<< <i>Can you post pics of the Worsley and Sawchuk ? >>
Those are at home right now. I'll try to scan them this weekend.
EZ, congrats on the OPC 9. I wished I had paid more attention to the complete sets purchased when the cards were issued. I finally put my OPC set in a binder a couple of years ago and the Gretzky was oc t/b. My Topps is not too bad, could be 8, 8.5 or 9.
Edited to add: Oh, and sorry that you are a Leafs fan. Maybe they'll win a Cup before you die hard. Maybe not.
Great work on the Gretzky. Here is the one that was discussed quite a bit on the boards in December. Yes, it has chipping, but how often do you find dead centered card with a crystal clear image? I am very happy with my purchase. Please notice that the scan in the auction slightly misrepresented the card. Here is my scan:
I appreciate the fact that many of you love the Gretzky rookie card, but my question is, why do you love it ? Of all his o-pee-chee issues from 1979-1988, I feel that this is o-pee-chee's worst effort. The next is 83-84. Just interested in your thoughts as to why you like this issue, and also, if you have 5k to spend, would you rather get all his issues from 80-88 opc in 9, or just spend the 5k on his rookie ? Actually, you'd have a lot left over if you bought all the 80-88's in 9 to spend on other Gretzky items.
He shoots, he scores! Nice going EZ. Can't wait to see your Gretz 9. And speaking of which, I think Natan's 9 is killer. I also have a 9 with a little chipping on the left edge that, to me, is no worse than a rough cut. And I like the rough cut.
To answer your question PMC, the Gretzky rookie card's lure to so many of us, aside from its obvious value, is its iconic stature within the hobby. I would always want it over 1,000 Gretzky cards that have better aesthetics just because of what it symbolizes. Even collectors who pay zero attention to hockey are familiar with the Gretzky rookie card. I feel the same way about multi-player baseball rookies, which I've come to find out that many people hate. But to me, they have the wow factor.
Love seeing all the great cardboard guys. Keep 'em comin'!
"My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
I have all Gretzky's cards in PSA 9 in my Gretzky opc basic set. Of all the opc basic cards, I like the 1980-81 OPC and 1984-85 OPC the best after his rookie. I grew up wishing I owned Gretzky's rookie and I didn't own a nice one until about five years ago. It will be an iconic card forever, and I will always have an affinity for the design, photo, and back of the card. In the end, I don't have to be objective about my love for this card. Just like guys who think Bobby Orr's rookie is an amazing design, and all I can see is a giant head in an ugly tv. I always thought the backs of '66 topps should have had the input/output and a plug and maybe some dust.
For my money, the 71 opc Bobby Orr double trophy card blows away his rookie card. If I had to list my five favorite Orr cards, they would be.....
1. 71 opc double trophy 2. 67 topps 3. 70 opc all star 4. 68 opc 5. 78 opc
I guess I just never fell in love with the "rookie card" (unless we're talking about a photo like Jacque Plante's rookie)
As most of you know, I'll take Gretzky's 85 box bottom in high grade any day of the week, and twice on Sunday's, over any of his cards. Not only do I like a nice photo on a card, but I also love a card that is very difficult to come by. Just fits my style of collecting.
For Orr, there is not a card of his that competes with his 1968 OPC in my opinion. The impossibility of finding it centered makes it even more alluring:
Now that's a nice Orr. Looks better then a PSA 7 to my eyes. Did you have it reviewed ?
As for why to have a Gretzky Rc in PSA 9. Just as any set in any sport certain years where just terrible in centering, chipping, print spots etc... That's why you don't see the pop reports going up so much for this year. I went through over 5,000 cards just to pull over 100 cards for grading. These are cards that were pack fresh because majority of the cards i pulled from packs years ago. As far as i'm concerned if you can afford a Gretzky rookie in PSA 9 then you can affford the other cards in PSA 9 as well. If you ask a baseball collector if he had 25,000.00 to spend would he rather buy a Mickey Mantle rookie for 25,000.00 or a string of Mantles in the same grade as the Mantle rookie would be in i guarantee majority of collectors would have his rookie by itself.
