So When Is It Enough? I am not sure if it will be three.

So my regular readers might have remember when I got my first Dryden rookie a few years ago:

The front is rough, tape stains etc. The back is near-mint. What is this card worth? Who knows some would call it worthless and others would love to have it. I am more in the latter crowd but still, I wanted a better one.

Then a little over a year ago I got this gem:

Crease free, slight rounding of corners and off centered. However, it is also a Topps version but I was very pleased to get it and the price was super fair via auction.

Then that brings me to my latest Dryden acquisition:

Here it is, this one is an OPC one with fantastic centering. The back and front are no where near mint and arguably a little way away from VG. That being said, it still is a wonderful addition to my collection and cost me nothing out of my pocket because it was all trade with my LCS. I got rid of some modern cards I didn't care for anymore and got my third Dryden. In a perfect world I would like my last to be EX or better but I guess I will slowly climb the Dryden ladder and end up there someday.

I know I was supposed to unveil my Richard auto with this post but I don't have my act together in that department so please forgive me!

And for those that don't know, here is my auto from Ken Dryden which of course completes my HOF project on him a couple of times over.

Back Checking - Ken Dryden Rookies

When you look at old OPC and Topps cards, depending on the decade the number of differences can vary from minor to significant. For example some of the releases in the late 60's feature no differences on the front and on the back the inclusion of french is the biggest difference. However, if you look at the ones in the 80's, Topps has their dark back and Topps logo on the front where OPC will have a light back and their branding on the front plus the typical french and english text. Set size is another difference too, but that varies very signficantly depending on the release. Some years they are the same (early 90's) and other years the difference can range from 66 to 198 more cards in the OPC sets.

1971-72 featured MANY difference between the two sets. First there was a difference in the checklist as Gordie Howe had his own player card in the Topps set instead of a tribute card in the OPC set and the design of the backs of the Topps cards were significantly different.  

1971-72 Topps #45 Ken Dryden Rookie

I already had the OPC rookie but I recently landed the Topps version online for the cost of a blaster and when it arrived I couldn't have been more happy. Here is the front of the card, looks exactly like the OPC version, it even is off-centered!

The back side

Here is the back side. Typical of Topps (after OPC started)  it features no french. However, unlike the OPC release, this layout has different colour combinations and is a portrait layout instead of landscape.

OPC Back

I never get tired of looking at this one, this is the back of my OPC Ken Dryden rookie. Same comic and same text, but the layout is pretty different.

I am very happy having both versions especially a sharp looking Topps rookie. The Topps looks every bit as nice as the OPC version except when it comes to price tag. OPC books for 300 in strong condition and Topps a mere 125. Depending on your budget there is a rookie out there for you and I was very lucky to steal mine for under 25 bucks.

I am not sure which back I do prefer, I guess I like them both for their individual reasons, but what about you? Do you like the Topps or OPC best?

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!

Random Box Extras

Well it appears I got far more than I bargained for when I bought those random boxes a few weeks back. The last two boxes I bought for myself were both 76-77 OPC boxes, but the second of these two boxes also had some 74-75 OPC as well as a bunch of other stuff. Included in that stuff was a pile of checklists from the 70's up to the 90's in various conditions. I will save that for another day, but here was some of the highlights from the other "stuff".

74-75 OPC Bruins Team Leader #28

 Wow, a Bobby Orr card from his playing days. I only have a couple from his playing days and I just got myself another I didn't have. Though it is a team leaders card, this card is pretty cool. Bobby looks happy and so does Phil. Can you blame them? 145 points and 68 goals were both tops in the NHL. Orr's 90 assists were also a league high.

As you can see, the card isn't close to mint, but then again I wasn't expecting this card at all so as far as I am concerned, it was free!


75-76 OPC Ken Dryden #35

 This card is rough! It looks like it spent the night in my pocket while I was out with the boys! In fact, my cards from 1910 are in far better shape than Mr. Dryden. But, it is a Ken Dryden card!!!!

Here is the back side, you can read the text, I guess that is saying something. Still, another nice surprise.


74-75 OPC WHA Jacques Plante #64

 Jacques Plante!

Another beat up card, but this represents the ONLY active Jacques Plante card in my collection. If you can believe it, I actually have all three of these cards in top loaders because I just like them all so much. I am sure they can't get in any worse condition, but there is just something extra special about finding freebees in a box that has yielded so much already.

As far as value goes, they are all worthless, but if you were lucky to have these in decent condition, they are relatively valuable cards. To me, these cards are priceless and I would never give these cards away because they are just too cool. Do you have any beat up cards that you treasure more than a mint condition card?

Tape Stained Rookies - Re-upped

I hated how poorly the last batch of scans came out, so here they are again.

Tape Stained Rookies - A Surprise Haul

Life always seems to be full of surprises. I was on my way home from work and I had heard earlier that day that the Devils claimed Ryan Carter off waivers. Well, I remembered my local hobby guy had a Ryan Carter Sweet Shot rookie in his cheapy bin so I thought I would stop off on the way home and buy it. Some I pick up my toddler son and stop off at the shop on my way home. I am in the store for no more than a minute with my son in my arms when the owner Jon calls me over to show me something. He just picked up a lot of cards and wants to unload them cheap.

