72-73 OPC Series 3 Team Logos

Last season Upper Deck decided to pull something from the past (40 years ago) and bring back the NHL logos insert set. Unlike 72-73 they are seed one every three boxes and are a manufactured patch instead of a die-cut punch out. They were very popular with collectors so they brought them back this year along with another 40 year old idea, NHL rings. Here are a few 72-73 OPC logos I picked up at the LCS last year.

If you ever looked at the book value of the 72-73 OPC logos you will find that they are pretty expensive and when you look on eBay you will find indeed sellers want a load of cash for them. One reason is they were only released in the much more rare third series and secondly kids often punched the logos out because they were meant to be used that way.  The high value for the set of 30 NHL/WHA books for $1000. While my cards all are tape stained, they are all intact and relatively in good shape (except Bos has a crease and Stl is missing a small piece of the border). They card backs are blank and are listed alphabetically in the Beckett. 

 This one is considered a common and books for 12 in great shape. Mine isn't great but I felt it like the others was a deal for $1.50.

This one isn't a common though I think it should be. Books for 15 in great shape, another deal for $1.50.

Another common, however worth pointing out if you ever got your hands on the Philadelphia Blazers logo, it is an SP'd one and can be worth some good coin. You guessed it, $1.50 for this one.

The most valuable of the non-Sp'd is this one. The defunct Seals books for $25 and I took it for a $1.50.

Another one that books for $25, and another $1.50 purchase. I have actually always loved the look of the NHL shield. For me, it is between the NHL and MLB for the best league logo.

Such a better looking logo than the Orca! This books for $20 and it was also $1.50.

The second last $1.50 logo was Les Canadiens. Apparently not that popular with collectors as this is also a common.

Here is my last one which was also $1.50. You can see a little damage at the top to go with my tape stains. These all are still good looking in my opinion and more importantly they are complete. I might chase this one some day but for now,  I have $12 tied up in a little over a quarter of the set. It is worth pointing out that all the WHA logos and two NHL logos are SP'd and they can range from 60-200 dollars so this will be a lifetime project and not one that will be over anytime soon.

Here is one of the WHA ones just for fun.

A very cool looking card and proof that sometimes the old ideas are often the best ones.

72-73 OPC Series 2 Team Canada Inserts - Phil Esposito

As far as forwards go, Canada really didn't have anyone better at the time and Phil certainly lived up to the challenge of being Canada's best forward. He was the fire, passion and identity of a team that was thrown together and had struggled at first. Without him, Canada wouldn't have stood a chance against a Russian team that certainly was executing a better "team" game than Canada at first. During his prime in the NHL Phil was a force (Phil had set the NHL record for goals just a year and a half previous with 76) and he showed that during the tournament leading it in goals (7), assists (6) and points (13). 

 When I saw this card I immediately thought of the Simpsons episode where Ralph is subjected to the "Big Book of British Smiles".

One neat fact about Phil is when he set the record for most goals in a season, he smashed the old record by 18 goals. In the history of the NHL, no time has the goals record ever increased as much as that. Also in a span of three seasons he took the NHL record for points in a year (97) and has raised it to 152. That record lasted for about a decade before Wayne rewrote the history books.

The Big Book of British Smiles from Phil Kulak on Vimeo.

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 2 Insert - Paul Henderson

Here is my second last 72-73 OPC Team Canada insert and one of the biggest names in the set. Not because of their NHL career but their impact in the tournament.

Paul defined his career in those 8 games and without his contribution I would hate to know what the outcome could have been! The Russians caught Canada with their pants down so to speak and clearly dominated most the series. Canada was lucky in some respects to win that series but as we all know, Russian had won the most respect.

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 3 Insert - Gilbert Perreault

Gilbert was still 21 years old when the Summit Series occurred thus making him one of the youngest players on the roster (the youngest of any players who saw ice-time). Maybe it was his skill that got him on the team, but it was his age that I think Harry Sinden felt was a negative in this international competition so as a result he didn't get the playing time many felt he deserved. After game 5 Perreault ended up leaving the team with Martin, Hatfield and Guevremont.