Centering on that Gretzky is phenominal for the year. I know the one i got graded does not have that nice centering up and down but by experience with PSA the centering up and down they tend to be more lienient then side to side. It's an appearance thing i would guess. When people first see a card and centering is off side to side we all notice this first and then we look up and down secondly. I do this all the time myself. To me and i'm sure many others who collect would rather have a card off centered a little bit up and down rather then side to side. Steve
Just picked up these OPC factory flats from a respected collector. I'll buy these 24/7, because even though O-PEE-CHEE sold these right from the factory, and they never held packs, they still have issues when it comes to getting them graded. O-PEE-CHEE apparently sold about 100 sets of these "factory flats" back in 1985. Apparently about half of those sets were cut up by Gary G. My numbers could be slightly off, but they're in the ballpark. There's no chance that all these cards will grade high. The Bellows and Ruosto already are 6's due to the top left. The Gretzky will have issues under the Oilers logo 9 times out of 10. It will be fun receiving them, and closely inspecting them to see if I can get ever so closer in completing a high grade set. My hopes are not high though, having received so many 6's on these things.
<< <i>I bought this for $31.50, should I throw it back? Although it looks like a 7, there is a small wrinkle (2nd photo) starting at the bottom of the stick blade that is semi circular starting from the edge and going up about half-way between the edge and the "border" for a little less than a half inch (the faint dark line). It was listed as EX but would that wrinkle make it an automatic 4? I am upgrading my set, which is about 50% graded and 50% ungraded. Aside from self submissions, I typically wait for 8's in my wheelhouse (fairly rare but I have gotten lucky a few times. I don't mind surface wrinkles so much as I have a 4 Worsley and a raw Sawchuk that look like 8's otherwise and are only noticeble under very close inspection (from Rosen in the early 90's, also a Lindsey which did grade at 7.5).
Thanks for any opinions.
edited for clarification. >>
Here is the Sawchuk and Worsley
Any thoughts on the Howell would be welcome. I checked my original Howell and it actually had the same mark on the right edge. I wonder if most of them have this flaw?
Edit: sorry about the sizing of the scans. I will test post next time.
As for the PSA 7 Orr 68 OPC, I have not resubbed it for a bump, but I would imagine the slant would kill my chances. I think the only way to improve the grade would be to crack it and send it in raw, but I'm not risking my investment in this instance. I've seen lots of 8's that are centered similarly from this year, and I think if this were a common it could score an 8.
PMcollector- score on those box bottoms. I bought and sold a bunch of those unopened box sets for $50 in 2003. I wish I had them all back now. And that double trophy 71-72 Orr is sweet. Talk about centering- that card is perfect!
Georgebailey- the 54 Topps howell looks like a solid 5 with a possibility of a 6 with that wrinkle. No matter if the defect was endemic to the card, PSA will still ding you.
Well picked up the Gretzky rookie today in the mail. Like i said the centering up and down was out but still within tolerance for a 9. If the centering was 1mm down i think i would have had the next 10. The clarity and no print dots(white) are no where to be found. Does not have the 2 darker blue lines going from the top to bottom on the right side on the front and does not have the blue first print run lines on the back. Not that there is anything wrong with the print lines on the back but have been burned a couple times with the PD qualifier for the print lines on the back and the 2 darker lines on the front on different occasions. Anyways, other then the centering this is by far the best Gretzky appearance wise i have owned. I think i can live with the centering myself and i think i might keep this one instead of selling. Cheers, Steve Hopefully the pics work !
That's a beautiful Gretzky. Not too shabby for a $600 investment!
"My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
Taking this to the paper cutter on 2/23. Then off to the post office on the 10 day sub. Hope to have some results posted sometime in the beginning of March. Looking to either match the PSA 8 1/1, or get the first PSA 9 1/1. Been getting a lot of 6's on these, so we'll see what happens.
Thanks RedHeart54, but PSA has been brutal on box bottoms from 1985. If have a handfull of these in the back room that are so mint, but have those box folds that only get me 6's.
Anyway, I had the equivalent of 4 cases worth of 1985 Topps wax box bottom Lemieux's in the back room. Most are creased, but I was able to get three PSA 8's and three PSA 9's. My ability to submit Lemieux's is over. I will now work on more 85 opc to cut up and submit.
-Love the thumbtack on the 88 OPC/Topps design. The type of design only those who ripped packs in 88 could appreciate.
-Yeah, I wasn't saying my Ratelle should be a 9. Just saying it has the overall eye appeal of a nine. The corners are actually pack fresh but have that sort of rounded appearance that are usually associated with cards that came from cello packs that were wrapped too tight.
<< <i>Thanks RedHeart54, but PSA has been brutal on box bottoms from 1985. If have a handfull of these in the back room that are so mint, but have those box folds that only get me 6's.
Anyway, I had the equivalent of 4 cases worth of 1985 Topps wax box bottom Lemieux's in the back room. Most are creased, but I was able to get three PSA 8's and three PSA 9's. My ability to submit Lemieux's is over. I will now work on more 85 opc to cut up and submit.
