Maverick Playing Cards: Collector’s Guide
Maverick Playing Cards: Collector’s Guide
Maverick is a modern American playing card brand first produced by Brown & Bigelow as part of the Hoyle family in 1959, best known for its reliability, affordability, and wide availability. This collector’s guide explains what Maverick playing cards are, how the brand fits within the Hoyle ecosystem, the key differences between Maverick editions and eras, and how Maverick decks are organized at ClassicDecks.
Quick Links
- Maverick Brand Hub
- Shop All Maverick
- Shop Maverick Standard Index
- Shop Maverick Jumbo Index
- Shop Maverick Made in USA
- Shop Maverick Pinochle & Euchre
- Shop Maverick Vintage Decks
What Are Maverick Playing Cards?
Maverick is a value-focused playing card brand created within the Brown & Bigelow / Hoyle family in 1959. From the beginning, Maverick was designed to be dependable, easy to find, and affordable— a practical choice for everyday play rather than a premium or decorative deck.
Over the decades, Maverick has become one of the most widely used playing card brands in the United States. Its identity is built around consistency: familiar faces, clear indices, and predictable handling that works equally well for casual home games and frequent use.
Why Maverick
Maverick’s appeal is simple: it’s a dependable, affordable deck that’s easy to replace and easy to play with. For most buyers, the real decision is not between different “models” of Maverick—it’s choosing the right index size (standard vs jumbo) and the right game format (poker, pinochle/euchre).
Collectors tend to approach Maverick differently than heritage brands: the goal is usually to represent key production eras (Twin Cities/Stancraft and Hoyle Products, then USPCC-era printings) rather than chase rare one-off variants.
History of Maverick Playing Cards
Maverick was launched by Brown & Bigelow of St. Paul, Minnesota, as part of its Hoyle product line. Brown & Bigelow’s playing-card division operated under the Stancraft name in the retail market, with Hoyle as its major brand. Maverick joined this ecosystem as a mass-market poker deck aimed at supermarkets, drugstores, and discount retailers.
In the late 1960s Brown & Bigelow merged with Standard Packaging Corporation, which was in turn acquired by Saxon Industries in 1970. The playing-card division continued to operate in St. Paul under evolving imprints—first as Stancraft Products and, after 1975, as Hoyle Products—but manufacturing remained in the Twin Cities.
In 2001, The United States Playing Card Company (USPCC) acquired the Hoyle brand and related lines, including Maverick. Early USPCC-era Maverick decks were printed in Cincinnati, Ohio, before production moved overseas for most of the 21st century.
ClassicDecks carries Maverick decks from three key production eras: Stancraft Products (through 1975), Hoyle Products (1975–2001), and USPCC-era printings from Cincinnati (2004) and Erlanger (2025 Made in USA), as well as modern import editions.
For more on Maverick and Hoyle history, visit the World of Playing Cards or the Hoyle Collector’s Guide.
| Year / Range | Era | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| 1959–early 1960s | Brown & Bigelow (Hoyle family) | Brown & Bigelow maker language; Twin Cities location on tuck/Ace |
| early 1960s–1975 | Stancraft Products | “Stancraft Products” maker line; St. Paul/Minneapolis; possible Standard Packaging / Saxon references |
| 1975–2001 | Hoyle Products | “Hoyle Products” maker line; St. Paul address; mature Twin Cities production |
| 2001–present | USPCC era | USPCC maker line; Cincinnati (early 2000s), Erlanger (2025), and overseas “Made in China” printings |
Maverick Eras: Stancraft, Hoyle Products, and USPCC
Understanding Maverick’s production eras helps collectors make sense of differences in feel, printing, and box markings. All are practical decks, but each era has distinct identifiers.
| Era | Approx. Dates | Maker Line on Tuck/Ace | Common Location Marking | Collector Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown & Bigelow | 1959–early 1960s | Brown & Bigelow | St. Paul or Minneapolis, MN | Earliest “first-era” representative decks before Stancraft imprint becomes common |
| Stancraft Products | early 1960s–1975 | Stancraft Products (Brown & Bigelow division) | St. Paul or Minneapolis, MN | May include Standard Packaging (late 1960s) or Saxon Industries (after 1970) in fine print |
| Hoyle Products | 1975–2001 | Hoyle Products | St. Paul, MN | What many people mean by “St. Paul Mavericks” (mature Twin Cities era) |
| USPCC | 2001–present | The United States Playing Card Company / USPCC | Cincinnati, OH (early); Erlanger, KY (2025); China on most modern mass-market decks | Cincinnati/Erlanger interest collectors; imports are ideal for high-volume play |
How Maverick Is Organized at ClassicDecks
Because Maverick decks share a consistent look and construction, ClassicDecks organizes Maverick primarily by how customers actually choose their cards. Rather than fragmenting the brand into dozens of micro-variants, Maverick is grouped by index style, game format, production era (Stancraft, Hoyle Products, USPCC), and notable special runs like the 2025 Made in USA printing.