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 2 Insert - Stanislav Mikita

What I believe to be the biggest disappointment for Team Canada at the Summit Series was the absence of Bobby Orr. At the time, he was the best player on the planet. However, the next biggest disappointment I believe is the under-utilization of Stan Mikita. This guy had four Art Rosses, two Harts and a Stanley Cup yet at the age of 32 he was only used in 2 games. I think he could have had a huge impact (with all due respect Harry Sinden) however I guess it wasn't meant to be. Really a slap in the face if you ask me...

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 2 Insert - Jean-Paul Parise

Great to see Parise get a chance to play in this tournament. He didn't really tear the league up offensively and in fact was in the minors a number of years before getting his NHL shot. However, as you can see, he didn't disappoint putting up 4 points in 6 games and his best NHL season came right after playing in the Summit Series where he posted 27 goals and 75 points. 

Clearly Zach inherited a pretty good pedigree from his dad, too bad he will be playing for the US of A during the Sochi Olympics. I know Canada could use him, but you can't fault a kid for representing his birth place!

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 2 Insert - Gary Bergman

Even though he was never a superstar and he looks WAY older than 34 years old, Gary Bergman was a pretty productive member of Team Canada appearing in all 8 games. True many felt that Bergman shouldn't have even made the team given all the players Canada had, but injuries to players like Bobby Orr opened up a spot for Bergman and he was more than willing to step up. Coach Harry Sinden even called Bergman one of the biggest surprises in the tournament based on his contributions.

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 2 Insert - Pat Stapleton

Wow Wow Whitey! Here is card number 2 of my series of 72-73 Team Canada Inserts.

As you can see, maybe one of the least attractive floating heads you may come across in your lives....More tape residue like the Dryden.

As you can see on the back Stapleton played in almost all the games and even though he didn't supply much in the way of offense, he was a steady man on the back end. In his NHL career Stapleton was a more offensive threat including a season where he finished 5th overall in assists with 50!

72-73 OPC Team Canada Series 2 Insert - Ken Dryden

 First, who doesn't love the 72 Summit Series? Second, who doesn't love floating heads? Well if you love both, then I recommend the 72-73 OPC insert set. 28 floating heads of all your favourite Team Canada players.
Here is the checklist of the set:

1. Don Awrey
2. Red Berenson
3. Gary Bergman
4. Wayne Cashman
5. Bobby Clarke
6. Yvan Cournoyer
7. Ken Dryden
8. Ron Ellis
9. Phil Esposito
10. Tony Esposito
11. Rod Gilbert
12. Bill Goldsworthy
13. Vic Hadfield
14. Paul Henderson
15. Dennis Hull
16. Guy Lapointe
17. Frank Mahovlich
18. Pete Mahovlich
19. Stan Mikita
20. Jean-Paul Parise
21. Brad Park
22. Gilbert Perreault
23. Jean Ratelle
24. Mickey Redmond
25. Serge Savard
26. Rod Seiling
27. Pat Stapleton
28. Bill White

A pretty thorough list if you ask me, and they include players who may have only been in a game or two and the Series stars like Espo, Clarke and Henderson. The set books for about 300 dollars in strong condition, but deals can be had online that is for sure. Last summer I bought a bunch of these at my LCS (actually all the ones they had in stock) so I have about 28.5% of the set. My next series of posts will be my 72-73 Team Canada cards.

72-73 OPC Series 3 Team Canada Insert - Ken Dryden

Mr Burns might have had a serious issue with these side burns, but there is a young and fresh looking Ken Dryden. Sorry about the tape stains, they came free when the card. Booked  for 50, I paid 5. 

Here is the back side of the card, in pretty great shape actually, a great lengthy write-up in both of Canada's national languages and a summary of his series performance. Hard to believe with a 4.75 GAA he would have even won a single game let alone 2.

If you were like me and you are seeing these cards for the first time, you certainly would comment on how UG-LEE the fronts of them are. Looks like the rainbow forest on the front with a floating head in the middle. Then contrasting that is a very plain and simple back which is very text heavy. I actually have grown to like the fronts and the back are just awesome. Stats and facts, no frills. Thanks OPC!