Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

Plus: The $3.72M 1979-80 OPC Hockey Case
Episode #181: March 1, 2024

In Episode 181 of the Puck Junk Podcast, the guys talk in-depth about the 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set – and how the demand for Connor Bedard rookie cards have driven prices for that set. They also discuss the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card case that sold for $3.72M, the 30th anniversary of “The Forsberg Goal” and more. It’s 1 hour and 55 minutes of hockey goodness. 

Links
1979-80 OPC Case Sells for $3.72M at Auction (Sports Collectors Daily)
The Fake Wayne Gretzky Indianapolis Racers Card (Puck Junk)
Peter Forsberg’s Goal from the 1994 Winter Olympics (YouTube)
2023-24 Upper Deck Star Rookies Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Clemente’s article about European card shows (Sports Collectors Digest)
2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
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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

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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?”

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!”

2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box Break

Normally an early-season release, the 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set was released on March 1, right as the regular season was winding down. Releasing the set later later in the season allowed Upper Deck to include rookie cards of players who made their debut early in the ’22-23 season, such as Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken and first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens. 

A hobby box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee costs around $60 for 18 packs. Each pack contains 10 cards, so a box yields 180 cards. As usual, O-Pee-Chee has numerous parallels, as well as popular inserts, such as Playing Cards.

I recently opened a box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards. Here’s what was inside. 

Continue reading “2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: Upcoming Hockey Cards for 2022-23

Plus: How a Fanatics/Panini Merger Could Affect Hockey Cards
Episode #129 – September 22, 2022

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss some of the upcoming hockey card releases for the 2022-23 season, including Upper Deck Series One and O-Pee-Chee. They also talk about the hockey cards that are still coming out for the 2021-22 season, and how a merger between Fanatics and Panini America could potentially affect hockey cards in the future. It’s 77 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes and Links:
Sept. 24, 2022 LUDEX Card Show at the Skyline Room (Facebook)
Puck Junk Podcast: 2022 National Recap Episode (Puck Junk)
Trading Card Database and Sportlots Announce Partnership (Sportlots)
Puck Junk Podcast: How to Complete Your Card Sets Episode (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast: Is Alexis Lafreniere Living Up to the Hype? (Puck Junk)
2022-23 Upper Deck Series One Young Guns Checklist (Upper Deck Blog)
The Great Hockey Card Comeback (The Hockey News)
Brady Tkachuk autographs some upcoming hockey cards (Twitter)

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
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or Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.  

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

Puck Junk Podcast: The Mount Rushmore of Hockey Cards

Plus: The NHL ’23 Video Game Cover
Episode #127 – September 2, 2022

This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss and debate what four trading cards are THE most important, most significant, most iconic pieces of cardboard to depict a hockey player. Or rather, what four cards should be on the “Mount Rushmore of Hockey Cards.” Sure, you have to have the Wayne Gretzky rookie card up there. But what would the other three be? Plus, the guys talk about the upcoming NHL ’23 video game and how it will feature two cover athletes — including, for the first time, a woman hockey player. It’s one hour and 25 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes & Links:
I Was a Teenage Card Show Promoter (Sports Collectors Digest
Five Examples of the EA Sports NHL Cover Curse (The Hockey News)
1952 Mantle Sets Record at $12.6 Million (Sports Collectors Daily)
Zegras, Nurse Grace NHL 23 cover (ESPN

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
PlayerFMPocketCastsPodcast AddictPodchaserSpotifyStitcher,
or Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.  

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

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

2021-22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Hobby Box Break

Since the 2006-07 season, Upper Deck has made O-Pee-Chee brand hockey cards. But you won’t find holograms, gold foil, UV gloss coating, or any other modern features that you usually see on Upper Deck cards. Instead, modern-day O-Pee-Chee cards try hard to look like old Topps and O-Pee-Chee cards from 40 years ago. The cards are free of foil or gloss and printed on plain brown cardstock, giving these new cards a very retro feel to them. 