Standard Index vs Jumbo Index
The most common decision Maverick buyers make is index size. Both standard and jumbo index decks share the same Maverick styling and handling; the difference is simply how large the numbers and suit symbols appear.
| Feature | Standard Index | Jumbo Index |
|---|---|---|
| Look & feel | Traditional proportions | Larger corner indices |
| Best for | Most table games and classic feel | Group play, distance viewing, easier readability |
| What changes | Index size only (the deck style and handling remain familiar Maverick) | |
Browse by index: Maverick Standard Index | Maverick Jumbo Index
Pinochle, Euchre, and Specialty Formats
In addition to standard poker decks, Maverick has long been offered in formats designed for popular American card games such as pinochle and euchre. These decks are tailored to their specific games while maintaining the same dependable Maverick quality.
Explore these formats here: Maverick Pinochle & Euchre
The Maverick Poker Set
The Maverick Poker Set is designed for players who want a complete, ready-to-play poker setup in the familiar Maverick style. Like all Maverick products, the Poker Set emphasizes practicality and consistency rather than presentation gimmicks.
It is a straightforward option for home poker games, game nights, or anyone who prefers a coordinated set built around a dependable, widely trusted deck.
View it here: Maverick Poker Set
Made in USA: 2025 Special Printing
In 2025, Maverick decks were briefly produced in the United States at USPCC’s Erlanger, Kentucky facility before manufacturing reverted back to overseas plants. These Made in USA decks included back designs that differ from many everyday Maverick imports and are functionally similar to other Maverick editions, but are grouped separately for customers and collectors who specifically seek this short-lived U.S.-made print run.
View this limited production run here: Maverick Made in USA (2025 Printing)
Collecting Maverick Playing Cards
Maverick is collected differently than heritage or premium brands. Rather than focusing on ornate designs or rare sub-variants, most Maverick collectors build sets around completeness, condition, and practical use. A smaller group also seeks out earlier U.S.-printed eras (Stancraft Products, Hoyle Products/St. Paul, Cincinnati) for their distinct feel and printing history.
Common Approaches
- One standard index deck and one jumbo index deck for everyday play.
- Adding pinochle or euchre formats for game-specific play.
- Including the 2025 Made in USA printing as a point-in-time variant.
- Building a small run of Stancraft, Hoyle Products (St. Paul), and Cincinnati decks to represent key manufacturing eras.
How to Date Maverick Decks
Dating Maverick decks follows the same logic as dating other Hoyle-family cards: look at the maker line, city, corporate language, and—on later decks—USPCC cues.
| Clue | What It Usually Indicates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maker line | Brown & Bigelow / Stancraft Products / Hoyle Products / USPCC | Start with the maker line; it is usually the fastest way to place a deck into an era |
| City | St. Paul/Minneapolis (Twin Cities), Cincinnati, Erlanger, or “Made in China” | Cities help narrow down the era within Twin Cities vs early USPCC vs 2025 USA vs import production |
| Corporate language | Standard Packaging / Saxon Industries wording | Often a strong indicator of late-1960s–1970s Stancraft-era production |
| Barcodes & © dates | Late 20th century or newer | © years track design approval, not always the exact printing year—use alongside maker line and city |
For precise dating of individual decks—especially transitional Stancraft/Hoyle Products Mavericks—collectors often compare their tucks and Aces against documented examples and community research, just as they do with Hoyle Shell Backs and other Twin Cities brands.
How to Store Maverick Playing Cards
Maverick decks—especially vintage Stancraft Products, Hoyle Products (St. Paul), and Cincinnati printings—benefit from the same storage practices used for other mid- to late-20th-century playing cards.
- Environment: Aim for stable conditions around 40–50% relative humidity and 65–70°F to reduce warping and box separation.
- Light: Store away from direct sunlight and strong artificial light to prevent fading of inks and tuck printing.
- Protection: Use acid-free sleeves or boxes for sealed vintage decks; for modern working decks, a simple protective case keeps edges cleaner longer.
- Handling: Consider keeping sealed Stancraft and Hoyle Products Mavericks for display and using modern or 2025 USA decks for regular play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maverick a Hoyle brand?
Yes. Maverick was introduced under the Brown & Bigelow / Stancraft / Hoyle umbrella and later became part of USPCC’s portfolio when Hoyle and related brands were acquired in 2001.
Does Maverick use the Hoyle faces?
Yes. Maverick uses the classic Hoyle faces and pips, sharing the same court cards and suit symbols as Hoyle decks since it was created as part of the Hoyle family.
Are Maverick playing cards collectible?
Maverick is primarily collected as a practical, widely used brand. Collectors often focus on format completeness, the short-run 2025 Made in USA printing, and earlier Stancraft Products, Hoyle Products (St. Paul), and Cincinnati eras rather than ultra-rare one-off releases.
Where are Maverick cards made?
Maverick decks have been produced in multiple locations over time: Stancraft and Hoyle Products plants in St. Paul/Minneapolis, USPCC facilities in Cincinnati and Erlanger, and, for much of the modern USPCC period, factories in China for mass-market production.
Which Maverick era should I buy to play with?
For regular play, modern import Mavericks and the 2025 Made in USA decks are the most practical choices. Vintage Stancraft and Hoyle Products decks are better reserved for light handling or display, given their age and growing collector interest.
Explore Maverick at ClassicDecks
Whether you’re buying cards for everyday play, stocking up for game nights, or building a practical collection that spans Stancraft Products, Hoyle Products, Cincinnati, and modern eras, Maverick remains one of the most dependable and widely used playing card brands available.
Return to the Maverick Brand Hub or shop All Maverick Playing Cards.