I cringe when I say I am going to write about what I was doing 50 years ago this week. The reason I cringe is that it was 50 years ago and it feels like it was not that long ago. I have become that old guy that I used to make fun of for saying exactly what I just did. I will be honest, though, I don’t remember every wax box I cracked open in my lifetime. But this one, 50 … [Read more...] about 50 Years Later: Memories of the First WHA Trading Card Set and the Deal That Gave the League Its Big Star
1970s hockey cards
50th Anniversary Of Hockey’s Greatest Series Stirs Memories Of 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Hockey
We all have great childhood memories. And if you were interested in sports when you were a kid – chances are you were if you are reading this– you probably have some go to moments to reflect upon. Depending on how old you are, that moment may be Joe Namath leading the Jets to Super Bowl III. It may be Hank Aaron’s 715th career home run. It may be Reggie Jackson’s three home … [Read more...] about 50th Anniversary Of Hockey’s Greatest Series Stirs Memories Of 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Hockey
1 of 2 PSA 10 Gretzky Rookie Cards Expected to Bring Seven-Figure Price
One of just two copies of Wayne Gretzky’s 1979-80 Topps rookie card to be awarded a PSA 10 grade will be on the market later this month. Heritage Auctions will offer one of them in its Summer Platinum Night Auction and it’s expected to sell for a record price. Overall, Gretzky’s rookie card isn’t rare. PSA alone has graded about 8,600 of them in the past 20 years. In … [Read more...] about 1 of 2 PSA 10 Gretzky Rookie Cards Expected to Bring Seven-Figure Price
Drafts, Trades and Head Transplants: Guy Lafleur’s Domino Impact On 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Hockey
The hockey world stopped to pay tribute to Guy Lafleur over the last two weeks. In some NHL arenas, it was a tribute on the jumbotron. In others, it meant more. In Ottawa, for example, the Senators hosted the Montreal Canadiens the day after the hockey legend's passing. There was a moment of silence and a tribute, and there was not a dry eye in the house. As I stood there, … [Read more...] about Drafts, Trades and Head Transplants: Guy Lafleur’s Domino Impact On 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Hockey
Ken Dryden Rookie Card Turns 50
One of the most iconic hockey cards of all time is celebrating it’s 50th birthday this season. The Ken Dryden 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee and Topps rookie cards were first ripped from real wax as the sweet aroma of delicious, yet sometimes crispy, sticks of gum tingled the senses of collectors. The Dryden rookie card is widely considered the premier hockey card of the 1970s. Just … [Read more...] about Ken Dryden Rookie Card Turns 50
The Big Three: Collecting the Heart of the 1970s Montreal Canadiens
Throughout the 1970s, the Montreal Canadiens were the most dominant club in hockey. While the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers tried to wrestle that title away from them throughout the decade, the team's defense corps that featured the Hall of Fame trio of Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, and Guy Lapointe ensure that Lord Stanley's Mug was staying with the Bleu, Blanc et … [Read more...] about The Big Three: Collecting the Heart of the 1970s Montreal Canadiens
Capital Punishment: Hockey Cards of the Original Washington Capitals
With the World Hockey Association spreading into markets throughout North America in the early 1970s, the National Hockey League needed to combat the rival league - even if it meant expanding at a dangerous rate and watering down the amount of talent playing at the highest pro level at the time. Enter the 1974-75 Washington Capitals - a club whose auspicious start ranks as the … [Read more...] about Capital Punishment: Hockey Cards of the Original Washington Capitals
A Collector’s Guide to the 2019 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees
The annual announcement of new inductees by the Hockey Hall of Fame always creates discussion among fans - especially in years where there are some controversial choices made by its Selection Committee. This year, there has been plenty of uproar over the talents that are being enshrined in November. No matter how they feel, many hobbyists are already on the hunt for rookie … [Read more...] about A Collector’s Guide to the 2019 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee WHA Has A Difficult Legacy
Down to eight teams heading into the 1977-78 season, the World Hockey Association was on its last legs, but that did not stop them from being involved in a trading card project for the fourth straight year. The 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee WHA set marked the end of an era, whether or not collectors cared much at the time. Even now, it appears that O-Pee-Chee got a little overzealous … [Read more...] about 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee WHA Has A Difficult Legacy
Hockey’s 10 Most Underrated Rookie Cards Of The 1980s
For the generation that grew up watching hockey in the 1980s, there are plenty of heroes from that era which are still heavily praised. The exploits of players like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy and many others are well-remembered, but there are also those that were stars at the time which have been forgotten or are in danger of fading into the ether of hockey … [Read more...] about Hockey’s 10 Most Underrated Rookie Cards Of The 1980s