Frozen......Great card. Anything in the PSA 8 to PSA 9 range is an exceptional card. Great job.
TheThrill & Frozen..... I have this love with 1988 o-pee-chee too. It's nice to know there is another person who loves that thumbtack on the card. I loved to watch Adam Oates play. I thought he was one of the most gifted players at seeing the ice in the offensive zone.
If you look up career single season assist records, it shows that Gretzky holds 11 of the top 15 single season assist records. Lemieux is in their twice. Orr is in their once. And at #15 sits Adam Oates. Oates had over 140 points in one season with the Bruins, and he was the reason Brett Hull scored so many goals. I loved watching this guy play. One heck of a hockey player.
Thethrill......I know this is in a Boston uniform, but let me know if you want me to ship you one for free. This was taken and signed at the Boston Garden by David Hughes. Just google David Hughes to see his involvement with hockey in New England. He's won awards, and now owns a rink in the Boston area. He's a good friend of mine, and has scored tons of autos over the years.
Marc, thanks for the great gesture. The thumbtack cards are one of my favorite sets of all time. Also, Oates was a great player who was often overshadowed by more flashy types. He was one of the greats.
Since PMcollector is sharing his own little PSA monopoly of ridiculously nice PSA 9 Topps Lemieux rookies, I'd like to share the only little slice of best graded cards in my collection.
I present to you the only two PSA 10 Paul Kariya UMaine pre-rookies. There were three series of Irving cards produced during the time Paul Kariya was attending UMaine. He appeared once in the second series and four times in the 3rd series. I subbed both of these.
In the mid-90's this might have been more impressive, but I am a Kariya fan to the end.
<< <i>Thanks RedHeart54, but PSA has been brutal on box bottoms from 1985. If have a handfull of these in the back room that are so mint, but have those box folds that only get me 6's.
Anyway, I had the equivalent of 4 cases worth of 1985 Topps wax box bottom Lemieux's in the back room. Most are creased, but I was able to get three PSA 8's and three PSA 9's. My ability to submit Lemieux's is over. I will now work on more 85 opc to cut up and submit.
>>
I want one of each now.... Beautiful cards!! >>
Big thanks to pmcollectour! He mailed me a Lemieux box bottom and it is awesome!! Thanks a lot..
Love this thread. You folks have some great collections going. I am just starting a new project myself. I am going to try to get a signed 8x10 of each of the 500 goals scorers. Its a big project to take on but I am really excited about doing it. I started another thread about this, but does anybody know if any of the members of the 500 club auto's are harder to come by. I have been looking on the bay and it seems all the big names are there, but some of the less popular players are not. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Comments
<< <i>Can you post pics of the Worsley and Sawchuk ? >>
Those are at home right now. I'll try to scan them this weekend.
EZ, congrats on the OPC 9. I wished I had paid more attention to the complete sets purchased when the cards were issued. I finally put my OPC set in a binder a couple of years ago and the Gretzky was oc t/b. My Topps is not too bad, could be 8, 8.5 or 9.
Edited to add: Oh, and sorry that you are a Leafs fan. Maybe they'll win a Cup before you die hard. Maybe not.
Of all his o-pee-chee issues from 1979-1988, I feel that this is o-pee-chee's worst effort. The next is 83-84.
Just interested in your thoughts as to why you like this issue, and also, if you have 5k to spend, would you rather
get all his issues from 80-88 opc in 9, or just spend the 5k on his rookie ? Actually, you'd have a lot left over if
you bought all the 80-88's in 9 to spend on other Gretzky items.
To answer your question PMC, the Gretzky rookie card's lure to so many of us, aside from its obvious value, is its iconic stature within the hobby. I would always want it over 1,000 Gretzky cards that have better aesthetics just because of what it symbolizes. Even collectors who pay zero attention to hockey are familiar with the Gretzky rookie card. I feel the same way about multi-player baseball rookies, which I've come to find out that many people hate. But to me, they have the wow factor.
Love seeing all the great cardboard guys. Keep 'em comin'!
1. 71 opc double trophy
2. 67 topps
3. 70 opc all star
4. 68 opc
5. 78 opc
I guess I just never fell in love with the "rookie card" (unless we're talking about a photo like Jacque Plante's rookie
As most of you know, I'll take Gretzky's 85 box bottom in high grade any day of the week, and twice on Sunday's, over any
of his cards. Not only do I like a nice photo on a card, but I also love a card that is very difficult to come by. Just fits my style of collecting.
