1995 Signature Rookies 1980 "Miracle on Ice" sets

[jp1216]

I just finished this nice looking set and wanted to share some info.
1995 Signature Rookies "Miracle on Ice" autographed set. 43 cards - each individually numbered to #/2000. 2 for each player, 2 for assistant coach Craig Patrick and 1 for coach Herb Brooks. Beautiful tribute set dedicated to the 1980 Gold Medal winning USA Olympic hockey team.

In total, there are 50 cards in the base set. 2 for each player, 2 for each coach, 5 action shots and 1 checklist. Base cards were stamped "1 of 24000" and found in 6 card 'wax' packs. 5 base cards and 1 autographed #/2000 per pack. Wax boxes contained 18 packs and were individually numbered to 4850. I didn't collect much in the 90s and never saw these cards until recently. I've been told that boxes sold for $30-$40/each. About $2 a pack? There are also 2 "Promo" cards numbered to "1 of 7500". One features the team celebration, the other is Jim Craig.

These cards were also issued as complete sets in 2 forms - a "Gold Medal" boxed set in red individually number to #/9999 and a "Commemorative" boxed set in blue individually numbered to #/1980. Cards in these boxes are foil stamped "Gold Medal Set" and "Commemorative Edition". I'm not sure how these were sold etc.

Signature Rookies as a company didn't last too long. Owned by Score Board - I think they filed bankruptcy in the mid/late '90s.

Not all of the autographed #/2000 cards were delivered in time and had to be issued as redemptions. I've heard Herb Brooks #42 was one of those. Herb Brooks #41 was never issued with an autograph. I've heard he refused because #41 incorrectly lists him as a member of the 1960 Olympic hockey team. Herb was the last player cut prior to the Olympic games where the US team won the Gold medal!

Currently the most expensive #/2000 Autos are for Bob Suter (d.2014), Herb Brooks (d. 2003) and now Mark Pavelich (d. 2021).

Beautiful set. Thanks to Michael B. for the last card! Can anyone add more info?

[Giroux]

Those are awesome. Nice set.

[jp1216]

I recently completed a little personalized 52 card set. All 50 regular cards and 2 promos. Cards #1-44 are signed and numbered to #/2000 (except Herb Brooks #41 which doesn't exist signed #/2000). Cards #45-50 are 'in action' cards and a checklist. Signatures on these are a random lot. #45 - Team Trainer Gary Smith. #46 - Buzz Schneider. #47 - Mike Eruzione. #48 - TV Announcer Al Michaels. #49 - Phil Verchota. #50 - Team Doctor V. George Nagobads. Dr Nagobads turned 100 last month! I included cards from the "Gold Medal /9999", Commemorative /1989, Base Set /24000 and Promos /7500 (signed by Brooks and Jim Craig). Bottom picture has Dr Nagobads (far left), Gary Smith (in the middle) and Al Michaels (far right).

[irv]

Originally Posted by jp1216

I recently completed a little personalized 52 card set. All 50 regular cards and 2 promos. Cards #1-44 are signed and numbered to #/2000 (except Herb Brooks #41 which doesn't exist signed #/2000). Cards #45-50 are 'in action' cards and a checklist. Signatures on these are a random lot. #45 - Team Trainer Gary Smith. #46 - Buzz Schneider. #47 - Mike Eruzione. #48 - TV Announcer Al Michaels. #49 - Phil Verchota. #50 - Team Doctor George Nagobads. Dr Nagobads turned 100 last month! I included cards from the "Gold Medal /9999", Commemorative /1989, Base Set /24000 and Promos /7500. Bottom picture has Dr Nagobads (far left, Gary Smith in the middle and Al Michaels far right.

Great looking cards, Jon.

Congrats on completing the set.

[steve B]

It's a great set. And one that's a bit tougher than you'd think.

I'll have to get mine out, but I think one of the Herb Brooks cards came somehow as a signed promo.

It's interesting seeing the cards from the boxed sets. I don't have either, and just figured they were the same as the base cards.

[steve B]

Ah, that's what it is. The unnumbered celebration signed promo card.

I wouldn't be surprised to see other cards that aren't widely known, SR did some strange stuff.

[jp1216]

Steve, Thanks for mentioning those Herb Brooks signed promos. I've read about fakes etc. Currently there are a couple on eBay. One has a clear, circular sticker on the back and the other doesn't. I've also seen a gold, square sticker on the back in the past.

edit: Picked up a clear sticker Brooks signed promo and added Jim Craig this week! Now 51 of 52 signed! Complete for me!

[steve B]

Originally Posted by jp1216

Steve, Thanks for mentioning those Herb Brooks signed promos. I've stayed away from those. I've read about fakes etc. Currently there are a couple on eBay. One has a clear, circular sticker on the back and the other doesn't. I've also seen a gold, square sticker on the back in the past.

Part of what makes SR such a strange thing to collect.

I got mine at a flea market close to when it was new for something like $2.

The round stickers are interesting, I usually see them on stuff like the mail away inserts that are signed. On the other hand, I just picked up a regular Hockey signature with one on the back. That makes me think they were used to "authenticate" the cards they had to use vouchers for. I don't think I'm familiar with the square gold stickers.

