Collectors who appreciate learning about the history of trading card companies and their products have a new book to consider. The O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card story offers 116 pages of information and background on the London, Ontario-based company that was a part of every Canadian kid’s childhood for many years, producing hockey and baseball gum cards. The book’s author … [Read more...]
O-Pee-Chee Gretzky Rookie Now Most Expensive Hockey Card
After the National Sports Collectors Convention closed Thursday evening, the action shifted to a hotel ballroom where bidders spent over $3.1 million on over 90 high-end sports cards and sports memorabilia with Goldin Auctions. As expected, the O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card PSA 10 established a new standard for hockey trading cards by selling for $465,000 -- … [Read more...]
Nolan Ryan Rookie Card Prices Continue Upward Trend
It’s not rare. Over 8,000 have been graded by PSA and SGC alone and ungraded examples are sold every day online, in stores and at shows. Make no mistake, though, the market for high-grade examples of the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card has been very, very good to collectors—and investors. Ryan's status as a Hall of Fame favorite among fans who recall the seven … [Read more...]
Ramblings: O-Pee-Chee and Free Agency in the 70s
It’s the season for mammoth new free agent contracts in baseball. Zack Greinke is a Diamondback and David Price is a member of the Boston Red Sox after signing a contract which might be worth upwards of $215 million. The reason I say “might be” is there is an opt-out clause after the first three seasons. However, if the contract goes the full length he will earn more money … [Read more...]
Vintage Buy of the Week: Hockey Card Bonanza
Sometimes you just have to choose. A long-time hockey card collector has picked one hobby over another and the result will send more than two dozen vintage hockey card sets, near sets and single cards into the marketplace later this fall. Our Vintage Buy of the Week from Just Collect involves a collector of automobiles and cards from Philadelphia came to the realization … [Read more...]
Upper Deck, Goalie Team Up to Inspire MS Patients
An NHL goalie dealing with Multiple Sclerosis is hoping a special hockey card will give hope to others battling the disease. Josh Harding is a goalie for the Minnesota Wild who was diagnosed in November, 2012. In his first game back post-diagnosis that season, Harding faced the Dallas Stars and stopped all 24 shots for a 1-0 shootout win. He was named winner of the 2012-2013 … [Read more...]
Remembering Thurman Munson Last Flight and Final Cards
One of my all-time favorite lines from any book I've ever read is actually a what-if line included in Dave Marsh’s terrific book The Heart Of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Every Made. The line is “the plane stayed in the air” as it refers to the doomed aircraft Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) and Richie Valens were traveling on in a snowy February … [Read more...]
1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card: What You Need to Know
Although there are many popular baseball cards that have been produced throughout the history of the hobby, it is safe to say that only a handful can truly be called “iconic” cards. By definition, such cards represent in their appearance the baseball card hobby as a unique entity. These cards, on their own, call to mind the greater whole of the hobby. Many of these iconic … [Read more...]
Rich’s Ramblings: Fun With O-Pee-Chee Baseball
The Sports Collectors Daily Facebook page posted a picture of a great card last week: The 1972 O-Pee-Chee Gil Hodges #465. In between the time Topps printed its cards here in the U.S. and the OPC cards were printed in Canada, the Mets’ manager had suffered a major heart attack and died just after finishing a round of golf on Easter Sunday. Hodges had time to play golf on … [Read more...]
Vintage Pack Break of the Week: 1971 OPC Baseball
Last week, our Vintage Pack Break of the Week traveled north of the border for a 1970 O-Pee-Chee Baseball pack. This week, we're going back to the Canadian side for one of the tougher packs of the 1970. In 1971 OPC pushed its set to the limit, producing a 752-card monster identical to the Topps issue. It was the largest OPC set yet and probably seemed overwhelming to … [Read more...]