Sal Barry, Author at Puck Junk

What Would You Do With a Full Case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards?

In a record-setting auction that ended Sunday, February 25, a full case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards sold at Heritage Auctions for $3.72 MILLION DOLLARS.

The winning bid, which was placed Saturday night, was for $3.1 million. The “buyer’s premium” that gets tacked on to the winning bid price was $620,000, bringing the grand total to $3.72M.

What I want to know is, what would someone do with an entire case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards?

Continue reading “What Would You Do With a Full Case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards?”

Video: Bernie Parent Interview

In this video, Flyers legend and Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent talks with Sal Barry about his NHL and WHA career. Topics include what it was like for Parent to play with Jacques Plante, why he left to play in the WHA, and the problem with today’s goalie gear. It’s 10 minutes of hockey goodness.

Special thanks to the Sport Card Expo for video of the interview.

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Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Intro/outro music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.

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Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: Bernie Parent Interview

Episode #180: February 23, 2024

Flyers legend and Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent talks with Sal Barry about his NHL and WHA career. Topics include what it was like for Parent to play with Jacques Plante, why he left to play in the WHA, and the problem with today’s goalie gear. It’s 10 minutes of hockey goodness.

Links
Watch a video of the Bernie Parent interview on YouTube.
Bernie Parent career statistics at HockeyDB.
Special thanks to the Sport Card Expo for recording the interview.

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
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or Transistor.

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Connor Bedard’s O-Pee-Chee Rookie Cards are Hot!

But Will They Be This Hot for Long?

It’s a mad, mad world we hockey card collectors are living in right now. Earlier this month, the hobby got turned on it’s head – again! – thanks, in large part, to the hype surrounding Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard.

Upper Deck released its 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set on February 7. Traditionally, OPC is issued at the start of the season and does not include any of the “big name” rookies, who would normally get OPC cards later in the year as a part of an update set.

But this year, OPC was released mid-season. That means that Upper Deck could include Connor Bedard in the ’23-24 OPC set – and boy, did they ever!

Continue reading “Connor Bedard’s O-Pee-Chee Rookie Cards are Hot!”

Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2023-24 Season

Every NHL head coach has either played or coached at some level before becoming a “bench boss” in The Show. Maybe he was a solid NHL player. Or maybe he was a minor leaguer who grinded out a career. Or maybe he quit playing after junior hockey and got into coaching at a relatively young age.

Thus, almost every NHL head coach for the 2023-24 season had at least one hockey card issued during either their playing or coaching career. Here is each coach’s “rookie card” if they played in the NHL, or “first-ever” card if they played elsewhere. This list includes all the coaching changes made during the 2023-24 season.

Continue reading “Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2023-24 Season”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Topps NHL Sticker Collection

Plus: Connor Bedard’s OPC RC is on Fire!
Episode #179: February 17, 2024

In the latest episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal and Tim talk all about the 2023-24 Topps NHL Sticker Collection. They also talk about the insane prices that Connor Bedard’s O-Pee-Chee Marquee Rookie card is selling for, the Penguins retiring Jaromir Jagr’s number 68, and more. It’s 95 minutes of hockey goodness!

Links
Upper Deck My MVP Contest Website
LastSticker.com is a great site for trading duplicate stickers with others

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.1993-94
Follow Tim Parish on X/Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.

Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Is There Too Much of a Good Thing?

After I launched the Puck Junk Newsletter last summer, a reader commented about the sheer number of hockey cards coming out over the next few months.

That got me wondering: are there too many hockey sets being released at once? In other words, is this too much of a good thing?

Continue reading “Is There Too Much of a Good Thing?”

Puck Junk Podcast: 1993-94 Fleer Ultra Hockey Setrospective

Plus: 2024 All-Star Game Recap
Episode #178: February 9, 2024

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish continue the trip down memory lane with another “Setrospective.” This time, it’s about the 1993-94 Fleer Ultra Hockey set, which came out 30 years ago this season. Find out why it is one of Tim’s favorite sets from the 1993-94 season – and why it is one of Sal’s least favorite sets from that year. Plus, the guys talk about the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, the “Four Nations Face-Off” that will replace the All-Star Game next year, and the NHL participating in the next two Winter Olympics. It’s 78 minutes of hockey goodness!

Links, Notes & Images
Puck Junk Podcast: 1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay Setrospective (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast: 1993-94 Leaf Hockey Setrospective (Puck Junk)
Every 1992-93 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)
Every 1993-94 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)
Mystery Alaska: An Oral History (The Hockey News)

Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 1993-94 Upper Deck Hockey Setrospective

Episode #177: February 3, 2024

In Episode #177 of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal, Tim, and Clemente take a look back at the 1993-94 Upper Deck Hockey Card set, which was released 30 years ago. Does it stand the test of time, and is it worth having in your collection today? Plus, the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card case that was discovered and is up for auction, the possibility of Utah getting an NHL franchise, a look at the upcoming 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set, and more. It’s 92 minutes of hockey goodness!

Links & Notes
Information on pre-ordering the new 1990s Hockey Wrapper T-Shirt – preorder by February 7, 2024 and get $5 off the regular price.

Full case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards Discovered (SCD)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card Case Auction (Heritage Auctions)
2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Beckett)
1993-94 Upper Deck Hockey Images & Checklist (Trading Card DB)
The Wayne Gretzky Soccer Cards (Puck Junk)

Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: Patrick Roy Returns to the NHL

Plus: The Upcoming NHL All-Star Game
Episode #176: January 27, 2024

In the new Puck Junk Podcast, Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk about Patrick Roy’s return to the NHL as the new head coach of the New York Islanders. They also discuss the new format for the upcoming NHL All-Star Game, if you can go to a card show without buying anything, if Fanatics will eventually make hockey cards, and more. It’s 115 minutes of hockey goodness.

Links
The card where Topps airbrushed the Upper Deck Logo (Puck Junk)
Review: 2003-04 Topps C55 Hockey (Puck Junk)
Video: Patrick Roy vs. Bruce Boudreau (YouTube)
Video: Patrick Roy vs. Mike Vernon Goalie Fight (YouTube)
Video: Patrick Roy vs. Chris Osgood Goalie Fight (YouTube)
Video: Ron Hextall vs. Alain Chevrier Goalie Fight (YouTube)
1987 Canada Cup Game 3: An Oral History (The Hockey News)

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on X/Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.

Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Episode #180: February 23, 2024

But Will They Be This Hot for Long?

Plus: Connor Bedard’s OPC RC is on Fire! Episode #179: February 17, 2024

Plus: 2024 All-Star Game Recap Episode #178: February 9, 2024

Episode #177: February 3, 2024

Plus: The Upcoming NHL All-Star Game Episode #176: January 27, 2024

Plus: Connor Bedard’s OPC RC is on Fire!
Episode #179: February 17, 2024

Plus: 2024 All-Star Game Recap
Episode #178: February 9, 2024

Plus: The Upcoming NHL All-Star Game
Episode #176: January 27, 2024