Hockey Cards

Decades 1980s: National Edition – Box Break #1

While at The National, I bought not one but two boxes of In The Game’s Decades 1980s hockey cards. These boxes were the so-called “National Edition,” which cost about $10 more than a regular box of Decades, but here’s what made the “National Edition” more enticing to buy:

  • It entitled you to an autograph from U.S. Olympian Mark Wells
  • It entitled you to a special 1/1 jersey card only available at The National
  • One of the jersey cards was swapped out for a special Chicago Blackhawks quad-jersey card
  • It was possible to get a Dominik Hasek autograph in a National Edition box

Here is what I got in my first box. Continue reading “Decades 1980s: National Edition – Box Break #1”

Review: 1972-73 Atlanta Flames Postcards

Color action photography makes for a worthwhile set

Pat QuinnTeam postcard sets seemed to be all the rage in the 1970s and 1980s. Many NHL and WHA teams gave out postcards picturing the players – either in response to an autograph request or as a giveaway at a game. In their inaugural season, the Atlanta Flames issued a simple, yet fantastic, set of postcards that featured practically everyone on their team. Continue reading “Review: 1972-73 Atlanta Flames Postcards”

These Angels Don’t Fly

1978-79 St. Louis Blues Postcards – Blue Angels

1978-79 St. Louis Blues Postcards - Blue AngelsThe name “Blue Angels” conjures up images of the U.S. Navy’s aerial acrobatics team, flying their jet fighter planes at breakneck speed through the sky at your local air and water show. But in the 1970s, the St. Louis Blues had a cheerleading squad by the same name. Continue reading “These Angels Don’t Fly”

Election Day Champs!

1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities card #10 – Chicago Blackhawks

1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities card #10 - Chicago BlackhawksAt the 2011 National Sports Collectors Convention, I found cards that I’ve never seen before, including this. Issued by Quaker Oats in 1954, the Sports Oddities set features illustrations on the front and an unusual sports story on the back.

The left half of the card front is a cool action painting of a Chicago Blackhawks player – clad in the old “barber pole-style” uniform – slamming on the breaks, spraying ice everywhere. A goalie who, based on his orange and yellow jersey, appears to be with the Philadelphia Blazers (I know, wrong era, wrong league) sprawls out to make a stick save.

And to the right, we have a boring political illustration. But what do the ‘Hawks have to do with politics?

Continue reading “Election Day Champs!”

2010-11 Luxury Suite Box Break

I had no intentions of buying Panini’s Luxury Suite hockey cards.

That is, until I went to The National.

In order to get the special, show-only redemption packs from Panini, you had to buy certain cards. I had two options:

  • Buy packs of stuff I already had (Donruss or Pinnacle).
  • Buy packs of higher-end stuff (Zenith or Luxury Suite).

I opted for the latter.In a way, this forced me to try a product that I normally would not have. But I just don’t need any more Donruss doubles, you know?

A box of 2010-11 Luxury Suite hockey has four packs. Each pack has 3 cards. Here’s what I got: Continue reading “2010-11 Luxury Suite Box Break”

Modern Art Masterpiece

1976-77 O-Pee-Chee card #240 – Cesare Maniago

Cesare ManiagoAt 6-foot-3, former NHL goalie Cesare Maniago stood out among his peers. He played in the 1960s and 1970s, during an era where most goalies were of average height. Maniago’s tall frame – mixed with an unfortunate background and a hasty “jersey re-coloring” led to one strange-looking hockey card. Continue reading “Modern Art Masterpiece”

Review: 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee Hockey

The set that was truly a “head” of its time

1984-85 OPC #67 - Steve YzermanPerfection. There is no other word to better describe the 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set. Hands down, it is the best hockey card set from the 1980s. It might even be the best hockey set made during the “O-Pee-Chee Era” (1968-1993). The ’84-85 O-Pee-Chee set achieves perfection because of its fantastic design, excellent photography and comprehensive player selection – not to mention that it includes the rookie cards of five future Hall of Fame players. Continue reading “Review: 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee Hockey”