Hockey set collectors

Stingray

Anyone here collecting 85-86 hockey PSA graded either Topps or OPC? I hardly ever see any on Ebay for auction. Are there better sources to find this material? This has alway been a favorite of mine and would like to maybe pick up a few graded ones. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks


Stingray

gameusedhoop

Contact 5STAT on these boards. I know that Bruce is sitting on a bunch of high grade 85-86 Topps, including a set with just Yzerman and Lemieux graded (Lemieux is a 9). His set is number one in the registry #1 Set
but I know that he has some extras laying around. In fact, going by the pop report, he has most of the non stars that are graded in the entire market. There aren't many out there and he has most of them.

Edited to add a link to 5_stat on Ebay: 5_stat on ebay

Stingray

Wow, that does look interesting, 1 of 1s for grade 9 on a lot of cards. Guess I would be better off just buying raw and submitting myself. This would be a fun set to do only 165 cards. Well not ready to really start this one.

Stingray

5STAT

Stingray,

you're right...it's a tough issue..but an incredible set.
Problem is with the red backs, white fronts that chip easlily (more so that other years) and what seems to be inferior cardboard product that year..condition sensitive doesn't even start to describe this set!

Now throw in the common problems of centering, print dots and miscuts...and you've got a challenge.

My set along with my dupes, approx 200 cards total, were pullled from 15,000 singles. The market is loaded with NM+ -NM-MT sets, but even buying partial sets missing Mario...it's common to only pull 4-5 that are worth grading.

I'd love to see someone else jump in on this set, there has been a couple others on Ebay as of late, buying up the 8's...and even those are tough. As for 9's and 10's, there are very few 10's that I don't have..and that are 2 of 2, I have in my set and a dupe...most of the 1 of 1 and 1 of 2 9's are in my set and dupes too.

I'm sure that in time as more people jump in the numbers will even out, and that's fine with me. I am curently sitting at 71% complete, and there are only 2 cards graded 8 or better that I don't have. Other than that, right now..it's impossible to getting any more complete, as the cards simply haven't been graded yet.

Gameusedhoop saw my stash the other day....and yes, these should be on Ebay soon!

Stingray

Will keep an eye out for your auctions, love to see more of that stuff on ebay.


Stingray

RedHeart54

As my tagline suggests, I am a collector of the set. I've picked up a few cards here and there and will generally bid on PSA 9 singles but no longer do I pay $30+ a card as I used to. In fact, most star singles can be had for under $12 or so. I have a batch of raw singles that I'd like to submit one of these days. I think the majority can qualify as 9s but as said above, those red borders are killers. Even though I have a fair amount of graded 9s and can compare them to my raw cards, I wonder how much "white" showing on the reverse is too much for PSA to give a 9 vs. an 8.

I like the set for its three "S" combo: simplicity, (player) selection, and scarcity. 1985 was a great year in general for card sets of all sports but because hockey's my favorite sport, well...

Stingray

Agreed, the simplicity of the design is the biggest factor in why I like the set. I alway liked when Topps put the team logo on the fronts of the cards.

Stingray

ArnyVee

I'm surprised that so little has been graded on that '85-'86 Hockey set. I mean, the Lemieux is graded a lot, but not the rest. Hockey might be something fun to jump into.....definitely a challenge!

TurbosHockey

Ah a set near and dear to my Heart. I finally finisehed this set earlier this year and well except for the two 7's have it in 8 and above. I searched high and low for mint singles and it is tough. I recieved some that were indeed mint and others well, depends on how many beers you had when were looking at the card. DSL used to have quite a few of these on Ebay last year but it appears his supply has run dry too. On my trips back home to Winnipeg, I frequesnt the card shops and it is tough finding anything that is centered propperly. The other issue is the back of these cards that seemed to chip or fray easily. I would check with Gerry at www.gerryssportscards.com as well as Harv at www.ajsportsworld.com. I got some from them. If you could let me know what cards you need I may have some ungraded sinlges kicking around.

Cheers,
Darren

envoy98

I graded quite a few 81 OPC, 84 & 88 OPC & Topps as well, but no 85's. I'll have to look at my sets and see if I even have that set. I had quite a few Lemieux rookies at one point, but have sold them all off as well.

Just out of curiousity... what do the 1/1 PSA 10's get? I only ask because I have an 81/82 OPC Tim Kerr RC in a PSA 10...

5STAT

81-82's OPC are TOUGH...they are near impossible to find centered or with out a jagged OPC cut.
A PSA 10 in that should be big...besides being a rookie card also.

The only problem with 80's hockey is that there is a smaller market for it. You either love it..or walk right by and don't even care.

But the people who do their homework will see the math works out and that THIS is the next market to explode in popularity.

As far a price for the Kerr....I wouldn't sell it for less than $125.00, but the fact that it's a 1/1...who knows...that may even be low.

People should really start to look at hockey as well as other non-vintage condition sensitive issues (ie. 1985 and 1986 Topps Football..)...sure people look and see newer issues and say that they can find it anywhere. Yup, I agree...but challenge anyone to take their "mint" set off the shelf and actually go through it and see how many 9's and 10's they think they will ruly get back. Odds are..there's alot of really really nice NM-MT+ sets to be had....but not alot truly worthy of PSA Registry status.

RedHeart54

I've often wondered if there is indeed a decent supply of raw mint material in Canada but never finds its way to PSA because of the expense of sending it from Canada. Even if you get 9s and the occasional 10, it'd be quite hard to make it worth your while.

