Is it the Gretzky rookie ?

[Tomi]

Originally Posted by goldenage

If you think of all the important rookie cards, not only in hockey, but in all sports, is the Gretzky rookie card the one that can be found to have the worst eye appeal on some examples ?

Think about all the flaws that are associated with that card. Sometimes horribly o/c. Sometimes horrible registry. Most often tilted.

I would think there are others, like anything from the 1951 Parkhurst set, where there are lots of registry and cut issues as well.

Does the Gretzky rookie take the cake, or is there another high profile rookie that is found more often than not with major issues ?

Bobby Hull's is notorious for being off center. Jacque Plante from 55 is also tough.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

1979 Ozzie Smith, tilted, miscut, fuzzy cut etc.

[samosa4u]

Looking for a perfect Plante rookie is next to impossible! This card is often found with centering issues, tilts, registration issues, print lines, print spots, etc.

[jb217676]

Anything from 1982 O-Pee-Chee Hockey is extremely tough to find centered!

[cardsagain74]

The '57 Bill Russell is usually a mess too

[tabasco]

The 1958 Topps Bobby Hull RC takes the honour. Its located at the bottom right corner of the printing sheet so its always O/C and easier to damage already. It is also the last numbered card in the set so it usually placed at the bottom of the stack so its sustainable to lots of fingers rubbing and scratching, bottom surface stains and scratches, and etc damage.

Its population report confirms is rarity of high grades. Only 35x PSA 7, 7x PSA 8, 2x PSA 9, 0 PSA 10. It is much harder to find in high grades than even '51 Howe RC, '66 Topps Orr, or '79 OPC Gretzky. That's why its 7s and 8s go for good money, in fact, the 8 just sold for $87,000 yesterday and I think its a low price for this card. The younger generations don't know the story behind this card and its rarity, I think it should have sold for above $100k. I wouldn't even have been surprised if it sold for $200k yesterday with today's meteoric rise in card prices. Any of Hull's high graded card (7s, 8s, and 9s) would be a great pick up right now before their prices explode.

[goldenage]

I have heard this from other collectors. This is not my opinion. There is talk in Canada that Hull is not collected as much as Howe or Orr because of what happened off the ice, not what happened on the ice.