Topps

Puck Junk Podcast: April 8, 2020

1992-93 Topps Hockey Cards

In the latest — and dare we say greatest? — episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish look back at the “ugly baby” known as the 1992-93 Topps Hockey card set. They also discuss all the latest hockey happenings (or lack thereof) going on over the past week. Spoiler alert: they get off topic for a bit and talk about The Love Guru. You have been warned. This week’s show clocks in at 1 hour 49 minutes.

Show Notes, Links and Additional Images:
Puck Junk Podcast about NBC firing Jeremy Roenick (Puck Junk)
The National Sports Collectors Convention statement on COVID-19 (NSCC)
2019-20 Upper Deck Game Dated Moments Week 26 cards (Upper Deck)
1992-93 Topps Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Every 1992-93 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)
Tim Parish’s blog (The Real DFG)

1992-93 Topps Hockey card images:

#1 – Wayne Gretzky, first card in the set

#529 – Eric Lindros, last card in the set

#166 – Mike McNeil, taking a sip

#318 – Dino Ciccarelli, scrumming it up

#318 – Dino Cicarelli, card back

#318 – Dino Ciccarelli, Gold Parallel

#318 – Dino Ciccarelli, Gold Parallel back

#414 – Denis Savard, just standing around

#406 – Gaetan Duchesne, sitting somewhere

#364 – Dan Lambert, wearing glasses

#501 – Bryan Marchment, wearing a half-cage

#522 – Frank Pietrangelo, in a deep crouch

 #9 – Nicklas Lidstrom Super Rookie

#265 – Mario Lemieux All-Star

#67 – Jim Thomson (RC). He later appeared in the 2009 film The Love Guru

1992-93 Topps Hockey sell sheet (via Trading Card DB):

Click to enlarge

1992-93 Topps Hockey Poster:

Click to enlarge

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

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group 

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

Puck Junk Podcast: March 24, 2020

1986-87 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the cancellation of the IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships and two Ottawa Senators players testing positive for COVID-19. They discuss Wayne Gretzky breaking the all-time goal record 26 years ago, and how Coronavirus disease has affected the trading card hobby. Finally, they take a long look at the 1986-87 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey card sets.

Show Notes and Links: 
NHL Provides Q&A Regarding Coronavirus Pause (NHL)
IIHF Worlds cancellation FAQ (IIHF)
Possible Names for Seattle’s NHL Team (Puck Junk)
Every 1993-94 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)
Video: Wayne Gretzky breaks Gordie Howe’s goal record. (SportsNet)
Picture: 1993-94 Pinnacle Wayne Gretzky Card #512 (Trading Card DB)
Picture: 1993-94 Upper Deck Wayne Gretzky “802” card (Trading Card DB)
Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo – Response to COVID-19 (Sport Card Expo)
1986-87 Topps Hockey Card Checklist (Trading Card DB)
1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Custom Joel Otto and Moe Lemay “Corrected” cards (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Facebook Group (Facebook)

Here are some images from the 1986-87 Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets:

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Patrick Roy rookie card

1986-87 Topps Mario Lemieux – 2nd major card

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Gary Suter rookie card

1986-87 Topps John Vanbiesbrouck rookie card

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Wendel Clark rookie card

1986-87 Topps Dirk Graham rookie card

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Steve Thomas rookie card

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Roberto Romano rookie card – love the alliteration!

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Joel Otto rookie card – ERROR – pictures Moe Lemay

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Moe Lemay – ERROR – pictures Joel Otto

1986-87 Topps Murray Bannerman – dig that mask!

