Sal Barry

Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk

2023-24 Upper Deck AHL Hockey Cards Box Break

Many collectors overlook minor league hockey cards – and that is a shame, because the 2023-24 AHL hockey card set by Upper Deck is definitely worth a look. It is a great mix of up-and-coming NHL prospects along with longtime AHL stars. The set consists of 100 base cards plus 50 short printed “Star Rookies,” and has a fabulous, old-school design. 

The 2023-24 Upper Deck AHL set was released mid-July, well after the ’23-24 season had ended – and that is a good thing, as the later release date allowed Upper Deck to get up-to-date photos of players with their current teams. No outdated photos here. 

Another great feature of the 2023-24 Upper Deck AHL set is its retro-esque design Cards are printed on low-gloss stock much like today’s O-Pee-Chee cards. Anyone who collected hockey cards back in the 1980s, the 1990s, or even the 2000s would love the look of this set. 

A box of 2023-24 Upper Deck AHL costs about $60 for a 12-pack box. Each box has 10 cards, with an average of one autographed card and two numbered parallels per box. 

I recently opened a box of 2023-24 AHL. Let’s take a look at what was inside.  

Continue reading “2023-24 Upper Deck AHL Hockey Cards Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Allure Hockey Cards

Episode #198: August 30, 2024

This week, Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk about the 2023-24 Allure Hockey Card set, which looks great has a ton of inserts and oh, so many parallels. The guys also discuss the “Happy Gilmour” jersey that sold for $40K, and even talk a bit of baseball history. No joke! It’s 88 minutes of hobby goodness! 

Show Notes and Links
Babe Ruth ‘Called Shot’ Jesey sells for $24.1M (Sports Collectors Digest)
“Happy Gilmore” Bruins Jersey Nets $40K (Propstore Auction)
Sal’s tweet about the Connor Bedard Allure card (X/Twitter)
Sal’s second tweet about the Connor Bedard Allure card (X/Twitter)

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. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

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. ■

Interlocking Card Frames Make a Great Wall Display

You put a lot of time, passion, and money into your collection. So, it is only natural that you would want to display your best cards – either graded or ungraded – on your wall. BCW Interlocking Card Frames are a great way to display your cardboard treasures for the world to see. They are versatile, easy to hang, fit together nicely, and add a touch of class to your display. Read the rest of the story at the BCW Supplies Blog.

The 2024-25 Collecting Season Starts Today

Launch of MVP Signals Start of New Collecting Year

Happy New Collecting Year!

Today, Upper Deck released its 2024-25 MVP Hockey card set. In recent history, MVP is always the first hockey set released for the season – meaning that the 2024-25 hockey collecting season has officially begun.

Like previous years’ MVP sets, the 2024-25 MVP Hockey set consists of 200 base cards and 50 short prints. The 50 short prints are either of rookies who made their debuts late during the previous season – a.k.a. “Leftover Rookies,” as I like to call them – or of star NHL players.

Of course, there are parallels and inserts galore, as well as the chance of pulling a redemption card that can be exchanged for a “Number One Draft Pick” card of Sharks’ rookie Macklin Celebrini.

With the start of hockey season still over six weeks away, it does seem a bit premature to release cards for the new season. I mean, some of us are still trying to complete several sets from the 2023-24 season.

Continue reading “The 2024-25 Collecting Season Starts Today”

Puck Junk Podcast: Fanatics Fest NYC & 2023-24 Synergy Hockey Cards

Episode #197: August 23, 2024

In this episode, the guys talk about the first-ever Fanatics Fest, which was held in New York August 16-18. The show had its ups and downs and was a very different experience than traditional card conventions like the National. Plus, a long discussion about the 2023-24 Synergy Hockey card set. It’s 99 minutes of hobby goodness!

Show Notes and Links
Fanatics Fest NYC Delivers Glitz and Glamour (Sports Collectors Digest)
Why Fanatics Fest Was Better than National for Hockey Fans (Puck Junk)
“Heavy Metal” by Sammy Hagar (YouTube)
Four Hobby Phrases That Should Be Retired Now! (Puck Junk)
2023-24 Synergy Hockey Checklist (TCDB)

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. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

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: 2023-24 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey Cards

Plus: More Sport Card Crimes!
Episode #196: August 16, 2024

Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk all about the 2023-24 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey Card set, which has yet to catch on with collectors, despite all the good cards packed into it. Plus, a discussion about recent sport card-related crimes, and a look at the upcoming Fanatics Fest. It’s 104 minutes of hobby goodness! 

Show Notes and Links
$275,000 in Cash Stolen from Vehicle at National (Sports Collectors Daily)
2 Arrested for Bar Code Switching on Card Boxes (Sports Collectors Daily)
Preview of the First Fanatics Fest in NYC (Sports Collectors Digest)
Video: WKRP in Cincinnati Turkey Drop clip (YouTube)
Video: Sal Pulls a Bedard Auto from ’23-24 Black Diamond (Puck Junk)
Upper Deck Answers My Burning Questions (Puck Junk)

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. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

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: 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention Recap

Episode #195: August 12, 2024

Sal Barry, Clemente Lisi, and Tim Parish give their extended recap of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention. With half the show populated by old school card sellers and the other half filled with new bloods like breakers, the 2024 National felt like two card shows in one. Find out what was great about this year’s National – and what wasn’t – and why five is the new ten. It’s 93 minutes of hobby goodness! 

Show Notes and Links
Sal’s Recap of the 2024 National (Puck Junk Newsletter)
Upper Deck a Big Presence at The National (Sports Collectors Digest)
Security Tight at The National (Sports Collectors Digest)

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. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

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. ■

My Recap of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention

Last month, the 44th annual National Sports Collectors Convention took place in Cleveland, Ohio. And for the fourth year in a row, I set up at the National to sell hockey cards and Puck Junk t-shirts, and to promote the Puck Junk Podcast.

As much fun as it is to be at a five-day card show, it is also a grind. Continue reading “My Recap of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention”