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

Puck Junk Podcast: New Hockey Cards for February 2021

Plus, Upper Deck Extended Series! 
Episode #83: Feb. 25, 2021

After a three-week hiatus, Sal and Tim are back to talk hockey cards! This time, they discuss the latest releases from Upper Deck, Leaf, Topps and President’s Choice Trading Cards. Plus, a look ahead at the upcoming Upper Deck Extended Series — and how “Event-Used” jersey cards could be better! It’s two hours of hockey goodness.

Show Notes and Links: 
Sal’s “Hockey Card” from his youth hockey clinic. (Puck Junk)
Sal talked about writing the text on the back of “Bloodlines” cards, but he really meant the “Sibling Sensations” set from 2019. (Upper Deck Blog)
Adam Pardy knocked into audience at a Blackhawks game. (The Real DFG)
President’s Choice Game-Used Number cards. (PCTC)
President’s Choice Game-Used Rocket Richard Trophy Cards. (PCTC)
President’s Choice Game-Used Vintage Memorabilia cards. (PCTC)
Topps Now Hockey Sticker print runs. (Topps)
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champions 6-card set (Upper Deck Blog)
Review of the 2013 Blackhawks Stanley Cup Set (Puck Junk)
Dragon Ball Z: “It’s over 9000!” (YouTube)
2020-21 Upper Deck Rookie Box Set (Cardboard Connection)
Michigan J. Frog, a.k.a. “The Singing Frog” (YouTube)
2020-21 Upper Deck Series 2 Young Guns Checklist (Upper Deck Blog)
Upper Deck addresses Game Dated Moments problems (Upper Deck E-Pack)
2021 Leaf In The Game Used Hockey Checklist & Info (Beckett)
2021 Pro Set Football Trevor Lawrence rookie card (Leaf Trading Cards)
Ways to Improve Upper Deck Series 1 & 2 (Puck Junk)
Upper Deck Answers My Burning Questions (Puck Junk)
2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series Info (Beckett)

Jeremy Roenick “Fight Strap” card by President’s Choice Trading Cards

Here are some of the 2021 Leaf In The Game Used cards:

2020-21 The Cup John Marino rookie card with the “wrong” patch on it:

A Dino Ciccarelli North Stars card with a Red Wings swatch. Just awful! 

A 1999-2000 HoloGrFX card. HoloGrFX will return this year. 

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: Postage and PayPal Problems

Plus: the BVG 10 Bobby Orr Rookie Card
Episode #82: February 4, 2021

In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the recent price increases from the U.S. Post Office and PayPal issuing tax forms to “small-time” eBay sellers — and how these impact the hobby. Plus, they discuss new hockey card releases, Sal’s birthday presents and the BVG 10 Bobby Orr rookie card (which, unfortunately, was NOT one of Sal’s birthday presents). Episode #82 is 1 hour and 56 minutes of pure hockey goodness!

Show Notes and Links: 
Rangers Put Tony DeAngelo on Waivers (NBC Sports)
2020-21 Upper Deck Series 1 is now on ePack (link)
Topps Now Hockey Stickers currently for sale (link)
Topps Now Hockey Stickers Archive (link)
2020-21 Artifacts Hockey checklist (Cardboard Connection)
President’s Choice Game-Used Lace ‘Em Up Cards (link)
President’s Choice All-Star Six Booklets (Facebook)
BVG 10 Bobby Orr rookie card auction (Heritage Auctions)
Follow our buddy Drew Wright on Twitter (@Dr3wskiii)
USPS postage rate increases explained (Stamps.com)
Pirate Ship shipping service (link)
Last Sticker website for trading stickers (link)
Trading Card Exchange (link)
Tim’s cards for sale on Trading Card Exchange (link)
How does PayPal report my sales to the IRS? (PayPal)
Finally, here is video of Tim opening his ePack:

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

2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #4

After opening my first three boxes of 2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers, I wondered if I made a mistake — either buying too many or too few boxes. At the rate I was going, it didn’t seem like four boxes was going to get me 400 unique stickers towards the 666-sticker set. On the other hand, maybe I was just wasting my money, and should have stuck with three boxes like I did the previous year. 

But what’s done is done. I bought four boxes, so of course I’m going to open all four boxes. Hopefully, my luck would change with the final box. 

Continue reading “2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #4”

2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #3

Another day, another box break of 2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers. Before opening my third box, I had 263 stickers  (198 regular stickers and 65 foil stickers) out of 666 total stickers needed to complete the set. Hopefully, this box helps more than the measly 24 stickers that the last box provided me. Continue reading “2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #3”

2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #2

The 2020-21 Topps Hockey Sticker Collection is not for the timid. At $1.00 per five-sticker pack — or $1.39 for those in Canada — it is going to easily cost over $100 to put the 666-sticker set together. It will take you 134 packs to build a set, and that’s assuming that you don’t get any doubles. However, getting doubles seems to be the name of the game when putting together this year’s Topps Hockey Sticker set. 

Continue reading “2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #2”

2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #1

I enjoyed the 2019-20 Topps Hockey Sticker Collection enough that I decided to collect the 2020-21 set. What really pushed me to collect this year’s set, though, was that certain stickers were designed to look like old Topps hockey cards. Nostalgia is a powerful drug — powerful enough for me to purchase four boxes of 2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers. Over the next few days, I will post about what stickers I got, including how many were duplicates and how close it brought me to completing the 666-sticker set. 

Yes, you read that right. There are 666 stickers in the set. 666 is also the Number of the Beast (according to Iron Maiden), and this sticker set is truly a BEAST to complete. 

About 2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers 

2020-21 Topps Hockey Sticker packs contain five stickers — four regular stickers and one shiny foil sticker — and cost $1 in the U.S. and $1.39 in Canada. A full box has 50 packs for a total of 250 stickers. Packs are made of foil and are “crimped” at the top and bottom like a pack of Topps cards. This is unlike Panini sticker packs, which were two pieces of paper glued together. And unlike Panini stickers of years past, Topps Hockey stickers are affixed to cardboard backings (instead of paper), making them more “card like.” To house the collection, Topps also issued an 80-page album, which costs $2 in the U.S. and $2.79 in Canada. 

Since I knew I was going to try to complete this set from the get-go, I decided to buy four 50-pack boxes, all from the same retailer. Here are the results of my first box. 

Continue reading “2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #1”

2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #3

This is my third and final box of 2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers. With each box containing 250 stickers, my hope was that I would get pretty close to having a complete 630-sticker set. The first box gave me over 39% of the set, while the second box put me at 62%. While I know that I am not going to get every sticker that I need, my hope is that I am at a respectable enough number that I could finish the set off in a few trades.

Continue reading “2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #3”

2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #2

If you want to build a set of 2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers, you’re going to need to buy many packs. Considering that you get five stickers per pack and there are 630 stickers in the set, you would need to purchase at least 126 packs, or about 2-1/2 boxes. I purchased three boxes — each has 50 packs — and posted the results of the first box last week.

Opening packs of stickers is not for the “hit chasers,” as there are no hits to speak of. Really, a good box is one that has few doubles in its collation; a great box is one that has very few doubles from the previous box. Hopefully, this box is a “hit” by not giving me most of the stickers that I got in my previous box. So, without further ado, here are the results of my second box break of 2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers:

Continue reading “2019-20 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #2”