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Box Bottoms Wayne Gretzky

1986-87 Topps Insert Stickers Michel Goulet All-Star

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Goals Against Leaders Bob Froese

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee Save Percentage Leaders Bob Froese

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

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group 

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

Puck Junk Podcast: March 6, 2020

How the 1994-95 NHL Lockout Forever Changed Hockey Cards

Nothing had a bigger effect on hockey trading cards than the 1994-95 NHL Lockout. Because of the lockout, companies could make more hockey sets, hockey cards became more expensive and autographed cards became more commonplace. However, the 1994 NHL lockout was not without casualties, as some card sets — as well as other licensed NHL collectibles — were cancelled, while some contests and promotions were ruined. Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a look back at the 1994-95 lockout and how it forever affected hockey cards. They also talk about the forthcoming David Ayres rookie cards and answer more listener questions.

Show Notes and Links:
Johnny Boychuk gets hit in the face with a skate (YouTube)
Jim Little responds to being fired by Ottawa Senators (Twitter)
The “Saved By the Bell” design of 1994-95 Score boxes (Trading Card DB)
Robin Lehner shows off a bruise from stopping a shot (Twitter)

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

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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

Puck Junk Podcast: February 28, 2020

EBUG Sensation David Ayres, Plus YOUR Questions!

In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about Emergency Backup Goalie sensation David Ayres, who played for the Carolina Hurricanes last Saturday and was the first EBUG to record a win. Plus, it’s the debut of the Puck Junk Listener Mailbag! And we might have overdone it with the mailbag questions this week, as this episode is now 1 hour and 54 minutes long. But that’s OK, because it’s awesome. Don’t believe us? Well, click that “Play” button and find out!

Show Notes and Links:
Poll: “Your Hockey Team’s So Bad…” (Twitter)
Dave Ayres, 42, EBUG gets win in NHL debut (CNN)
The first time Sal saw Slap Shot (Puck Junk)
Upper Deck’s 2019 Sibling Sensations Hockey Set (Upper Deck)
Trading Card Database (link)
Last Sticker (link)
National Hockey Card Day – Trade Group (Facebook)
Puddy: “Gotta support the team.” (YouTube)
2015-16 Panini Anthology Hockey Box Break (Puck Junk)
2015-16 Upper Deck Full Force Hockey Box Break (Puck Junk)
The Inside Story on the Eric Semborski Hockey Card (Puck Junk)
Tom Fenton to Get an ITG Hockey Card (Puck Junk)
Here’s that awesome custom Tom Fenton hockey card Sal made:

Sal’s attempt to remove gum that was stuck to a hockey card (YouTube)
Sal eats 24-year old O-Pee-Chee gum and lives to regret it (YouTube)
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee Bill Ranford rookie card with gum stuck to it:

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

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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

Puck Junk Podcast: February 7, 2020

1985-86 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a long look back at the 1985-86 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card sets. They also talk about some new releases, including 2019-20 Upper Deck Allure. This podcast weighs in at 90 minutes, so get ready for an extra-large helping of hockey goodness!

Show Notes and Links:
2019-20 Upper Deck Allure Hockey Checklist (Beckett)
Mike Mondano making “Modano Face” (image)
That rare Zdeno Chara Day with the Cup card (image)
Some images from the 1985-86 O-Pee-Chee set:

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

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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

Every 1993-94 Hockey Card Set Ranked

The 1993-94 season was my favorite year to collect hockey cards. Everything about that season was just so right for me. I was living with my Grandmother and going to a local junior college, so my cost of living was low. I was working full-time at a card and comic book shop, so I could buy new cards at a deep discount. I had just gotten my drivers licence, so I could drive around Chicago to other card shops or local shows to find the last few inserts I needed for a given set. Plus, I was still promoting a monthly neighborhood show, so a lot of times people would bring me cards that I needed. My situation in life made collecting easy for me that year.

As for the cards themselves, the 1993-94 season was the last year before hockey card collecting got out of hand. Packs were still affordable, with most between $1 and $3. (The 1994 NHL Lockout would change that, but that’s a story for another time.) There were really no short prints, other than the odd insert, so sets were fairly easy to complete. There were some great insert sets, but not so many different insert sets like it is today, where you can buy a box of cards and get 40 different inserts across 10 different insert sets. There were five different card companies competing with each other, so they had to try hard to do better than one another.

