73-74 OPC Billy Smith RC

Sometimes a mint card isn't what is needed in a collection, sometimes just having a nice copy is sufficient enough. While it is my hope to collect at least one set a year from 1910-present, I know that goal isn't too realistic. However, having some key single rookies is rather doable and one of the biggest from the 73-74 set without a doubt is Billy Smith! 

73-74 OPC Billy Smith RC

Not exactly an exciting photo of a goalie in action but it is perhaps a bit better than a studio shot of a goalie in his equipment sweating it out under the lights.

Here is the back side of the card. Interestingly enough, this particular year OPC used two different types of card stock one with a light back and the other with a darker back. This is a dark back version. Even his rookie card predicted that Billy doesn't mind mixing it up with players in front of his net.

While I am not a big Islanders fan or even a huge Billy Smith fan, I greatly respect his career and accomplishments and this card falls under the category of me wanting to own every significant player's rookie card in the history of hockey which is a massive under taking in itself and the best part is it's a project that will never end! Thanks for stopping by and until next post...

The Hammer Rookie and Auto

While I still have an amazing addition to share with you thanks to a deal with Casey from The House of Oglethorpe, I decided to wait because it is tough to get it scanned so I will take the lazy approach. 

As part of a more recent deal, I landed three cards from Casey and these two have much in common. They are the same guy! Dave Schultz is a player my step-father introduced to me along with many other enforcers in the NHL and it was his love for The Hammer that I picked up these two cards. 

06-07 Parkhurst Dave Schultz Auto (regular)

In this set that I am loving more and more by the year Dave has two autos. The first is this card and the second is his Enforcers card. I like this one just enough to add it to my collection and I will certainly be keeping this one for good! For a guy that set an NHL record with 472 PIM in one season, he has a beautiful autograph so those hands aren't just cement. Dave also scored 20 goals in one season and did win two Cups with the Flyers.

73-74 OPC Dave Schultz Rookie

As amazing as the auto is, this rookie card was the biggest acquisition as far as the deal goes. The card isn't mind but at the same time the only thing wrong with the card is the nice OPC choppy cut which I actually like because you get more card than you pay for! This card is the light back version which is more than enough for me so don't expect any dark back rookie posts any time soon. Really happy to add these two and I hope to get all caught up on my Casey posts soon. Also have a few more to catch up on so please bear with me!

Fun cards in my collection - 73-74 OPC Larry Robinson Rookie

I am going to take a page from Tim over at the TheRealDFG.com or dogfacedgremlin.blogspot.ca, I am going to share some cards on occasion from my collection which really have nothing to do with anything going on in the hockey world other than I like them a lot and I want to share them with the world and my kids when they are old enough to read this blog.  So my first fun card in my collection is Hall of Fame Defenseman Larry Robinson's rookie.

72-73 OPC #237 Larry Robinson Rookie Light Back

Looking at the front of the card you can see many of the issues that exist with this set. Some choppy cutting, a little off-center and some colour loss on the border. The card also has a little corner wear, but I would be very confident to say that this card is in excellent condition! There are no creases on the card and it is very sharp looking in person. I love the look of Larry's mustache, he seems to be able to sport the handle bars really well. I just think this card is exactly what many cards from the 70's pretty much looked like, lots of studio shots with players not really playing hockey. This is Larry's only rookie since the Topps release was limited to 198 cards. With that being said, this card as a result books for a little higher than it may have if there was a Topps version. Book price as of July 2013 is $80 on the high end and $40 on the low. To be completely honest, when you do see these online there really aren't many steals to be had like other players, and I think it is because there is only one rookie and Montreal players tend to be highly collectible especially when it comes to HOF'ers. I had huge respect for him as a player even though I only saw him at the end of his career and his career as a coach is what really endeared him to me because he won 3 Cup with the Devils as either an assistant or head coach.
  

Here is the back side of the card. Again a very 70's looking back with season totals and a nice write-up with comic. I like the landscape design and I think it is pretty cool that there are two styles of backs with this set. I have a Bill Barber OPC rookie from this set which I thought was a Topps card when I first saw it as a kid, but it turned out it was just a Dark Back version of the 73-74 OPC set. From what I can tell in my limited research there isn't much premium for light or dark backs but some people do prefer one over the other, and others consider a complete set to have both versions.

In all, it may not be a set appreciated by many, but it is one I like and this card is among some of my favourites in my collection.