Category: 1963-64 Parkhurst

The last time I bought a Parkhurst card from 1963-64, it was February. Attending a card show this weekend, I decided to rectify that issue and get me some old Parkies. This one is of Hall of Fame Red Wing Alex Delvecchio, who proudly displays the “C” as team captain on his uniform.

The back of the card has a bit of a flaw–a slight crease towards the middle. The crease does not break through to the front, and actually looks worse in the scan than in real life.

This is the 23rd card in my 1963-64 Parkhurst set. Later this week, I’ll reveal the other cards I picked up at that show.

I’ve been a bit slow in my acquisition of old Parkhurst cards so far this year. But I did manage to snag this beauty for under $4, shipped. William Hicke is the 22nd card in my ever-growing 1963-64 Parkhurst set. Hicke has two cards in this set; I purchased his other card back in November.

My first ’63-64 Parkhurst card of the new year, Ralph Backstrom bumps me up to 21 out of 99 cards in that set. Four more cards, and I’ll be 1/4 of the way there.

In 2008, I only purchased 2 cards from this set (though one of them was Gordie Howe).

In 2009, I made a more concentrated effort to build this set, picking up 18 cards for my set.

This year, I hope to get another 24 cards for this set–about one every two weeks. On a limited budget, that makes it a challenge. Most of the cards in this release are not that hard to come by, but I’d rather wait until I can get a good deal. This Backstrom card here cost me $8.02, but it has no creases, no marks and four sharp corners…well worth it for a 47-year old card.

Yes! I did it! I now have 20 cards from the 1963-64 Parkhurst Hockey set. Twenty out of 99, 20%, one-fifth (1/5) of the complete set.

This card is of former Toronto Maple Leafs player Bob Pulford. Sometimes, I forget that Pulford had a pretty good playing career. For so long, he has been associated with the Chicago Blackhawks–as a coach, then a GM, then a coach again, then a GM again, then a Senior Vice President.

So, as it stands I have acquired 2 cards from this set in 2008, and 18 cards in 2009. I have 79 cards to go to complete this set. While I’d like to get 1 card a week in 2010, that’s probably unrealistic. Maybe when I finish grad school and re-enter the full-time work force (knock on wood), I’ll be able to afford some of the more pricey cards.

The 19th card in my never-ending quest to complete a 1963-64 Pakrhurst set. This is only the 4th Red Wing I have in this set, and the first Red Wing I’ve picked up since July.

The back of the card has a special offer for a Stanley Cup replica–only 35 cents and 4 wrappers. Of course, 35 cents was a lot of money in 1963, as I think cards were only 5 cents a pack back then. But you got to wonder how big of a replica Stanley Cup that would have bought someone.

Another week, another Parkhurst card. This is my 18th step towards completing this 99-card set. A sweet looking card too–no creases or major corner wear. The gloss on the front is perfect. Probably the best card, condition-wise, that I’ve picked up from this set thus far.

The back of the card is intriguing. In 1963, one could mail away for an autographed puck for 30 cents plus 5 Parkhurst wrappers. You had your choice of Gordie Howe, Dave Keon or Jean Beliveau. I wonder if anyone ever got one of these (Al K.? Thom?). That is one thing that hockey cards are missing today–fun mail-away offers like this one and like the ones offered by Topps and OPC up to the 1990s.

81 cards to go, and I’ll have a complete set.

The 17th card in my 1963-64 Parkhurst set. I am so close to 20 cards that I can almost taste it.

This card has some creases and dirt, but I still traded away a low-end jersey card to get it. Funny, I’d rather have a beat-up 1960s card than a near-mint jersey card from the 2000s.

What’s with Balon’s bug-eyed expression? He kind of looks like that big-headed alien you see during the end credits of the original “Star Trek” TV show.

Believe it or not, this alien’s name is Balok. That’s way too close to “Balon” to be a mere coincidence. If Gene Roddenberry was alive today, he would totally admit that his inspiration for that alien character was this card of David Balon.

This is my 16th card in my 1963-64 Parkhurst set.

Note: I was not on “The War Room” this week, but will be back on their show next Wednesday.

This card of William Lawrence (Bill) Hicke cost me $2.97, including shipping. This is the 15th card in my Parkhurst set. Only 84 more cards to go…

OK, this card has a slight crease, but for $2.49 shipped I feel that I got a great deal. I mean, in ten years from now, I’ll probably have a few “slight creases” of my own. Reaume is the 14th card for this set. Is it too soon to start looking ahead to card 20?