As for why to have a Gretzky Rc in PSA 9. Just as any set in any sport certain years where just terrible in centering, chipping, print spots etc... That's why you don't see the pop reports going up so much for this year. I went through over 5,000 cards just to pull over 100 cards for grading. These are cards that were pack fresh because majority of the cards i pulled from packs years ago.
As far as i'm concerned if you can afford a Gretzky rookie in PSA 9 then you can affford the other cards in PSA 9 as well.
If you ask a baseball collector if he had 25,000.00 to spend would he rather buy a Mickey Mantle rookie for 25,000.00 or a string of Mantles in the same grade as the Mantle rookie would be in i guarantee majority of collectors would have his rookie by itself.
Centering on that Gretzky is phenominal for the year. I know the one i got graded does not have that nice centering up and down but by experience with PSA the centering up and down they tend to be more lienient then side to side. It's an appearance thing i would guess. When people first see a card and centering is off side to side we all notice this first and then we look up and down secondly. I do this all the time myself. To me and i'm sure many others who collect would rather have a card off centered a little bit up and down rather then side to side.
Steve
PS. Get that Orr reviewed will ya !!
even though O-PEE-CHEE sold these right from the factory, and they never held packs, they still have issues when it comes to getting them graded. O-PEE-CHEE apparently sold about 100 sets of these "factory flats" back in 1985. Apparently about half of those sets were cut up by Gary G. My numbers could be slightly off, but they're in the ballpark. There's no chance that all these cards will grade high. The Bellows and Ruosto already
are 6's due to the top left. The Gretzky will have issues under the Oilers logo 9 times out of 10. It will be fun receiving them, and closely
inspecting them to see if I can get ever so closer in completing a high grade set. My hopes are not high though, having received so many 6's
on these things.
<< <i>I bought this for $31.50, should I throw it back?
Although it looks like a 7, there is a small wrinkle (2nd photo) starting at the bottom of the stick blade that is semi circular starting from the edge and going up about half-way between the edge and the "border" for a little less than a half inch (the faint dark line). It was listed as EX but would that wrinkle make it an automatic 4? I am upgrading my set, which is about 50% graded and 50% ungraded. Aside from self submissions, I typically wait for 8's in my wheelhouse (fairly rare but I have gotten lucky a few times. I don't mind surface wrinkles so much as I have a 4 Worsley and a raw Sawchuk that look like 8's otherwise and are only noticeble under very close inspection (from Rosen in the early 90's, also a Lindsey which did grade at 7.5).
Thanks for any opinions.
edited for clarification. >>
Here is the Sawchuk and Worsley
Any thoughts on the Howell would be welcome.
I checked my original Howell and it actually had the same mark on the right edge. I wonder if most of them have this flaw?
Edit: sorry about the sizing of the scans. I will test post next time.
As for the PSA 7 Orr 68 OPC, I have not resubbed it for a bump, but I would imagine the slant would kill my chances. I think the only way to improve the grade would be to crack it and send it in raw, but I'm not risking my investment in this instance. I've seen lots of 8's that are centered similarly from this year, and I think if this were a common it could score an 8.
PMcollector- score on those box bottoms. I bought and sold a bunch of those unopened box sets for $50 in 2003. I wish I had them all back now. And that double trophy 71-72 Orr is sweet. Talk about centering- that card is perfect!
Georgebailey- the 54 Topps howell looks like a solid 5 with a possibility of a 6 with that wrinkle. No matter if the defect was endemic to the card, PSA will still ding you.
Keep the vintage hockey flowing!
FC
Even though I don't like the aesthetics of the orr rookie, I want one in PSA 8.
MULLINS5,1966CUDA,nam812,nightcrawler,OAKESY25,PowderedH2O,relaxed,RonBurgundy,samsgirl214,shagrotn77,swartz1,slantycouch,Statman,Wabittwax
You was robbed!
Robert
<< <i>I thought I had a 10
Jim, that Gretzky is smokin'! Nicely done my man.
The clarity and no print dots(white) are no where to be found. Does not have the 2 darker blue lines going from the top to bottom on the right side on the front and does not have the blue first print run lines on the back. Not that there is anything wrong with the print lines on the back but have been burned a couple times with the PD qualifier for the print lines on the back and the 2 darker lines on the front on different occasions.
Anyways, other then the centering this is by far the best Gretzky appearance wise i have owned. I think i can live with the centering myself and i think i might keep this one instead of selling.
Cheers, Steve
Hopefully the pics work !
The Gretzky PSA 9 is solid. Great sub!
