Mike Bossy. Any/much Hobby Love?

[D. Bergin]

I assume the three biggest factors are the shortened career, Gretzky coming in a few years into his career, and completely overshadowing him as the offensive weapon of the generation, and his Topps Rookie card being in a set that was at one time considered to be grossly overproduced, compared to other sets of the era.

I think this was due to a ton of overstock vending cases surfacing sometime in the 80's or so.

Similar to Lemieux, even when he was playing, he was often playing with, or through, serious injuries. As awesome as he was, he could have been even better.

He's always kind of interested me, and I wish I had picked up a bunch of his Rookies when they were cheap (his Topps version anyways, his OPC was always selling at much more of a premium).

As is, all I really have is a Junior League vintage photo I have floating around here somewhere.

[Kevin]

I saved a lot of ticket stubs as a kid. Found during quarantine were 1980, 1981 Cup clinchers. Apparently lost is 1983 - this kills me because of all the games I ever attended, this is the most memorable. No idea where that stub went.

Anyway, I pick out 5 games and looked them up on hockey reference. Bossy scored 14 goals in those random picked games.

Best natural scorer I ever saw. Brett Hull, man, I’m going to get killed for writing this, was a poor man’s Bossy.

I ran into Bossy in an elevator in the Coliseum within the last 10 years. I had never met him so I introduced myself, shook his hand. My hand disappeared into his grip. Like a baby’s hand. Love that guy...

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Best natural scorer I ever saw. Brett Hull, man, I’m going to get killed for writing this, was a poor man’s Bossy.

Nah, I think most would probably agree with you.

[Tomi]

Imagine if he played for Toronto or Montreal.

[irv]

Originally Posted by jb217676

Hi Dale,
I think Bossy cards are undervalued because the Islanders lived in the Oilers shadow during the 1980's. As for his RC, it is super tough to find centered, here's mine.
Jeff

I think that is a big part of it. The Islanders never got their due because of the Oilers and Gretzky hype.
Vid I saw of Gretzky, he said when they walked by the Islanders dressing room, after losing the Stanley Cup to them, he said the Islanders, when they looked in, were exhausted and covered in ice packs and here they were walking out like they could play another game. He said it was then that he realized that if they were going to win Stanley Cups, they had to model their approach like the Islanders did.

Very nice card, Jeff! An 8 is super tough to come by.

[irv]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I assume the three biggest factors are the shortened career, Gretzky coming in a few years into his career, and completely overshadowing him as the offensive weapon of the generation, and his Topps Rookie card being in a set that was at one time considered to be grossly overproduced, compared to other sets of the era.

I think this was due to a ton of overstock vending cases surfacing sometime in the 80's or so.

Similar to Lemieux, even when he was playing, he was often playing with, or through, serious injuries. As awesome as he was, he could have been even better.

He's always kind of interested me, and I wish I had picked up a bunch of his Rookies when they were cheap (his Topps version anyways, his OPC was always selling at much more of a premium).

As is, all I really have is a Junior League vintage photo I have floating around here somewhere.

Likely all true, Dave.

Personally, I had quit collecting by that time so the thoughts of ever picking up some of his cards didn't even cross my mind. Different times back then as well compared to today.

[Throttlesteer]

Total body of work. Absolutely amazing talent. But all of the averages tend to go down the longer a player plays (goals/game, Points/game, etc..) counting numbers are important beyond the Golden Era.