Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
During the sports card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s, unlicensed cards ran rampant in the hobby. Although not worth more than $1 each today, some of them are still amusing two decades later. An example of such a card would be this one of former football and baseball player Bo Jackson, suited up as a hockey player. Continue reading “Card of the Week: Bo Knows Hockey”
With the 2010 baseball season winding down this week, it seemed appropriate to show this card of former pitcher Tom Glavine, donning hockey skates and shooting a puck. Continue reading “Play Ball!”
Everyone who collected hockey cards during the early 1990s knows of the Stanley Cup Hologram released by Pro Set during the 1990-91 season. But many don’t know about his little brother – the NHL 75th Anniversary Hologram, produced a year later. To commemorate the NHL’s diamond anniversary, Pro Set made 10,000 copies of this card and randomly inserted them into foil packs of 1991-92 Pro Set Series 2 hockey cards. Continue reading “Historic Hologram”
“Art imitates life,” or so the saying goes. Sometimes, cards imitate life too. Such is the case with this card of former NHL player Pat Elynuik. On his 1992-93 Topps Stadium Club trading card, Elynuik poses with a bunch of Topps, Bowman and O-Pee-Chee cards from the previous year.
It is a worthless hockey card that shows a bunch of equally worthless hockey cards. Continue reading “Card Imitates Life”
The term “rink rat” is used to describe a kid who hangs out at an ice arena and does chores in exchange for ice time. In the early 1990s, Rink Rat was also the name of a character featured on Pro Set hockey cards. Continue reading “I Smell a Rat”
Bob Probet died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 5, 2010. A man who went toe-to-toe with the likes of McSorley, Domi and Brown – and overcame problems with drug abuse – ultimately lost a battle to a heart attack.
Needless to say, Probert was a tough man. No card better epitomizes Probert’s toughness than his 1990-91 Upper Deck hockey card. Continue reading “Unbeatable”
Theo Fleury was one of the shortest men to play in the NHL. Looking up at him from a “worm’s-eye view” perspective gives the diminutive forward a sense of importance and grandeur. But also viewing him “through the mask” of a goalie makes the photo less believable. If Fleury was only 5-foot-5, how short was this goalie? Continue reading “Low Flame”
No, Gary Nylund was not horrible–but this card sure was. That slack-jawed look of disgust on Nylund’s face says it all about this awfully airbrushed card. After 4 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nylund was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on September 6, 1986–giving O-Pee-Chee just enough time to alter the photo on this card to make it look like he was with his new team. So, what’s wrong with this picture? Where to even start? Continue reading “Horrible ‘Hawk”
It has been quite a while since I’ve written about a bad hockey card, so what better way than to ease back into it by picking on an awfully airbrushed card from the 1980s. In this case, a card of former Pittsburgh Penguin left wing Warren Young. Continue reading “Painted Penguin”
Hayley Wickenheiser is similar in many ways to former women’s hockey mainstay Cammi Granato. For numerous years, Granato was the dominant player for – and considered the face of – women’s hockey in the United States. The same is true in Canada for Wickenheiser, who is the team captain of the 2010 Canadian Women’s hockey team. Coincidentally, both women have NHL ties. Cammi’s brother Tony played in the NHL, as did Haley’s cousin Doug. Continue reading “Canada’s Captain”