Who are the best 5 hockey players of the last 50 years and what is their rookie card?

thenavarro · September 11, 2008 12:49PM

Who are the best 5 hockey players of the last 50 years and what is their rookie card? I want to get them for my signed HOF rookie collection.

Mike

DavidPuddy · September 11, 2008 12:51PM

I know one of them

thenavarro · September 11, 2008 12:55PM

<< <i>I know one of them

>>

That's about the extent of my hockey knowledge. I've got a signed 79 OPC Gretzky and a signed 85 Topps Lemieux, but no others at this point.

Mike

BobaFett72 · September 11, 2008 12:57PM

snorf byorgalstrom.

a hockey legend of finnish descent who stormed the European circuit only to die in a tragic curling accident during the off season.

artistlost · September 11, 2008 12:58PM

Bobby Orr 1966 Topps
Wayne Gretzky 1979 O-pee-chee
Mario Lemieux 1985 O-pee-chee
Patrick Roy 1986 O-pee-chee
Bobby Hull 1958 Topps

mathew

TJMAC · September 11, 2008 1:02PM

Good luck on getting the Orr that will set you back some major coin. I pretty much agree with Matthew's list except maybe I would have to put Gordie Howe in there maybe over Bobby Hull.

msassin · September 11, 2008 1:04PM

Go 30 years...save yourself some money

Gordie Howe (51 Parkhurst)
Bobby Orr
Mario Lemieux
Wayne Gretzky

5th one is a tough...how about Phil Esposito (65 Topps)

artistlost · September 11, 2008 1:07PM

Ya i knew that Howe would get a lot of love but I think he was a little over rated. He played forever and that was the only reason he is in the record books.

I would also throw out the Rocket Richard and Terry Sawchuk over Roy and Hull but both are deceased.

mathew

oh and Phil Esposito would be a great pick too.

Boopotts · September 11, 2008 1:11PM

<< <i>Bobby Orr 1966 Topps
Wayne Gretzky 1979 O-pee-chee
Mario Lemieux 1985 O-pee-chee
Patrick Roy 1986 O-pee-chee
Bobby Hull 1958 Topps

mathew >>

That looks spot-on, although my first reaction is that I would put either Hasek or Brodeur on the list before Roy.

I also like the idea of using the last thirty years, since you can then get rid of Hull and Orr and add Sakic and Yzerman.

thenavarro · September 11, 2008 1:13PM

Thanks for the help, I"ll try to pick up a few of those. However, Bobby Orr is out as he WILL NOT sign his rookie card. (at least at paid signings)

Mike

BunchOBull · September 11, 2008 1:14PM

Ya know, sort of OT...I don't have much of a hockey collection, but I've always loved this card:

One day, I will own one.

TheHun · September 11, 2008 1:21PM

Hello Mike,

Your task, if I know your goal, is to acquire the top 5 most popular hockey stars of the past 30 years:

Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Ken Dryden
Patrick Roy
Steve Yzerman

These 5 would constitute for the post-war / pre-expansion era:

Gordie Howe
Bobby Orr
Jacques Plante
Richard "Rocket" Richard
Bobby Hull

keep us posted - this will be a challenge

cheers

thenavarro · September 11, 2008 1:34PM

Found out that Howe and Hull will be doing signings in October and November respectively, so their sigs will be easy to get, but I kinda got sticker shock when I went to ebay and saw the prices for their rookies. They are right up there and even more then my Hank Aaron rookie. What do PSA 2 equivalents of Howe and Hull rookies go for?

Mike

AragornTheBold · September 11, 2008 1:52PM

Well here is what a PSA 1 equivalent went for signed... Pity that the card was shot:

Hull

Yeah the Howe will cost a pretty penny I'm afraid:

Howe

MooseDog · September 11, 2008 2:20PM

The top 5 players would be as below in any order. Bobby Orr was the best player I've ever seen. Not only could he skate, score, pass, and defend, but he could hold his own in a scrap too. Same with Howe and Richard too. Gretz had a bodyguard and Mario was too big to mess with. All five of these guys could be considered "Michael Jordans". Honorable menitons to Hull, Yzerman, Roy, Dryden, etc. all deserving but all things consdered they don't get any bigger or better than this.

Bobby Orr
Wayne Gretzky
Gordie Howe
Maurice Richard
Mario Lemieux

I think Howe and Richard RCs are the 1951 Parkhurst. A popular and expensive set.

A signed Orr RC exists. I saw one change hands at a show in Vancouver in 2006 for $1700 Cdn. The buyer is working on complete runs of autographed sets a very impressive project. He showed me his want lists and he needs very few considering the scope of what he is doing. Part of this is due to the fact that hockey players are the most obliging signers in all sports.

rube26105 · September 11, 2008 2:23PM

<Bobby Orr is out as he WILL NOT sign his rookie card>
why for not?
thats hillybilly for how come?

tsalems1 · September 11, 2008 2:29PM

<< <i>The top 5 players would be as below in any order. Bobby Orr was the best player I've ever seen. Not only could he skate, score, pass, and defend, but he could hold his own in a scrap too. Same with Howe and Richard too. Gretz had a bodyguard and Mario was too big to mess with. All five of these guys could be considered "Michael Jordans". Honorable menitons to Hull, Yzerman, Roy, Dryden, etc. all deserving but all things consdered they don't get any bigger or better than this.

Bobby Orr
Wayne Gretzky
Gordie Howe
Maurice Richard
Mario Lemieux

I think Howe and Richard RCs are the 1951 Parkhurst. A popular and expensive set.

A signed Orr RC exists. I saw one change hands at a show in Vancouver in 2006 for $1700 Cdn. The buyer is working on complete runs of autographed sets a very impressive project. He showed me his want lists and he needs very few considering the scope of what he is doing. Part of this is due to the fact that hockey players are the most obliging signers in all sports. >>

well put and I agree 100%

otwcards · September 11, 2008 3:02PM

<< <i>Ya i knew that Howe would get a lot of love but I think he was a little over rated. He played forever and that was the only reason he is in the record books. >>

Howe overrated? Do you realize what his numbers would look like if there were secondary assists when he played? Only a primary assist was given in his day unlike the two assists given in the days of Esposito, Hull, LeFleur, Dionne, Gretzky and Lemieux. And Howe was a complete player.

Given that the request was for the past 40 years, that excludes Howe and Richard (and Plante and Sawchuck).

Top Players' RC's 1958-2008 (50 Years):
1. Bobby Orr (1966-67 Topps)
2. Mario Lemieux (1985-86 OPC)
3. Wayne Gretzky (1979-80 OPC)
4. Bobby Hull (1958-59 Topps)
5. Patrick Roy (1986-87 OPC)
Honorable Mention: Phil Esposito, Ken Dryden, Mark Messier

Top Players' RC's 1988-2008 (20 Years):
1. Joe Sakic (1989-90 Topps)
2. Brett Hull (1988-89 OPC)
3. Martin Brodeur (1990-91 Score)
4. Brian Leetch (1989-90 Topps)
5. Dominik Hasek (1991-92 UD)
Honorable Mention: Joe Thornton, Scott Niederemayer, Niklas Lidstrom

Tedw9 · September 11, 2008 8:24PM

Even though he had his carrer shortened, I would put Cam Neely in my list. I know most may not agree with this, but Cam was one heck of a hockey player. And I do agree with almost all of the other choices. Just my 2 cents.

Who are the best 5 hockey players of the last 50 years and what is their rookie card?

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