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

Puck Junk Podcast: PSA Grading Buys Beckett

Plus: The Quinn Hughes Trade
Episode #235: December 18, 2025

In this episode, the guys talk about PSA Grading buying Beckett, and how this gives its parent company, Collectors, a monopoly on card grading. Other topics include Quinn Hughes getting graded to Minnesota, should the NHL have more color vs. color jersey games, and trouble with Italy’s Olympic ice hockey rink. It’s 127 minutes of hockey goodness, now with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk.bsky.social
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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. ■

Does Condition Really Matter for Old Hockey Cards?

Especially When You Put Them in Pages? 

Last November, I purchased a complete 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set at the Fall 2024 Sport Card Expo in Toronto. I then proceeded to ignore this set for over a year. 

Why?

Because it was another “project” that was going to take time. Many of the cards in this complete set had flaws, and I already had about 80 or so cards from the 1970-71 OPC set.

So, I would need to compare the cards that I already had with the cards in the complete set, keep the better cards, and note any cards that I felt needed upgrading.

And many – many! – of the cards need upgrading.

Or do they? 

Continue reading “Does Condition Really Matter for Old Hockey Cards?”

Puck Junk Podcast: 6 Oddball Hockey Sets from the 1980s

Episode #234: December 10, 2025

Sal, Tim, and Clemente do six short “setrospectives” about oddball hockey sets from the 1980s. One of these sets came packaged with food, while another set was literally packaging. And one of these sets was even sold in Spain. It’s 114 minutes of hockey goodness, now with chapters so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk.bsky.social
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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: 2025-26 Upper Deck Series One Hockey Cards

Plus: Shill Bidding Controversies
Episode #233: December 3, 2025

Sal, Tim, and Clemente give their review of the 2025-26 Upper Deck Series One hockey card set – what’s great about it, what could be better, and which Young Guns are worth looking out for. Plus, a deep dive into the recent shill bidding controversies that have been the talk of the card collecting hobby. The YouTube version of the show features video and pictures. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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: What’s Going on With COMC?

Plus: eBay Launches New Price Guide Feature
Episode #232: November 26, 2025

Sal, Tim, and Clemente discuss the recent hubbub about Check Out My Cards, which appears to be in financial trouble. Will the company fold or be sold – or is COMC really doing just fine? The guys also look at the new trading card pricing feature on the eBay mobile app, and why card pricing apps should be scared. Plus, a recap of the recent Chicago Sports Spectacular and more. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video.

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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: 2015-16 Upper Deck Hockey Setrospective

Plus: Chicago Game Worn Jersey Expo Recap
Episode #231: November 19, 2025

Sal, Tim and Clemente look back at the 2015-16 Upper Deck Hockey set that was released a decade ago – and how both Connor McDavid’s Young Guns card and the start of the e-Pack platform changed hockey collecting forever. Plus, game-worn jersey collector Sean Sullivan gives his recap of the recent Toronto Sport Card Expo and last weekend’s Chicago Game Worn Jersey Expo. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video.

Links
Chicago Blackhawks Jersey History website.
Follow Sean Sullivan on Twitter at @sulli26.
Chicago Sports Spectacular website. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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: 2024-25 PWHL Hockey Cards

Plus: Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Episode #230: November 12, 2025

Sal, Tim, and Clemente give their review of the 2024-25 PWHL hockey card set. Plus, a discussion about the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025 inductees, the recent statement by the President of Upper Deck, and Alex Ovechkin reaching 900 goals. It’s 120 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite parts. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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: 1975-76 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Setrospective

Episode #229: November 5, 2025

Sal Barry and Clemente Lisi take a long look back at the 1975-76 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey card sets, which were released 50 years ago. They discuss the best cards, top rookies – there’s not many! – and worst “paint jobs” the sets have. Plus, a look ahead at two major card conventions and an upcoming game-worn hockey jersey expo. It’s 95 minutes of hockey goodness. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Links
Sport Card Expo Toronto website
Chicago Game Worn Jersey Expo Facebook page
Chicago Sports Spectacular website
1975-76 Topps Hockey checklist (Trading Card Database)
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee Hockey checklist (Trading Card Database)

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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: 2025-26 Artifacts Hockey Cards

Plus: Questions for the 2025-26 Season
Episode #228: October 8, 2025

Sal Barry and Clemente Lisi look at the new 2025-26 Artifacts Hockey cards and discuss the pros and cons of this impossible-to-complete set. Plus, Topps starts making hockey cards again, the Chantilly Show might need a new home, and our big questions for the 2025-26 NHL season. It’s 133 minutes of hockey goodness. The YouTube version of the podcast features video and photos. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @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. ■

Completing Your Sets is a Lot of Work!

Time is Money…and Money is Money. 

Earlier this month, I was writing an article about goalie-themed hockey card sets and mentioned the Between the Pipes sets that came out in the 2000s and 2010s. I went into my closet and found my 2013-14 Between the Pipes set so I could scan a few of its cards. 

Or, rather, I should say I found my near-complete set of 2013-14 Between the Pipes, as it is missing 14 cards. That means that, in over 10 years, I’ve never bothered to finish the set. I opened one box, put the cards in order, then promptly forgot about it for a decade.

I was then reminded that I made a Collecting Resolution for 2025 that I was going to try and complete as many sets as possible this year. Heck, I even wrote about it back in January, thinking that by making this proclamation public, I would follow through on it. 

Do you care to guess how many sets I’ve finished in 2025 so far? Continue reading “Completing Your Sets is a Lot of Work!”