Expansion had yet to arrive and players on the “Original Six” NHL teams were familiar to fans but none were more famous than Mr. Hockey in the early 1960s. Gordie Howe’s career began just after World War II and lasted until he was in his 50s, playing in the World Hockey Association. His 32-year-career included 25 with the Detroit Red Wings where he played on 23 … [Read more...]
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1957-58 Topps Hockey Set Marked Company’s Return to NHL Cards
The 1957-58 Topps hockey set marked the company’s return to the sport after a two-year break that followed the 1954-55 debut set. Topps must have felt pretty optimistic about the sports bubble gum business at the time, because it also produced its first basketball card set that winter. 1957-58 Topps Hockey Basics The set consists of 66 cards representing only … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: ‘Best Hockey Image of All-Time’?
Gordie Howe's name is all over the National Hockey League record book, mostly for all of the goals he scored in his long career. Gordie, though, was also known as a guy who didn't shy away from contact on the ice. Howe used his stick for reasons that had nothing directly to do with shooting the puck into the net and he wasn't afraid to apply a hard check when … [Read more...]
Babe Ruth Bat Top Seller in $1.2 Million Auction
Even on the ice, Babe Ruth memorabilia is a hot ticket item. A game-used bat by Ruth, from the 1919-1922, has been in the Hull family for years. First, it was owned by hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, and then by his son, fellow Hall of Famer Brett Hull. For hockey fans, that was a different kind of stick. But someone paid the cash to win it. Wednesday, it was the top … [Read more...]
Ken Dryden Rookie Card Headlines 1971-72 Topps Hockey Set
Even with recent expansion, there were just 14 teams in the National Hockey League when the puck dropped on October 8, 1971. While going deeper into rosters for the O-Pee-Chee brand, Topps' 1971-72 hockey set remained at just 132 cards. 1971-72 Topps Hockey Basics The 1971-72 Topps hockey cards maintained the standard 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" size. However, the cards were much … [Read more...]
Bobby Orr And Hall of Fame Rookies Anchor 1970-71 Topps Hockey Set
There were two new NHL teams as a new decade dawned but the size of the 1970-71 Topps hockey set remained the same. Buffalo and Vancouver were the new teams but the established stars remained the focus. Despite its relatively small size, the 132-card set includes plenty of interesting cards including several Hall of Famers and a couple of key rookie cards. 1970-71 Topps … [Read more...]
Gordie Howe Rookie Card Still Within Reach
The sports world lost another great one Friday with the death of ‘Mr. Hockey’ at age 88. The Gordie Howe rookie card from the 1951-52 Parkhurst set is one of the most important ever made and represents the beginning of a career that began in 1946 and didn't end until 1980. Howe appeared on Topps’ first hockey set in 1954-55 and was still active when the company produced its … [Read more...]
Celebrate Hockey’s Return With 10 Great Cards
Every sport has iconic collectible cards. Basketball has the 1986-87 Michael Jordan rookie. Baseball has the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and the T-206 Honus Wagner. Pro football has the 1935 Bronko Nagurski National Chicle card. Hockey is no different. As the puck drops for a new regular season, here is a look at 10 rare, interesting, landmark or simply fun hockey cards to … [Read more...]
Top 10 Hockey Rookie Cards of the 1950s
Hockey cards may never rival baseball and football cards in terms of the sheer number of issues or US hobbyists who collect them, but there is always a strong following for star rookie cards, regardless of the sport, and hockey is king in Canada. Hockey rookie cards of the 1950s, in particular, featured some of the greatest names the game has ever known, and their relative … [Read more...]
Topps Made History with 1954-55 Hockey Set Despite MIA Canadian Teams
During the 1954-55 NHL season, Topps took their first attempt at producing a set of hockey cards. Never before had any sports card manufacturer mass-produced a set of hockey cards in the United States, showing again how aggressive Topps was in attempting to capture the biggest piece of the pie just two years after their 407-card baseball card set debuted. Parkhurst also … [Read more...]
