It’s probably fair to say that almost every collector retains at least one program in their collection, regardless of their overall hobby preferences. Unlike some collectibles, programs are sort of interactive, with a little something for everyone inside: interesting articles, unique pictures, statistics and great advertisements. Some programs are even known to … [Read more...]
Dessert and Bubble Gum: Analyzing the 1968-69 Shirriff and O-Pee-Chee Hockey Sets
I remember like it was yesterday, peering over the formica dining table with its spindly steel legs, eagerly watching my mother empty the contents of 3 1/4- inch by 2 3/4-inch inch box of Shirriff jelly crystals into a mixing bowl. The red, yellow or green sticky granular substance mixed with water and set upon by some kind or other of alchemical magic or so it … [Read more...]
Rookie Card vs. “Rookie Year”: Are Some Hockey Card Values Out of Whack?
The past year of the sports card boom may be a somewhat similar take on the early 1990's but this is no 2.0 version. We are approaching unprecedented 10X and appreciating more as every day, week and month passes. The title of this article illustrates a rather new term being thrown around within the sports card industry, as many new words or phrases do in a boom, possibly … [Read more...]
10 Underrated Hockey Rookie Cards of the 1960s
The game of hockey was aiming to grow in the 1960s and as the NHL was ready to move from the Original Six era to a 12-team league. Before expansion, it was tough to crack a roster and it was tough for a special talent to make it up - even for a few games. Sometimes, these players might have found themselves a hockey card, too. However, even the stars can become forgotten … [Read more...]
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...]
Taking A Bow: 10 Key Final Cards of Hockey Legends
In the modern world of hockey card collecting, the appeal of retired players within new releases practically ensures that many of the game's greatest legends will be discovered by new generations of hobbyists. However, there was a time where retirement often meant that a last card was exactly that, and there are plenty from Parkhurst, Topps, and O-Pee-Chee that deserve a second … [Read more...]
Mr. Goalie’s Memorabilia: Collecting Glenn Hall
When hockey collectors discuss the game's greatest goalies, there are names that naturally pop up like Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Patrick Roy, and Martin Brodeur. Their place in hockey history is undeniable, but there is one amazing talent that seems to get lost in the shuffle despite being arguably the best in the game during the 1960s - Glenn Hall. Why hasn't the hobby … [Read more...]
Spelling it Out: 1933-34 V252 Canadian Chewing Gum
Hockey's original gum card era began in a memorable fashion during the Great Depression as Canadian kids were looking to escape from the grim reality of the world around them. With the sport gaining national momentum thanks to radio broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, the thought of getting a picture of your favorite stars and a stick of gum was a tempting way to spend your … [Read more...]
Mistaken Identity: 1937-38 V356 World Wide Gum Hockey Cards
The largest single-issue hockey card set issued before World War II, the relatively plain 1937-38 V356 World Wide Gum release has never had a sparkling reputation in the hobby. However, it is a collection which still deserves the respect of modern fans since it is a perfect snapshot of the NHL as it edged toward the Original Six era and holds a few secrets that took decades to … [Read more...]
1954-55 Parkhurst: Preparing For Battle
The hockey card world was turned upside down in the mid-1950s. Canadian kids had a difficult choice to make as they could check out the new competition from Topps or stick with what they already liked with the 1954-55 Parkhurst collection. 1954-55 Parkhurst was the last set to feature all of the Original Six together in one offering. Topps made deals with the teams … [Read more...]