There's a whole group of stuff they made that I think may be questionable, but there isn't enough info out there to know for sure. I do know some stuff wasn't mentioned in packs, but is around. And they did do special stuff for either HSN or QVC.

[jp1216]

Here are pics of 3 stickers I found. All from the Herb Brooks signed Promo cards.

[steve B]

I don't think I've ever seen the gold one, but there were a couple products that had bonus signatures and I think some of them were clearance items as the company wound down.

The clear one may be legit, it's the one I've seen on cards I think were obtained by mailing in a redemption.
The white one looks a bit iffy. Authentic signature, but no branding....

My most recent pickup from this summer is a standard hockey card but with the clear sticker on the back.

After Christmas I'll have to dig out all the SR stuff I have and see if I can make sense of some of the odd ones. I think many of them were sort of dealer only type things.

Like I never saw anything on how the 8x10s were released, signed or unsigned.
And the signed star squad inserts, which I think were in the T95 set, but I only saw on dealer tables, and they're signed on cards with regular 1/10000 foil with the clear sticker.

[Oldschl45]

Hey Guys,

I hope all is well. I recently purchased the red and blue box sets. Your informative thread helped answer most of my questions (surprisingly little info on the internet btw), but I have a few more questions as I seek to understand.

1) Other than the packaging and box number (blue numbered to 1980 and red 9999), what are the differences between the red and blue set?
2) Are autographs included in the box set? I assume no, but I’m wrong often.
3) Are there wax unopened boxes available? Someone mentioned 6 cards, 5 base and 1 autograph per pack, again I think is separate from the box sets I just purchased.
4) I see red box set on eBay and other sites for around $100. Any idea on value for the blue box set?
5) Is there anything else I should know about this set?

Thank you!

Drew

[dodgerfanjohn]

2.) no. Autos only in the pack or by mail in.

3.) I’ve seen wax boxes on eBay. I don’t know about this product in particular but on other SR products so many of the key autos were redemptions. Personally I’d target the autos themselves, not a wax pack or box.

4.) never ever go by list price. Make sure you are searching sold items if you are looking for comps. Most recent sales on eBay for the red sets were $69, $51.50, and $50. None of the blue sets that sold are labeled as such (just search “signature rookies miracle on ice set” and then select “sold items”). Most recent sales were $65, $130, 80, and 95. Personally I think current buyers are smoking crack. Finding a base signature rookie card is like finding hay in a haystack.

5.) I dare you to find any of the autos from this set that grade a 10, or even a 9! The chipping from the manufacturer on these is off the charts. That said, this is a really cool set. I collected SR products heavily back in the 90’s and other than a Jeter auto, do not have much to show for it. I bought a red set of these for under $10 shipped maybe 12 years ago, and got a eBay lot of the autos for very cheap also(like 15 of the cards for what averaged out to $4 a card). So I set out to complete the set. Never paid more than $20 for any except the brooks. I finally found one of those for $80 and jumped on it. I think it’s a very cool set, a real piece of American history. I believe it’s the only complete set. UD has one also but is missing a few players as well as missing brooks. But Signature Rookies as a company most definite hs it’s limitatios.

[Oldschl45]

Thank you Dodgerfanjohn! I assume since you skipped my first question it is unknown… what the differences are between the blue and red sets other than the box number. I guess I’ll have to open both to find out. Thanks again!

[Bill77]

Originally Posted by Oldschl45

Thank you Dodgerfanjohn! I assume since you skipped my first question it is unknown… what the differences are between the blue and red sets other than the box number. I guess I’ll have to open both to find out. Thanks again!

The answer is in the 1st post of this thread.

These cards were also issued as complete sets in 2 forms - a "Gold Medal" boxed set in red individually number to #/9999 and a "Commemorative" boxed set in blue individually numbered to #/1980. Cards in these boxes are foil stamped "Gold Medal Set" and "Commemorative Edition". I'm not sure how these were sold etc.

[Oldschl45]

Good call out Bill77, thank you! I totally missed it. As others stated, such a cool set, and my first time stumbling across it. This is a good reminder of the knowledge sharing of this community, I’m always learning something new.

[Bill77]

No problem I had to reread it 3 times before I saw it.

[jp1216]

My update to this thread:

I few years ago, I picked up another version of this set: Mike Ramsey 'Promo' signed and numbered #/300. These 'Promo' cards were put out as sets - probably to VIPs or dealers etc. Only one pose per player and coach. 22 total cards - each individually numbered to #/300.

Also added this #41 signed Herb Brooks. I mentioned in the first post - Coach Brooks didn't signed this card for the set (likely due the typo on the back) but would sign the regular cards for individuals upon request. A few of these have been seen.

As Bill said - the red and blue boxes include the same cards but with different foil stamping on the front. "Commemorative" and "Gold". The "24,000" stamped cards were from the packs.

[jp1216]

I also found a picture of what the Autograph #/2000 redemption slips looked like. Inserted to replace cards that weren't included in the wax packs.

[Oldschl45]

Great updates JP!