TurbosHockey

One thing about card rading in Canada is that Beckett has a strong grasp up there for some reason. I know in Winnipeg at some of the dealers I have gone to, I asked if they had any PSA cards and they were all Beckett dealers. Not sure why, but that is what I have found. I hope that the 80's don't pick up too soon, I want to finish off a few sets first. ;o)

Onlypsahockey

It's refreshing to see a hockey discussion on the boards. I agree with all the comments made above except fpr the pricing on the Kerr 10. I pick up 10's for my mid to late 70's sets in the $35.00-$50.00 range. With large amounts of 80's wax still available (much more abundant than 70's wax) I believe the Kerr is only 1/1 because nobodys grading these yet. $50.00 maybe. $125.00 would be a tough sell IMHO. Gotta go flip thru my 85 sets now.

RedHeart54

Is the original Canadian company KSA stil around?

Onlypsahockey

Yes.

They were set up across the aisle from me at the spring Toronto Expo. They saw little business over the weekend. I expected them to be very busy. I've never had anything graded by them but after asking about them have been told to stay clear by many in the hobby whose opinion I trust. Seemed like a 2nd rate operation from what I saw in person.

JMO

jackstraw

I have a pretty nice near 81 and 85 OPC set. Most are nm to nm mt with some mints. 81 is by far my favorite but 85 is a close second!Got to love the 81 super actions and rookie selection and 85 the high numbers rule Messier,Lowe,Murphy,Taylor,Fuhr,Macinnis Rookie,Iafrate and the Lemieux LL plus 3 more Gretzky's ! I have seen the 85 Topps and OPC Gretzky's on ebay in PSA 9 recently.
I am very very interested in a Gretzky and Lemieux box bottom from Topps and OPC if anybody has one or all 4 in nm mt with no scratches.

5STAT

I hear you on the late 70's PSA 10's and the balance on the Kerr...but the 81-82 set is one of the worst for centering..I agree, more 10 are to follow..but not many!!

As for the price, right now..being the 1/1 I think it's fair.....but then again I like the 1 of 1's.

I had a 1986 Topps Football Jat Schroeder RC PSA 10...1 of 1, didn't know what it would sell for so I listed it at $250. It's a rookie and 10's are tough in 1986. The top set builders on the Registry all sent panic emails.."NO ONE will ever pay that much...I have the #1..or 2..or whatever set it was...NO ONE pay more than me...you'll never get that." The guy was ripped and pretty much made it sound like he WAS the 1986 Topps market and how dare I ask such a price.

My idea was simple..test the waters..if it didn't sell..hey, I'm open to suggestions.

Well, 6 emails plaeding with me to sell the card for $75 because that's what he thought it was worth....and the closer to the end of the auction..the more the panic and stress showed in his emails..

The auction ended $250..1 bid to a Redskins FAN. Not the set builder who said I was crazy...lol

I guess the lesson is..we as dealers/set buiders all want to make the sets as cheaply as possible. And we sell across the boards at wholesale prices..but want as close to full retail as we can get,when we sell...we are all guilty of it to some degree...some more than others..

The other thing to remember is although alot of cards pass hands through Ebay...it tends to be a wholesale level...not retail level in pricing that is established. If we could sell everything on the boards and on Ebay for what it was really worth..the high end auction houses wouldn't be in business..

There's a whole new world out there in collectors

5STAT

man....time for bed...I just looked at my typos in my last post...time to met Mavis Beacon typing 101 out again...sorry folks

kingraider75

It took me awhile just to find the 85-86 in decent raw shape. I never really saw anyone selling that slabbed on ebay. Non-existent on the west coast, well at least the "greater" LA area anyways, so I have to get almost all my hockey off ebay. This would be a cool set to get graded, but I didn't because I figured that if I ever wanted to sell it, I wouldn't be able to.

eyebone

A quick observation on KSA.....I THINK their standards have improved recently. Living in Canada it can be expensive to send cards off to PSA, what with shipping and insurance both to and from California, the grading fees themselves, and the possibility of extra fees added by Canadian customs. Thus, I recently sent a small group of nice vintage cards off to KSA under their summer 2 for 1 special. When I got the grades I was surprised and disappointed. Either I had overEstimated the quality of my cards quite substantially or their standards have become tougher. Maybe they hired a new grader?! While they are not PSA or SGC, I don't necessarily think they should be lumped in with some of those companies that are mocked on here either. Just my opinion.....

David

RedHeart54

By the way, I ran across this tonight. Anyone want to tell me what's wrong with this card?? Hint: PSA totally missed it.


1980 Gretzky

lamontcarter

My question is how the hell was Gretzky ever only a 2nd team all star?

Scott

Molson

Puck is scratched off!

RedHeart54

Molson wins.

Those 1980 Topps cards had a gimmick in which you had to scratch off the black "puck" to reveal the pleyer's name. Scratched cards are generally worth about half of a non-scratched card. PSA either missed it or was unaware.

phreakydancin

<< <i>My question is how the hell was Gretzky ever only a 2nd team all star? >>

It was his first year in the NHL. He tied for the scoring lead with Marcel Dionne (also a Centre), but missed out on the Art Ross Trophy because he had fewer goals. He still picked up the Hart and Lady Byng trophies, IIRC.

5STAT

All my dupe PSA 8's..9's and 10's from 1985 Topps Hockey have been added to my Ebay store 5_stat 5 Stat Sports Cards.5 Stat Sports Cards Ebay Store