request cards to distribute at camps and clinics. He finds joy in connecting with former players over shared memories and providing them with a piece of their history that they may not have even known existed.
Sage’s collection includes cards of approximately 190 out of the 260 Canadians who have played in the major leagues. He has collaborated with local card shops in cities hosting Major League Baseball teams to acquire unique sets featuring Canadian players, such as those distributed by local authorities and newspapers.
Beyond cards and signed memorabilia, Sage’s collection has expanded to include a diverse array of baseball-related items, enriching his home with a baseball-themed den and living room. His wife, Rhonda Sage, supports his passion, balancing it with her own interests in sewing and quilting.
While Kelly Sage has set personal guidelines against collecting from current players, charging former players for cards, or selling signed items, he envisions donating his extensive collection to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in the future.
