Puck Junk Podcast: 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey Cards

Part 6 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series 
Episode #163: August 31, 2023

Sal Barry and Tim Parish continue their ’90-91 Retrospective Series with a long conversation about the 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey card set, including the set’s colorful design, most-sought-after error cards, the legendary Stanley Cup Hologram, and the set’s enduring legacy. Plus, if there was a Pro Set Drinking Game, what would the rules be? It’s 103 minutes of nostalgic hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
1990-91 Pro Set Brett Hull Promo Card (Puck Junk)
1990-91 Pro Set Stanley Cup Hologram (Puck Junk)
Remembering the 1990 Chicago Hockey Show (Puck Junk)
Custom Helmut Balderis Card (Puck Junk)
That Rene Bourque Card that Sal Has Been Hoarding (Puck Junk)
1990-91 Pro Set Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
List of 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey Errors (Trading Card DB)
Every 1990-91 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)

Past 1990-91 Retrospective Podcasts:

    1. Part 1 – 1990-91 Bowman Hockey Cards
    2. Part 2 – 1990-91 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards
    3. Part 3 – 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey Cards
    4. Part 4 – 1990-91 Score Hockey Cards
    5. Part 5 – 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey Cards

Images of some 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey Cards:

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube

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Puck Junk Podcast: 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey

Part 5 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series 
Episode #132 – October 18, 2022

Sal Barry and Tim Parish continue their ’90-91 Retrospective Series with an in-depth look at the 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey card set. What made the set so significant back then, the best cards from that set, the controversy over the French-language versions — and why every serious hockey card collector needs to own the 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey set. It’s 70 minutes of hockey goodness. 

Images, Show Notes and Links
We refer to the book “Card Sharks” a lot in this episode. If you want to read it — and every card collector should — then you can get he Kindle version for just $10 at Amazon

Mario Gosselin

More about the Mario Gosselin card here.

1990-91 Upper Deck

More information about the 1990 Upper Deck Prototype Cards here

1990-91 Upper Deck Sheets - Campbell Conference (close up)

More information about the “lost” Chris Chelios cards here.

Here are a few more great cards from 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey.

The “Canada’s Captains” card that pictures Eric Lindros. 

Ed Belfour “Star Rookies” RC

Sergei Fedorov “Young Guns” RC

Pavel Bure “Young Guns” RC

Frank J. Zamboni RC

Mike Modano RC

Jaromir Jagr “Draft Picks” RC

Jeremy Roenick RC

1990-91 Upper Deck card #448 - Bob Probert

Bob Probert 

How’s the weather up there, Mario? 

Even the photo on the back of Lemieux’s card is awesome! 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
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or Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.  

Connect 
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Support 
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop

1990-91 NHL Season Preview: A Special Advertising Supplement

If you subscribed to cable television in the 1980s and 1990s, you no doubt remember the monthly cable guide that was mailed to your home. Those thick, black-and-white magazines, usually printed on cheap newsprint-type paper, would list out everything that was scheduled to air on cable TV that month. When I was a kid, I would go through it page-by-page — hell, I’d study the thing like there was going to be a test about it — and note what hockey games were being televised that month. 

Back in October of 1990, my monthly cable guide  included this special, pull-out “1990-91 NHL Season Preview Special Advertising Supplement.” Measuring 5″ by 7-1/4″, it is an eight-page, full-color booklet printed on magazine paper instead of the typical newsprint. It has two hockey articles, some random trivia, and the burning questions for the season. 

This “advertising supplement” seems like the thing that most people would have read once and thrown away, and not carefully preserved for 30 years like I did. 

But I think we established that I am not like “most people,” and have saved some of the most random “puck junk” over the years. So, let’s take a look at what the big stories were prior to the 1990-91 NHL season. 

Continue reading “1990-91 NHL Season Preview: A Special Advertising Supplement”

The 35 Best Hockey Cards from 1990-91

Hockey cards exploded in popularity during the 1990-91 season. Baseball, football and basketball cards had steadily gained momentum during the 1980s. In 1990, it was hockey’s turn. Upper Deck, Score and Pro Set joined incumbents Topps and O-Pee-Chee to release hockey card sets that season. This resulted in an arms race between the five companies, who tried to outdo each other and make cards of the best prospects and hottest rookies before their competitors did. 

As a result, a slew of great rookie cards were issued that year. The 1990-91 NHL season had arguably the best rookie class of any year for hockey card collectors. The NHL rookie of the year winners from 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994 all had rookie cards made during the 1990-91 season. And over a dozen future Hall of Fame players had rookie cards in ’90-91. 

The downside was that most hockey cards from 1990-91 were produced in such vast amounts that it is considered the start of the “Junk Wax Era” for hockey cards. 

Yet not all hockey cards issued during the 1990-91 season are worthless. In addition to some great rookie cards, there are also some hidden gems and a legendary chase card. Plus, any card on this list with a high PSA or BGS grade can fetch a premium on the secondary market. 

But graded or ungraded, these are the 35 best hockey cards from 1990-91 that every hockey card collector should own. 

Continue reading “The 35 Best Hockey Cards from 1990-91”

Puck Junk Podcast: 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey

Part 3 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series
Episode #93: June 4, 2021

Thirty years ago was the “Hockey Card Explosion,” when hockey cards skyrocketed in popularity as several new companies entered the market during the 1990-91 season. In the third part of this special podcast series, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a long look at the 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey set, which was the most-valuable and arguably the most-popular set from that season. 

Show Notes, Links, and Images:
Write us a review at Apple Podcasts (link)
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Every 1990-91 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Hockey Card Images 

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #38 – Wayne Gretzky

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #38 – Wayne Gretzky (back)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #63 – Mario Lemieux

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #63 – Mario Lemieux (back)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #6 – Rob Blake (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #30– Sergei Fedorov (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #50 – Jaromir Jagr (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #51 – Curtis Joseph (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #71 – Mark Messier

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #74 – Mike Modano (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #76 – Andy Moog

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #100– Jeremy Roenick (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #103 – Denis Savard

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #114 – Mats Sundin (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #126– Mike Vernon

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Wrapper

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioStitcherPodchaserPocketCastsCastbox , Castro,
OvercastTuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube

Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop

Puck Junk Podcast: 1990-91 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey

Part 2 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series
Episode #90: April 28, 2021

Thirty years ago was the “Hockey Card Explosion,” when hockey cards skyrocketed in popularity as several new companies entered the market. In the second part of this podcast series, Sal Barry and Tim Parish examine the often-overlooked 1990-91 Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets, including the insert sets and box bottom cards. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Write us a review at Apple Podcasts (link)
1990-91 Topps Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
The Card Shop in the Basement of the Hat Store (Puck Junk
Chicago Blackhawks – Minnesota North Stars Pregame Brawl (YouTube)
1990-91 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card Images 

1990-91 Topps #120 – Wayne Gretzky

1990-91 Topps #120 – Wayne Gretzky (back)

1990-91 Topps #348- Mike Modano (Rookie Card)

1990-91 Topps #175- Mario Lemieux

1990-91 Topps #175- Mario Lemieux (back)

1990-91 Topps Team Scoring Leaders Inserts #14 – Joe Sakic

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #527 – Wayne Van Dorp (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #527 – Wayne Van Dorp (Rookie Card)
Note the text on the back that refers to the pregame brawl.

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #436- Alain Chevrier

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #430- Tim Cheveldae (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #77 – Brett Hull…what a great smile! 

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #461 – Tim Watters  (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #1 – Wayne Gretzky “Number One”

 

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #522 – Wayne Gretzky (Art Ross Trophy Winner)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #262 – Buffalo Sabres

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #75 – John Vanbiesbrouck

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #131 – James Patrick; note the incorrect border colors

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #214 – Jim Waite Top Prospect (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #19R - Sergei Fedorov

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Red Army Inserts #19R – Sergei Fedorov (RC)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Red Army Inserts #17R – Viktor Tikhonov (RC)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Red Army Inserts #7R – Arturs Irbe (RC)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Red #501 – Arturs Irbe – AGAIN! (RC)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #485 – Sergei B. Makarov (RC)
Not to be confused with 1990 Rookie of the Year Sergei Makarov

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #445 – Sergei Mylnikov (Rookie Card)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Box Bottoms #G – Mario Lemieux 

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Factory Set
Top Panel with Mark Messier & Nikolai Varjanov

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Factory Set
Front Panel with Bill Ranford (Conn Smythe Trophy Winner)

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Factory Set –
Back Panel with some  interesting players shown.

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioStitcherPodchaserPocketCastsCastbox , Castro,
OvercastTuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube

Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop

Puck Junk Podcast: 1990-91 Bowman Hockey Cards

Part 1 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series
Episode #88: April 8, 2021

Thirty years ago was the “Hockey Card Explosion,” when hockey cards skyrocketed in popularity as several new companies entered the market. In this multipart podcast series, Sal Barry and Tim Parish will take a look back at a different set from the 1990-91 season. First up, it is the 1990-91 Bowman Hockey set, which was quite possibly the worst set released that year — from its dark and uninspired photos, to the questionable player selection, to the “fancy stats” on the back that no one asked for. It’s one hour of hockey nostalgia goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Write us a review at Apple Podcasts (link)
1990-91 Bowman Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB
1990-91 Bowman Hockey Wrapper & Factory Set Box Pics (Trading Card DB)
1990-91 Bowman Hockey Error Cards (Puck Junk)
Every 1990-91 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk
1990-91 Bowman Hockey card images:

1990-91 Bowman #143 – Wayne Gretzky 

1990-91 Bowman #143 – Wayne Gretzky (back)

1990-91 Bowman #143 – Wayne Gretzky “Tiffany” Version

1990-91 Bowman #143 – Wayne Gretzky “Tiffany” Version (back)

1990-91 Bowman #7 – Ed Belfour (Rookie Card)

1990-91 Bowman #204 – Mario Lemieux

1990-91 Bowman #24 – Brett Hull

1990-91 Bowman #50 – Patrick Roy

1990-91 Bowman #1 – Jeremy Roenick (Rookie Card)

1990-91 Bowman #259 – Chris Govedaris (Rookie Card)

1990-91 Bowman #181 – Clark Donatelli (Rookie Card)
Donatelli captained the 1992 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team

1990-91 Bowman #6 – Denis Savard
This card uses a photo that is from the 1988-89 season

1990-91 Bowman #55 – Jim Sandlak
This card uses a photo from the latter half of the 1988-89 season, as evidenced by the “BABE” patch the Canucks wore to honor
Cecil “Babe” Dye. 

1990-91 Bowman #32 – Rejean Lemelin
Lemelin looks like Mr. Wilson from “Dennis the Menace,” doesn’t he? 

1990-91 Bowman #197 – Petr Klima
He looks like a scaled-down version of Andre the Giant

1990-91 Bowman #168 – Tony McKegney
He looks like he is trying to skate off of his own card!

1990-91 Bowman #46 – Petr Svoboda Error (pictures Chris Chelios)

1990-91 Bowman #215 – Brian Leetch Error (missing “L” in last name)

1990-91 Bowman Hat Tricks Inserts #2 – Mario Lemieux

1990-91 Bowman Hat Tricks Inserts #2 – Mario Lemieux (back)

1990-91 Bowman Hat Tricks Inserts #5 – Steve Yzerman

1990-91 Bowman Hockey Wrapper

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioStitcherPodchaserPocketCastsCastbox , Castro,
OvercastTuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube

Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop

1991 NHL All-Star Game Goalie Mask

This cardboard goalie mask was given away at the 42nd NHL All-Star Game, hosted at the Chicago Stadium on Saturday, January 19, 1991. I believe these masks were not handed out upon entry, but instead put on all the seats at the Stadium ahead of time. However, my memory of 30 years ago is kind of fuzzy now. It’s a good thing I blogged about this game in 2011, as I remembered more back then. Now, if only my blog had existed in 1991. 

Anyway, it is somewhat of a miracle that this mask survived in my collection the past three decades. What is even more amazing, though, is that I managed to get this goalie mask out of the All-Star Game in one piece and without any tears or creases. Continue reading “1991 NHL All-Star Game Goalie Mask”

Puck Junk Pack Break: 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey Series 1

If you are anything like me, you are probably thinking, “Man, what the world really needs right now is another chubby geek opening packs of trading cards on YouTube.” 

Thus, I am happy to report that I am going to start doing hockey card pack breaks on YouTube. Or perhaps I should say restart, as I did do a few pack breaks on YouTube back in 2011, when I was less chubby but equally as geeky. 

Truth be told, I’ve been itching to restart making pack break videos ever since the COVID-19 pandemic gave me good reason to shelter-at-home. I work from home, and spend most of my time at home. I’m around my collection a lot more, and rediscovered a two-column shoe box of unopened hockey packs from various sets and years…and I think it is time I start opening these packs! 

But before I could attempt to become the George Lucas of hockey card pack break videos — who you calling scruffy-looking? — I had to change my living situation first. I had to find a new place to live, pack my belongings, move, unpack and get settled. I’m unpacked and settled enough that I can finally start creating some videos. 

To launch the return of my pack break videos, I’m starting with a pack of my favorite  cards of all-time: 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey Series 1. You get a lot of cards in the pack — and I actually got an extra card in this one. Plus, I pulled a pretty good card…well, good for Pro Set. 

If you watch this video, please fire off a comment, either here or on YouTube. Let me know what you think, either about the video itself and how it could be better, or about the cards that I got in this pack. Oh, and please be sure to subscribe to the Puck Junk YouTube Channel. ■ 

Love hockey collectibles and/or hockey culture? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk

1990-91 Pro Set Series 1 Sell Sheet

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey card set. Even almost 30 years later, it remains one of my favorite card sets of all time. Yes, they were printed by the boatload and had a ton of errors, but the set was colorful, had a ton of different cards to collect, and the most sought-after hockey insert ever made: the Stanley Cup Hologram!

This sell sheet, which measures 6″ x 6″, was given out in Canada in the summer of 1990 to promote the forthcoming release of 1990-91 Pro Set Series 1 Hockey cards.

Continue reading “1990-91 Pro Set Series 1 Sell Sheet”