Vintage Hockey Card Wrapper T-Shirts - Shop Now

For example, Topps finally got with the program and printed its flagship set on quality card stock, with gloss coating and full-color backs. The company also issued the set in two series, so it could include rookies and traded players in their new uniforms later on that season.

Unfortunately, there were some casualties. Pro Set had gone bankrupt in 1992-93, and while it tried to issue a set for the 1993-94 season, its license was revoked by the NHL. The NHL also mandated that companies could only issue two sets per season, so Topps had to jettison its unpopular Bowman Hockey set, while O-Pee-Chee stopped making its own smaller, premium “Premier” set, as the “Premier” name would be used by both Topps and O-Pee-Chee that year for their large, two-series card sets.

One addition to this year’s ranking is how each company included Alexander Daigle in their sets. Daigle was selected first-overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Pinnacle Brands — which made the Score and Pinnacle hockey card sets — had worked out a deal with Daigle, so that only they could picture him in a Senators uniform until he played in an NHL game. The other companies could not use a “Draft Day” photo, nor could they use photo manipulation to put his head on a different Senators player’s body. Thus, they had to get a little creative in how to picture that season’s hottest rookie in their hockey card sets that year.

As I have done with the 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 sets, here is my retrospective and ranking of every hockey card set issued in 1993-94.

Continue reading “Every 1993-94 Hockey Card Set Ranked”

Puck Junk Podcast: December 3, 2019

1999-2000 Hockey Card Retrospective

This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a look 20 years into the past and discuss the 1999-2000 season in hockey cards — from Topps, to Upper Deck to Pacific — and why that season is unlike any other when it comes to hockey cards.

What’s your favorite set from the 1999-2000 season? What trading card set, feature or gimmick would you like to see make a comeback? Leave a comment and let us know.

Follow Sal on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Castbox , Overcast, and SoundCloud .

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

Puck Junk Podcast: November 27, 2019

The Akim Aliu & Bill Peters Conflict

In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the Akim Aliu and Bill Peters conflict. They also talk about Mike Babcock’s firing, Robert Bortuzzo’s suspension, noteworthy recent eBay auctions, and a rundown of the new hockey card releases this week. Today’s podcast is just under 1 hour and 15 minutes long, so kick back and give it a listen.

What is your opinion on the matter between Akim Aliu and Bill Peters? Leave a comment and let us know. Or message us on Twitter at the accounts listed below.

Follow Sal on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Castbox or SoundCloud.

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

Puck Junk Podcast: November 13, 2019

The Don Cherry Controversy

In the latest episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a deep dive into the Don Cherry Controversy. Was Don out of line? Did the public overreact? Or was it a combination of the two? Plus, a recap of Upper Deck Singles Day, as well as an update on the new hockey cards that came out this week.

What do you think about what Don Cherry said? Do you think firing him was the right move by CBC? Leave a comment and let us know.

Follow Sal on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Like this podcast? Subscribe to it on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, PocketCasts or CastBox.

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Puck Junk Podcast: November 7, 2019

Do You Buy In-Person Autographs?
Plus Upper Deck Singles Day!

In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about buying in-person autographs  on the secondary market. Not a certified autograph that you’d find in a pack of cards, but an item that a dealer claims that he (or someone else) got signed and is now selling. They also discuss the 2020 Winter Classic jerseys for the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars. Plus, Chris Carlin from Upper Deck tells us about the upcoming Upper Deck Singles Day trading card promotion. It’s 80 minutes of hockey goodness!

Do you buy in-person autographs? Did you enjoy the latest Puck Junk Hockey Podcast? Is there a topic you would like us to talk about in an upcoming episode of the Puck Junk Podcast? Leave a comment and let us know!

Follow Sal on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Like this podcast? Subscribe to it on iTunes, Stitcher, PocketCasts or CastBox.
Support this podcast and buy a shirt. ■