Hockey Cards

1994-95 Action Packed Hall of Fame Prototype Cards

Two promos hint at what could have been a memorable set

Action Packed Hockey Hall of Fame #BH1 - Bobby Hull Action Packed Hockey Hall of Fame #BH2 - Bobby Hull Gold
Action Packed is best known for the “puffy” football card sets they produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their cards were akin to a topographical map; the player’s image was embossed, raising it off of the surface of the card, giving it a 3-dimensional quality unlike any other cards.

But in the early 1990s, Action Packed tried to get into the hockey card market. Unable to secure a license to make standard-sized cards of current players, Action Packed planned on releasing a Hockey Hall of Fame set. Two promo cards of Bobby Hull were issued in 1993 to show off what the set was going to look like. But then the set never came out.

So, what happened? Continue reading “1994-95 Action Packed Hall of Fame Prototype Cards”

Review: 1993-94 Donruss Elite Series

One of the harder-to-find insert sets of the 1990s

1993-94 Donruss Elite Series Inserts #3 - Teemu SelanneRemember when a print run of 10,000 copies felt small? That number is laughable now, as numerous insert sets today are limited to 99, 50 or even just 10 copies of each card.Of course, there are 1 of 1 cards to collect too, so tracking down a set limited to “just” 10,000 copies doesn’t seem too daunting. But back during the 1993-94 season, it was a good idea at the time, given the millions of cards printed during the hockey card boom.

The 1993-94 Donruss Elite Series insert set was a sign of things to come, a harbinger of serial numbers and shiny holo-foil. Given that insert sets became more and more numerous, stepping back and making something that was limited in print run and looked extremely different than the base set design made this insert set unique.

So, how does this set hold up today? Is it worth buying? Continue reading “Review: 1993-94 Donruss Elite Series”

Card of the Week: The Moose

1990-91 ProCards AHL/IHL #294 – The Moose

1990-91 ProCards AHL/IHL #294 - The MooseSome old school hockey fans might think of Mark Messier when they hear a reference to “The Moose.” Yes, Messier was indeed moose-like–big, strong and hard to knock over–during his playing career. True hockey fans, however, know that hockey’s real moose is none other than The Moose–the mascot for the Rochester Americans. Continue reading “Card of the Week: The Moose”

Card of the Week: New Kids on the Ice

Unlicensed Hockey Card, circa 1991

If there was ever a hockey card that made me both laugh and vomit at the same time, this would be the one. Entitled “New Kids on the Ice,” this bootleg card pictures Eric Lindros, Sergei Fedorov and Ed Belfour on the front.

Those players remind me of hockey in the early 1990s, which in turn makes me smile. But the title at the top is an obvious reference to the popular boy band of the time, New Kids on the Block. And that makes me nauseous. Hence the dual feelings elicited by this fake card.

Continue reading “Card of the Week: New Kids on the Ice”

Lost Cards: 1999-2000 Upper Deck Century Legends #23 – Ken Dryden

Upper Deck released a set called Century Legends during the 1999-2000 season. The first 50 cards of the 89-card set featured the top 50 NHL players of all time, as selected by The Sporting News. Absent from the set was number 23 on that list – Ken Dryden. Not only was Dryden omitted from the set, but the set skips card number 23, going from 22 to 24. Dryden’s card was never made. Or was it? Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1999-2000 Upper Deck Century Legends #23 – Ken Dryden”

Lost Cards: 1992-93 Pro Set Gordie Roberts

Gordie RobertsAn advertisement, published in Fall 1992 and promoting the forthcoming 1992-93 Pro Set Hockey set, showed seven different Pittsburgh Penguins hockey cards–including a card of defenseman Gordie Roberts. But when the set was released, Roberts was nowhere to be found. Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1992-93 Pro Set Gordie Roberts”

Lost Cards: 1990-91 Upper Deck Update Chris Chelios in red Blackhawks jersey

1990-91 Upper Deck Sheets (close up)This card hints at what Chris Chelios’ 1990-91 Upper Deck Update card could have looked like. You might recall that Chelios’ card in the regular set (#174) pictures him with the Montreal Canadiens. The card in the Update set (#422) shows Chelios in a white Blackhawks jersey. So, where did this card come from?  Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1990-91 Upper Deck Update Chris Chelios in red Blackhawks jersey”