I walked over and was in heaven. I needed to know the price, he said a price I couldn't refuse. 39 bucks brought the lot home. I will let the cards speak for themselves. All cards are from the 71-72 OPC Set.


Guy La Fleur Rookie
A few tape stains on the front and some corner rounding...but that is it!


Bad scan, but the backside is perfect!

Yvon Cournoyer
Tape and rounding...

Clean back!

Tony Esposito

Best conditioned card, no creases and good corner....and NO tape

Back is perfect again, a little glare from the penny sleave.

#$%#$ Ken Dryden Rookie

Some tape staining for sure....one or two light creases as well.


Back is near perfect!!! I LOVE this card

Marcel Dionne Rookie

This card somehow was spared from the tape fiasco. Some rounding of corners and off-centered but otherwise in decent shape!

- Accidently deleted the backside...I will upload again later....lots very nice, just some discolouration from aging...

Richard Martin Rookie

Even though I already own a mint version of this card, I couldn't leave it behind. It has some corner dings, but no tape or stains and is a good card for trait bait!

- Like Dionne, I accidently deleted the back, but I will upload that later too.

Bobby Orr All Star Card

This card is in the roughest shape. A few stains and some serious creases. Still, my first of two Bobby's and my only Bobby's from his playing days.

Here is the back side.

Bobby Orr Double Award Winner

The nicer of the two Orrs, this one just suffers from some tape staining.

Here is the back side.

Gilbert Perreault 2nd year card

Some tape staining and rounded corners
A light crease on the back, otherwise pretty clean.

There you have it, a deal I couldn't pass up! I didn't own ANY of these cards before, so I feel awesome getting some serious HOF rookies that I don't think normally I would have owned.

Value Vintage Sets # 2 - 78-79 Topps

Well it has been a while since I have had time to do a vintage post, so here we go. The number value vintage set of all-time is the 78-79 Topps set. I love the look of this set, maybe not as much as the 81-82 set but this set is classic.


Redeeming Qualities:
The design one front is pleasing to the eye and cool back sides
A decent sized set at 264 cards
(I noticed centering is better on Topps than OPC....can't verify if this is true though)
A number of good veteran players (Dryden, Mikita, Esposito etc)
The set is over 33 years old
28 rookies in the set
MIKE BOSSY ROOKIE
Mint sets can be found on ebay for under 50 bucks


Card Design:
The front side
Here is Bernie going out for a skate without his glove (warm up maybe?). Lots of the cards feature some decent action shots which I always preferred over studio shots.

The back side

Love the backs. The Special Autograph Series aspect of it is pretty cool. It is a shame that Howe and Hull were in the WHA and Orr was not part of the Topps set! Nevertheless, the backs are simple with stats and a write up on some players cards.

Key Cards AND Rookies

Mike Bossy Rookie

Without a doubt, the big card in this set is THIS ONE! I didn't have a Bossy rookie which is one reason why I wanted this set. Second reason is I have sorta always wished I owned this set and it was certainly high on my to-do list. When one popped up on ebay claiming to be NrMt-Mt I was a little skeptical. The set is 33 years old, sometimes things happen. I took a chance and I am ever glad I did. This Bossy is one of the niceset cards in the set and is really and honestly NrMt. I think it might even grade around a 9. The ONLY thing wrong is the centering. 4 sharp corners and a beautiful surface. This card books for 50 bucks and if you can land the set for that price you are essetially getting the other 263 cards for free!

Bernie Federko Rookie

The other 27 rookies in the set are pretty decent. Ranging from talents like Bernie Federko who made the Hall of Fame in 2002 to Pierre Mondou who had some pretty good years with the Habs to Jim Bedard who has had more success as a goalie coach than he did as a player. Lots of decent rookies are in this set. One downer, is Dave Taylor and a few others who have rookies in the OPC set aren't found in the Topps release.

Doug Wilson
Another quality rookie in the set is Doug Wilson. A really good d-man who hasn't made it into the Hall yet, and maybe never will, but there is a facebook group trying to accomplish that. One neat fact about Doug, is in 81-82 he scored 39 goals as a defenseman. That is still the 4th highest total ever by a defenseman.

Other notable cards:

Larry Robinson

Here is one of the cool action shots I was talking about. To make up for a small set, Topps put All-Star team status under the players names if it applied rather than make a second card. This is neat because the OPC version of Larry Robinson's card looks different than the Topps.

Phil Esposito

Here is Phil in the twilight of his career with the Rangers. Rod Gilbert had number 7 so Phil had to wear 77.


Ken Dryden
2nd last Dryden card from his playing days.

SO there you have it. I like this set very much and having only paid 44.99 (56.99 with shipping) I am way ahead on that deal. Keep an eye out if you are looking to pick one up yourself. The good quality sets are out there and they can be had for a pretty decent price. The OPC version is larger and more complete when you think there are 51 rookies and Orr's last card in that set. But cost-wise and bang for your buck, there really aren't many more sets that offer you value than the 78-79 Topps set!

Recap so far

#2 - 78/79 Topps

#3 - 81/82 Topps

#4 - 84/85 Topps

#5 - 89/90 OPC

I hope to get the #1 set up in the next week or so.