TOP TEN HOCKEY CARDS FROM THE 1950s

[irv]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

I'm glad you guys like this thread. There is hardly any action over here, so I decided to spice things up a little.

Now I want to add something: when coming up with this list, I decided to focus on mainstream rookies. This means that non-rookies, food issues and other oddballs were excluded. The Quaker Oats Jacques Plante card is very popular, but it's a food issue. The 1952 Royal Desserts Gordie Howe is very nice too, but again, a food issue. And finally, Gordie does have a few mainstream issues from this decade that are popular with collectors, especially his 1954 Topps card. None of them are on the list either.

Samosa, in you first post, you stated baseball, football and hockey from the 50's are hot. Just wondering if you have seen an uptick lately with hockey cards in general or is it just in that era?

I've been dabbling here and there for the last year/couple years but lately I've become more interested in them again.

I've been trying to pick up some Orr cards here and there but I have also dabbled a bit with other older cards (mostly 60's-70's) and modern as well.

Not sure if that's because I am close to completing my low number run of 52 Topps baseball cards or if it's me just reliving my youth again?
Regardless, I am now enjoying the hockey card chase but in doing so, I have also noticed, or at least think I've noticed that hockey cards seem to be getting hot again?

Looking forward to reading and seeing your 60's era selections.

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by irv

Samosa, in you first post, you stated baseball, football and hockey from the 50's are hot. Just wondering if you have seen an uptick lately with hockey cards in general or is it just in that era?

I'm starting to see more Americans take interest in hockey cards and Canadian collectibles and I think the biggest reason is the strong US dollar. There were so many of them at the Expo here in Toronto (International Centre) and they were all looking for key vintage rookies. I was talking to a Canadian-dealer friend of mine at the show and I told him how I noticed a shortage of O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookies, and his response was "the Yankees bought them all."

I personally believe that cards issued from 1951 - 1959 are the best. No other decade comes close.

[irv]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

I'm starting to see more Americans take interest in hockey cards and Canadian collectibles and I think the biggest reason is the strong US dollar. There were so many of them at the Expo here in Toronto (International Centre) and they were all looking for key vintage rookies. I was talking to a Canadian-dealer friend of mine at the show and I told him how I noticed a shortage of O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookies, and his response was "the Yankees bought them all."

I personally believe that cards issued from 1951 - 1959 are the best. No other decade comes close.

Great info, Samosa. Thanks.

I missed the Expo again this fall as there always seems to be something that comes up. Hopefully in the spring it is a different story.

With regards to my recent Orr P/U above, are the TCG cards that read "Printed in Canada" actually OPC cards? I've seen the same cards but because they read "Printed in the U.S." those have been listed as Topps cards. Just making sure I have that right?

Also, I'm curious of your thoughts on the old Beehive hockey cards/photos and if you have seen any uptick in those lately?

Hopefully this thread gets some traction/interest as I'd also like to learn, read and see more great cards.

Thanks again.

Dale

[Exhibitman]

Dale: The copyright is different but easier to see, the 1968 and 1969 bilingual cards are OPC. En Francais = OPC. No need to look beyond that. There are also color differences on the backs of the 69s

1969 Topps



1969 OPC

[irv]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Dale: The copyright is different but easier to see, the 1968 and 1969 bilingual cards are OPC. En Francais = OPC. No need to look beyond that. There are also color differences on the backs of the 69s

Thanks for clearing that up, Adam.

I appreciate it!

EDIT: Meant to also ask, what are the general price differences normally between equally graded OPC and Topps hockey cards? Is it 2 X, 3X, or higher?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by irv

EDIT: Meant to also ask, what are the general price differences normally between equally graded OPC and Topps hockey cards? Is it 2 X, 3X, or higher?

Now that's a different animal. From my limited experience there is no simple across the board answer to that. Generally OPC goes for more but given the relative size differences of the sets in the 1960s-1970s (Topps is usually a one series 132 card issue while OPC is usually at least two series), there are people who collect one or the other. There are also condition issues. Early OPC used some lousy cardboard and terrible cutters compared to Topps (see the two 1969s I posted above), so I tend to see more OPC cards with production flaws. 1970s OPC used better cardboard than Topps IMO (I like the light chipboard vs. the dark stuff Topps used) but the same crappy cutters, so rough edges and weak corners are commonplace.



The OPC Ryan has a way nicer stock than the 71 Topps



(see what I mean) but cruddy edges, corners and centering comparatively speaking.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Now that's a different animal. From my limited experience there is no simple across the board answer to that. Generally OPC goes for more but given the relative size differences of the sets in the 1960s-1970s (Topps is usually a one series 132 card issue while OPC is usually at least two series), there are people who collect one or the other. There are also condition issues. Early OPC used some lousy cardboard and terrible cutters compared to Topps (see the two 1969s I posted above), so I tend to see more OPC cards with production flaws. 1970s OPC used better cardboard than Topps IMO (I like the light chipboard vs. the dark stuff Topps used) but the same crappy cutters, so rough edges and weak corners are commonplace.



The OPC Ryan has a way nicer stock than the 71 Topps



(see what I mean) but cruddy edges, corners and centering comparatively speaking.

Great info again, Adam.

I'm surprised you didn't hit on the amount of cards that were produced and sold?
Not that everything you read is true, but I remember reading, because of our population up here compared to your's, the OPC numbers are a lot lower compared to Topps so that is also why OPC cards command a premium?

However, I have seen sales of both Topps and OPC where that doesn't seem to be factored in sometimes but I always assume some people aren't aware of that?

[maniac_73]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

I'm starting to see more Americans take interest in hockey cards and Canadian collectibles and I think the biggest reason is the strong US dollar. There were so many of them at the Expo here in Toronto (International Centre) and they were all looking for key vintage rookies. I was talking to a Canadian-dealer friend of mine at the show and I told him how I noticed a shortage of O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookies, and his response was "the Yankees bought them all."

I personally believe that cards issued from 1951 - 1959 are the best. No other decade comes close.

Thanks for starting this thread. Noticing more and more of us canucks on the forum lately which is great. We should do a meetup at spring expo. Everyone here seems to be into the shiny stuff so its good to find other vintage guys!

[Exhibitman]

Well if you consider it from a baseball card collector's standpoint, all but a handful of cards are very affordable. I can pick up beautiful career-issued cards of the top 5 players of all time for well under $100. Hell, if you go into the 1970s, $50 will get you a superb card of Howe, Hull, Orr, Plante, Esposito, etc.