I just nabbed a Winning Goal in PSA 7.
<< <i>Awesome winning goal card. One of the best cards ever made IMO >>
+1
So true - that's where Bobby Orr got his inspiration !
MULLINS5,1966CUDA,nam812,nightcrawler,OAKESY25,PowderedH2O,relaxed,RonBurgundy,samsgirl214,shagrotn77,swartz1,slantycouch,Statman,Wabittwax
Wow I missed the Gretzky last time I looked. It was just a red X for me. Very nice.
I like these horizontal action cards, but I prefer actual player cards.
This one features Jacques Plante, but it's not one of his cards.
Hope to have some results posted sometime in the beginning of March. Looking to either match the PSA 8 1/1,
or get the first PSA 9 1/1. Been getting a lot of 6's on these, so we'll see what happens.
Jealous already because that looks mint!
room that are so mint, but have those box folds that only get me 6's.
Anyway, I had the equivalent of 4 cases worth of 1985 Topps wax box bottom Lemieux's in the back room. Most are creased, but
I was able to get three PSA 8's and three PSA 9's. My ability to submit Lemieux's is over. I will now work on more 85 opc to cut up and submit.
-Nathanael
<< <i>Another moderately difficult card off my list for my 1000 point club registry set. This one looks as nice as a 9 in my opinion.
-Nathanael
That is a beauty Natan! Congrats!
drugs of choice
NHL hall of fame rookies
Steve
-Yeah, I wasn't saying my Ratelle should be a 9. Just saying it has the overall eye appeal of a nine. The corners are actually pack fresh but have that sort of rounded appearance that are usually associated with cards that came from cello packs that were wrapped too tight.
<< <i>Thanks RedHeart54, but PSA has been brutal on box bottoms from 1985. If have a handfull of these in the back
room that are so mint, but have those box folds that only get me 6's.
Anyway, I had the equivalent of 4 cases worth of 1985 Topps wax box bottom Lemieux's in the back room. Most are creased, but
I was able to get three PSA 8's and three PSA 9's. My ability to submit Lemieux's is over. I will now work on more 85 opc to cut up and submit.
I want one of each now.... Beautiful cards!!
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
TheThrill & Frozen..... I have this love with 1988 o-pee-chee too. It's nice to know there is another person who loves that thumbtack on the card.
I loved to watch Adam Oates play. I thought he was one of the most gifted players at seeing the ice in the offensive zone.
If you look up career single season assist records, it shows that Gretzky holds 11 of the top 15 single season assist records.
Lemieux is in their twice. Orr is in their once. And at #15 sits Adam Oates. Oates had over 140 points in one season with the Bruins,
and he was the reason Brett Hull scored so many goals. I loved watching this guy play. One heck of a hockey player.
in the Boston area. He's a good friend of mine, and has scored tons of autos over the years.
I present to you the only two PSA 10 Paul Kariya UMaine pre-rookies. There were three series of Irving cards produced during the time Paul Kariya was attending UMaine. He appeared once in the second series and four times in the 3rd series. I subbed both of these.
In the mid-90's this might have been more impressive, but I am a Kariya fan to the end.
-Nathanael
<< <i>
<< <i>Thanks RedHeart54, but PSA has been brutal on box bottoms from 1985. If have a handfull of these in the back
room that are so mint, but have those box folds that only get me 6's.
Anyway, I had the equivalent of 4 cases worth of 1985 Topps wax box bottom Lemieux's in the back room. Most are creased, but
I was able to get three PSA 8's and three PSA 9's. My ability to submit Lemieux's is over. I will now work on more 85 opc to cut up and submit.
I want one of each now.... Beautiful cards!! >>
Big thanks to pmcollectour! He mailed me a Lemieux box bottom and it is awesome!! Thanks a lot..
John
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
Hi guys,
Love this thread. You folks have some great collections going. I am just starting a new project myself. I am going to try to get a signed 8x10 of each of the 500 goals scorers. Its a big project to take on but I am really excited about doing it. I started another thread about this, but does anybody know if any of the members of the 500 club auto's are harder to come by. I have been looking on the bay and it seems all the big names are there, but some of the less popular players are not. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
so he may have gotten easier?
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
drugs of choice
NHL hall of fame rookies
<< <i>New addition to my collection. Only a PSA 5 but, what a 5! Very happy.
That's really nice for a 5!
<< <i>New addition to my collection. Only a PSA 5 but, what a 5! Very happy.
That is one great looking card! Wow. Why is it only a 5? Not that it matters because it is sweet.