Are there many hockey set collectors here?

TheCARDKid

If I was going to get a hockey set graded,...(and that's a BIG IF) I'd go for an 81/82 OPC PSA graded set. I've always loved the design, the player selection and the challenge of getting high grade cards. It's notorious for bad centering, rough cuts, etc. Getting all those cards centered and in PSA 8 NQ or 9 NQ would be quite a challenge. The cost though is giving me nightmares. Where would you even find alot of high grade commons? I don't believe there are any vending boxes available for this year and wax boxes are in the $900+ range when you can find them. Maybe find some regular sets graded Nm-mt, pick the best cards from those, then hope you get some 8's and 9's. An all PSA 9 set would be the ultimate.

If you wanted to pick a hockey set to get graded, which would you choose?

mikeschmidt

Though I'm not a hockey collector, I always thought that the 1911 C55 Imperial Tobacco cards were very cool.

yawie99

i dig the '81-82 opc set too, but 9's are indeed hard to come by and i've seen very few graded minor stars, let alone commons. your idea, cardkid, of buying nice nm-mt+ sets and submitting the sharpest cards would probably be the way to go if you decide to pursue this set in psa 8 or 9. i don't know that i'd sink close to a grand into a wax box because "pack fresh" doesn't mean a whole lot with this set.

as for other hockey sets, the '90-91 opc premier set would probably be the easiest high-grade set to complete. i haven't checked the pop report for this set in some time but i guess that there are probably at least a few 9's of every card in the set. plus there are always 9's and 10's from this set available pretty cheaply on ebay. i'm no fan of this set but it is at least on the registry queue.

you might also want to consider vintage sets, some of which are already on the registry. many vintage sets have no more than 50 to 100 cards, which makes them realistic graded set projects. i myself am working on the c56 and '53-54 parkhurst sets and am thinking about a '59-60 parkhurst set. the c55's are also very cool but i'm not sure if i'll ever have the means to go after that set too.

54topps

If your going to PSA grade a set I would definately do a set from the 50's or 60's. Not only are these great looking cards but like Yawie99 says there is between 50 to 100 cards in a set so thats alot less cards to get graded. I too think the 81-82 OPS is a great looking set but off centering and rough edges would make for a tough set to build in a PSA 8-9 condition. Me personally im working on the 60-61 topps set. This is one of the sets curently registered in the registry. This was not my first choice to get graded, in fact its probably my 7th or 8th choice but I got a great deal on a partial set that was in NM-MT condition. I do have 25 more cards from this set to send in that I expect 8's from. It would be nice to see more old hockey sets get registered. If I had the money my first choice would be the 54-55 Topps set. I did have half the set graded in a 7 but needed to sell for personal reasons. Well good luck to ya.

This was my first post Yeah!!!!

hockeycrazy

Yes there are hockey set builders out there!

I am currently working on 4 sets. I am short only 5 cards to completing a complete set of PSA 8 1959-60 Parkies. I also have 1/2 of the 1961-62 and 1962-63 Parkhurst sets graded in 8 form. I am awaiting a special for vintage bulk and I will submit the balance of both of those sets. I have hand picked the commons for both the 1961 and 1962 sets so I hope to have mostly PSA 8s. I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I certainly suggest building a vintage set vs. the modern day sets although it's always an individuals personal preference. The vintage sets are attainable given the low number of cards required to complete a set. I will say this though, that it is extremely difficult to finish a set in PSA 8 form. Looking at some of the pop reports indicates that 8s, in many cases, aren't available for many common hockey cards in the 60's.

Can anyone suggest some good vintage hockey dealers? I have been relying on Ebay and would like to increase the pool from which to buy from.

Oh well, after the Parkie sets are done, on to a 1954 Topps set. Please don't let my wife know about that one.

My first post!
Dave

hockeycrazy

Yes there are hockey set builders out there!

I am currently working on 4 sets. I am short only 5 cards to completing a complete set of PSA 8 1959-60 Parkies. I also have 1/2 of the 1961-62 and 1962-63 Parkhurst sets graded in 8 form. I am awaiting a special for vintage bulk and I will submit the balance of both of those sets. I have hand picked the commons for both the 1961 and 1962 sets so I hope to have mostly PSA 8s. I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I certainly suggest building a vintage set vs. the modern day sets although it's always an individuals personal preference. The vintage sets are attainable given the low number of cards required to complete a set. I will say this though, that it is extremely difficult to finish a set in PSA 8 form. Looking at some of the pop reports indicates that 8s, in many cases, aren't available for many common hockey cards in the 60's.

Can anyone suggest some good vintage hockey dealers? I have been relying on Ebay and would like to increase the pool from which to buy from.

Oh well, after the Parkie sets are done, on to a 1954 Topps set. Please don't let my wife know about that one.

My first post!

TheCARDKid

I think some of the vintage sets are great too. In terms of design, either 64-65 Topps or 65-66 Topps would be my top choices. The 64-65 Tall Boy set is extremely tough in high grades. And with 2 checklists, some short prints, tons of Hall of Famers, this is a world class set. I never see much of these in high grade on Ebay. Ajcards is a hockey dealer I can think of off hand,..but their prices on 8's and 9's are way over book.

'71/72 OPC is another set I like. A great design, player selection, rookies, scaricity in high grades,..it has alot going for it.