Every now and again I would go into an actual card shop instead of a convenience store and really get a chance to see some cards. Most in the display cases were cards from the 80's and many had price tags that weren't paper route friendly. However, one night I remember my step-father and I were out driving someone and he had heard some convenience store had a few singles in it and asked me to go in and take a look. At this stage my collection was all 1990's stuff and was pretty small in size, maybe a couple hundred cards at most and he didn't have any more than I did either. So I went inside and in a glass display case right by the potato chips and junk food were some cards. I honestly couldn't tell you which ones were in that case given it was 25+ years ago, but I did see one card that was very affordable and just spoke to me for some reason:
1980-81 OPC Pierre Hamel RC
It was one of the oldest cards in the case and I just thought it looked pretty cool. The price was 75 cents and having had more than enough change in my pocket it was a transaction I was pleased to make.
While the internet has softened the value of the cards from the 80's and no one is retiring off their collections, I do love the design of many of these sets and the memories I have from collecting them. I specifically remember my step-dad and I going splits on a Rack Box of 1982-83 OPC. The box cost us $500 at the time which was a lot for a 12 year old to come up with half of but I did and enjoyed breaking that box. We each got a full set and I was allowed to keep all the doubles which I still have to this day and all are in near-mint condition or better (except the miscuts). Of course in hindsight the smart move would have been to never open the stuff but it was fun and it's an important set for that reason.
Anyway, this was one of those posts for my kids to read down the line and thank you for stopping by and sharing in my memory.
Do you have any recollection of your first vintage cards or did you happen to just collect when it was the "good old days"?
Great post Dave, I always enjoy reading posts like this about the early days. So cool that you still have the actual card in your collection to go along with the memory. My first cards were packs of '89-90 OPC that my Dad would bring home for my brothers and I. I don't recall which specific card was my first, but I do still have them all and plan to show them off soon as you've inspired me here!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shane! That's cool your Dad got you into to hobby and I'm looking forward to those posts. 89-90 is a pretty special set for me too, it was my first "pre 1990" set I would complete both Topps and OPC. I must have bought hundreds of dollars worth of packs back in the day. I remember my LCS had OPC packs for 2.95 and Topps for 4.95. Crazy to think about that now given I bought a box of 89-90 Topps for giggles last year and maybe paid 35 dollars CDN with shipping.
DeleteGreat story. Very cool you have those memories with your step dad. The 1980-81 set is a great design,too. I still vividly remember my first vintage cards. I remember seeing them in the display case and I remember eventually getting all or most if them, one at a time, every trip to the store. They only had 4 or 5.
ReplyDeleteThanks Billy. I know exactly what you are saying, those cards in the display case always had some sort or aura to them. Maybe it was the lighting, maybe it was the fact they weren't in our possession yet but boy did they have us wanting them!
DeleteGreat card. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI'm partial to that set as it was my first year collecting as a kid (missed the Gretzky rookie year by one). I loved the simplicity and player selection. Still brings back great memories.
I still like Gary Bromley card from that set. Just the way that photo is framed makes the card seem huge. Every time I hold it in my hands it feels bigger than most others. I really like it.
Great post Dave. Have a good one.
Thanks Brett. I'm sorry you missed out by one year on that, could be pretty amazing the number of card 18's you could have had from that set.
DeleteI actually went through the set after reading your comments and I agree, Bromley is a pretty nice card from that set.
Nice article! Fire off an email to flamestuff(at)gmail(dot)com and let's see about getting that Sevigny card to ya
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment and the offer, I am sending an e-mail your way!
DeleteYour story is a bit similar to mine, though my mom bought me 90-91 Pro Set packs by mistake. I had asked her for football cards and didn't know a thing about hockey. It's awesome that you remember your first card in your first pack, I think I got a Jari Kurri card and maybe a Rick Zombo or some other Red Wing - but I dont remember the top card. Pro Set was my intro to hockey and because of all the errors I had to un-learn all the "facts" I learned from those cards. They were colorful though! And 90-91 UD was amazing, the white borders with the marble & wordmark are still a favorite.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you cracked a $500 box of 82-83 OPC as a 12 year old. WTG stepdad! Older hockey cards were a rare treat when I was growing up; I think my first 80's hockey card was an 84-85 OPC Jamie Macoun.
Great post, thanks for sharing!
The Collector
That's pretty awesome, and I hope you aren't too hard on your mom for that mistake given where it has lead you! The errors are indeed interesting to say the least and while I am aware it tarnished their reputation for good in the hockey world, I never gave it any thought about all the poor youth who were misinformed!! Lol
DeleteAhh, I know the Macoun card you speak of and if I am not mistaken, that was his rookie card despite having been in the league for two seasons.
Thanks for the comment Chris, and I have added you to the blogroll!