With the NHL and WHA in the final stages of their seven-year battle, hockey card collectors were surprised to see that there would only be cards from one of the leagues and welcomed the 1978-79 O-Pee-Chee set with open arms. For the fifth straight season, O-Pee-Chee's set was made up of 396 cards. The set is a major source of frustration for those wanting to put a high-grade … [Read more...]
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee Hockey: Traded Cards Come Into Style
One of the greatest quirks about classic O-Pee-Chee cards regardless of sport was that the London, Ontario-based company was quick to update their cards with notations of trades or other player movement. The familiar "Now With..." notation was a part of Canadian childhood for many years as we saw many of our favorite players in their old uniforms since there was not enough time … [Read more...]
1939 HOF Signed Baseball; Frazier’s 1970 Finals Jersey; 1914 Orioles Photo with Babe Headline Lelands Sale
A baseball signed by 11 of Major League Baseball’s original Hall of Fame inductees in 1939 and a Bobby Orr circa 1972 Boston Bruins game-worn jersey headline the Lelands Spring 2019 Classic Auction, which opened for bidding Tuesday and runs through June 7. The baseball includes the signatures of 11 original Hall of Fame members, who were all present at the inaugural … [Read more...]
Notes: USA Test Orr Brings $57,853; Cleveland Area Show Set; Fake Rings Seized by CBP
A recently-graded 1966-67 Topps USA Test Bobby Orr card was auctioned for $57,853 Monday night. Given an 8.5 rating by PSA, the card sold on eBay. It’s one of fewer than 100 ever graded by PSA and among the top known examples. Earlier this year, Lelands sold a PSA 9 copy of the same card for just over $204,000, which made it the second highest priced hockey card … [Read more...]
1966-67 Orr Topps Test Card Becomes 2nd Highest Priced Hockey Card
The highest graded example of one of the rarest modern era hockey cards in existence sold for $204,020 early Friday as Lelands closed out its latest catalog auction. The 1966-67 Bobby Orr Topps USA Test card was graded PSA Mint 9. It's one of fewer than 100 of its kind ever examined by PSA. It's now the second most valuable hockey card ever sold at public … [Read more...]
1969-70 Topps Hockey Set Reflected NHL’s Growth
The 1960s were a time of upheaval and growth for the NHL, and the 1969-70 Topps hockey set put the finishing touches to a decade of change. Topps' wax packs now carried a few more cards but the prices in each sport had morphed from a nickel to a dime between the spring release of baseball and the fall and winter sports. Each pack contained a pair of player stamps (more … [Read more...]
Orr, Other Stars to Appear at Spring 2018 Sportcard & Memorabilia Expo
Trading card collectors in the United States swear by the annual National Sports Collectors Convention and everything it has to offer. Those of us that love cards and live North of the border have something special of our own in the Sportcard & Memorabilia Expo that is our own paradise, especially for hockey collectors. This time, it aims to be bigger than ever with a rare … [Read more...]
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Set an Important Issue
2018 will mark the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set. The issue featured an innovative design, a key rookie card, and plenty of stars. It was also the largest hockey set issued to that date. Here's a closer look at what became the first modern O-Pee-Chee issue. 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee Basics Working closely with American brand Topps, … [Read more...]
1967-68 Topps Hockey Set Kept to Original 6
Expansion came to the National Hockey League in 1967--and in a big way. The league doubled in size from the longstanding "Original Six" franchises to a 12-team league that was now coast-to-coast. The move came too late to be reflected in the nickel wax packs of cards that arrived on candy counters that season. The 1967-68 Topps hockey checklist included only … [Read more...]
1976-77 Topps Hockey Short on Rookies but Big on Subsets and Inserts
For the most part, the 1976-77 Topps hockey set was your standard run-of-the-mill 1970s hockey issue. But in addition to numerous subsets in the release, Topps also introduced a unique insert, which helped it stand out from others. Here's a closer look at Topps' issue for the 1976-77 hockey season. 1976-77 Topps Hockey Overview The 1976-77 Topps hockey set was a 264-card … [Read more...]