2021-22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards cost around $60 for an 18-pack hobby box. Each pack has 10 cards. I recently opened a box of OPC. Let’s take a look at what was inside. 

Continue reading “2021-22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Hobby Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2021-22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

Plus: Hockey’s Reaction to Russia 
Episode #113: March 4, 2022

In Episode #113 of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the new 2021-22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set, including talk about all the different variants and Easter eggs. Other topics include the hockey world’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Blackhawks new General Manager, the Stadium Series, and National Hockey Card Day. 

Show Notes and Links:
How to Remove Tape from Trading Card Top Loaders (Puck Junk)
Fat Guy Hockey Video Game T-Shirt Now Available (Puck Junk Shop)
Chicago Sports Spectacular March 18-20, 2022 (Show Website)
IIHF Puts Sanctions on Russia and Belarus (IIHF.com)
NHL Statement on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (NHL.com)
Blackhawks Hire Interim GM Kyle Davidson to be Next GM (ESPN)
National Hockey Card Day Trade Group (Facebook)
April Fool’s Day O-Pee-Chee Cards (Puck Junk)
2021-22 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist and Images (Cardboard Connection)

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioStitcherPodchaserPocketCastsCastbox , Castro,
OvercastTuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube

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

Puck Junk Podcast: Upcoming Hockey Cards for 2021

Episode #95: June 17, 2021

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss upcoming hockey releases, such as 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series, plus the 2021-22 O-Pee-Chee, MVP, Upper Deck Series One and Topps Sticker sets. They also talk about this weekend’s upcoming Sport Card Expo Virtual Edition and the hockey autograph guests at this summer’s National Sports Collectors Convention. It’s 90 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links, and Images: 
Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group here.
Register to attend the Sport Card Expo Virtual Edition (link)
41st National Sports Collectors Convention website (link)
Chicago Sports Spectacular website (link)
Dallas Sport Card Show website (link)
Topps Now Hockey Sticker Archive (Topps)
Dunkin’ Donuts commercial with bubble hockey guys (YouTube)
Interview with Billy Celio of Upper Deck (Puck Junk)
Images and details about 2021-22 MVP (Beckett)
Images and details about 2021-22 O-Pee-Chee (Beckett)
Images and details about 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 (Beckett)
State Farm commercial with Andre Dawson (iSpot.tv)

Pictures of the upcoming 2021-22 Topps Hockey Sticker Collection

The Young Guns design for 2021-22 that some collectors are criticizing:

The Gritty “Gaming” card that will be in 2021-22 MVP Hockey:

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioStitcherPodchaserPocketCastsCastbox , Castro,
OvercastTuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube

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

The 35 Best Hockey Cards from 1990-91

Hockey cards exploded in popularity during the 1990-91 season. Baseball, football and basketball cards had steadily gained momentum during the 1980s. In 1990, it was hockey’s turn. Upper Deck, Score and Pro Set joined incumbents Topps and O-Pee-Chee to release hockey card sets that season. This resulted in an arms race between the five companies, who tried to outdo each other and make cards of the best prospects and hottest rookies before their competitors did. 

As a result, a slew of great rookie cards were issued that year. The 1990-91 NHL season had arguably the best rookie class of any year for hockey card collectors. The NHL rookie of the year winners from 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994 all had rookie cards made during the 1990-91 season. And over a dozen future Hall of Fame players had rookie cards in ’90-91. 

The downside was that most hockey cards from 1990-91 were produced in such vast amounts that it is considered the start of the “Junk Wax Era” for hockey cards. 

Yet not all hockey cards issued during the 1990-91 season are worthless. In addition to some great rookie cards, there are also some hidden gems and a legendary chase card. Plus, any card on this list with a high PSA or BGS grade can fetch a premium on the secondary market. 

But graded or ungraded, these are the 35 best hockey cards from 1990-91 that every hockey card collector should own. 

Continue reading “The 35 Best Hockey Cards from 1990-91”