Hockey Cards

[Draug]

What is the brand that is desirable as a collectable these days? Where is a good place to buy a complete set, or maybe just a few select cards?

My son, almost age 3, has started to ask for hockey cards. I'm thinking I could get him some for Christmas.

I used to collect cards as a kid, and still have loads of complete sets packed away from about 1985 to 1992. But, I havent so much as looked at a hockey card since the mid 90's.

What else do I need to know?

[cKy]

Not sure what brand is the go to brand anymore, but London Drugs have a ton of cards. I would also recommend going to a Dollar Store and picking up some cheapy ones since your kid is 3 and will most certainly demolish them.

[Drury18]

Walmart actually has some tins of hockey cards for $10. It's Upper Deck Ovation cards and you get one "oversized" card (pretty much a replica of a normal looking card but its the size of the tin) and then 10 packs of 5 cards. The cards range from basic cards to autographed or game worn type things.

The tins are pretty neat too:

[J epworth]

Don't know what brand to go with either, but get him a book or something to organize them in, or he's just going to destroy/lose them all. Also give him some of your old one's if any of the names are recognizable, that would be a cool thing for him to have.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

Don't know what brand to go with either, but get him a book or something to organize them in, or he's just going to destroy/lose them all. Also give him some of your old one's if any of the names are recognizable, that would be a cool thing for him to have.

Yeah, they will go in a card binder ... nothing worse than a destroyed hockey card.

He isnt getting my sets until he is much much older

Those tins mentioned above look like they could be a good starter ...

[cKy]

Toys R Us also has those tins as well.

[arloiginla]

I collected the entire set of 2002-2003 O-Pee-Chee NHL cards.

It seemed up until about two years ago they were still selling this year's tins around Christmas time, and I managed to get all the player cards and about half of the special cards (like holo cards, autograph cards, jersey cards).

I was hoping to one day get the rest of the special cards; has anyone seen any of these tins around lately or are they gone for good?

Normal player card looks like this:

[troutman]

Not all cards should be put in binders. Canuck cards for example should be put in the spokes of your bicycle, or be used for target practice.

Public decency prevents me from telling you what I did to Borge Salming's card.

[silentsim]

the upper deck series 1/2 box sets are always a solid choice, can pick some nice cards from there.

[Finny61]

I would second Toys R Us, seen some Upper Decks in there, they are affordable and great for kids. I can't believe there is a niche market of hardcore collectors that spend upwards of $200 (on the higher end) for a box of hockey cards and you get very little as far as quantity but I guess the autos and patch cards are what make it attractive to some.

[Luder]

Originally Posted by troutman

Not all cards should be put in binders. Canuck cards for example should be put in the spokes of your bicycle, or be used for target practice.

Public decency prevents me from telling you what I did to Borge Salming's card.

It frightens me to think about how much money I tossed down the drain after drawing a dink on any Gretzky card I got, and then putting it in the spokes of my bike when I was a kid.

[Nage Waza]

The top end cards are Upper Deck, and they have assorted versions of their cards. The cheap ones are as described in this thread, they sell in a tin anywhere for about $20 a box. They have little value, even if kept in mint condition. The odds of getting something valuable out of these boxes is the same as winning the jackpot on a scratch and win. They are great for kids. I would also recommend coin collecting.
The high end stuff is usually sold at specialty stores. The Cup series from Upper Deck sells for about $500 per pack, each pack has 4 or 5 cards.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Draug

.

I used to collect cards as a kid, and still have loads of complete sets packed away from about 1985 to 1992. But, I havent so much as looked at a hockey card since the mid 90's.

What else do I need to know?

Give him some of those retro card sets. Great way to hand them down.

There should be some awesome stuff especially in that mid to late 80's vintage.

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by Luder

It frightens me to think about how much money I tossed down the drain after drawing a dink on any Gretzky card I got, and then putting it in the spokes of my bike when I was a kid.

You may have lost some money, but you win at life. Congrats.

[pylon]

Not a word of a lie, I traded a Gretzky rookie for a Mike Palmateer card. Because I thought he had a cool mask.

[flamesrule14]

Wal-Mart is a good place for cards if you are just starting the hobby and want to get some cards cheap. Upper Deck Series 1 and 2, Ovation, O-Pee-Chee and Victory are some of the cheaper sets. Also if your little guy just wants flames cards then the fan attic sells flames cards(probably 10 or so cards) for pretty cheap.

[Finny61]

Definitely get some cards, fond memories of childhood walking to the hobby store to get a Becketts guide to see if I have gained any value on my cards and man nothing felt better then having a card go up in value by 25 cents

[Draug]

Originally Posted by flamesrule14

Wal-Mart is a good place for cards if you are just starting the hobby and want to get some cards cheap. Upper Deck Series 1 and 2, Ovation, O-Pee-Chee and Victory are some of the cheaper sets. Also if your little guy just wants flames cards then the fan attic sells flames cards(probably 10 or so cards) for pretty cheap.

I may as well buy cards that may end up being worth something in the future ... but I'm not about to spend $500 on a pack as mentioned above.

Upper Deck looks to be the happy medium? I'm gathering they have many different lines now ... what would be one that isnt for the extreme collector, but does still have the chance to be sought after 20 years from now?

Maybe he will become an avid collector ... you never know. If that happened, it would be a bummer for all his childhood cards to be garbage

[silentsim]

Originally Posted by Draug

I may as well buy cards that may end up being worth something in the future ... but I'm not about to spend $500 on a pack as mentioned above.

Upper Deck looks to be the happy medium? I'm gathering they have many different lines now ... what would be one that isnt for the extreme collector, but does still have the chance to be sought after 20 years from now?

Maybe he will become an avid collector ... you never know. If that happened, it would be a bummer for all his childhood cards to be garbage

Get the Upper Deck "Series 1" boxset or "Series 2".

Fairly priced and actually HAS a chance at pulling jersey cards, and other rares.

ToysRUs Sells booster boxes but there are some card stores that sell full box sets (alot more packs)

[Draug]

Probably a dumb question ... whats the difference between Upper Deck Series 1 and Series 2?