Although the market really boomed in the 1980s and 90s, NHL trading cards have a long history prior to that. There were cards made even as far back as over 100 years ago, well before it became the global entity that it is now. Like early baseball cards, hockey cards were first found in packages of cigarettes. The tobacco cards were made from 1910-13 and then there was only one post World War I set made for the ’24-’25 season.
Other companies got in the act, including food and candy companies like Paulin’s Candy, Maple Crispette, Crescent, Holland Creameries and La Pietrie.
One of the most well-known hockey card makers was O-Pee-Chee, though there were none made during World War II.
Things picked up in ’51, with Shirriff Desserts, which made these cool old hockey coins, York Peanut Butter and Post Cereal all printing hockey collectibles. Parkhurst joined the fray in ’51 as well and Topps came into the picture in ’54. Neither O-Pee-Chee nor Topps made cards for the ’55-’56 season, but they started again the following year. Many of the most iconic players from the era have their rookie cards in those 1950s sets.
Most of the great post-War hockey rookie cards were made by Topps or its Canadian subsidiary, OPC.
Throughout the years, especially in Canada, there have been countless set issued regionally as part of special promotions. Esso even experimented in the ‘70s with printing small hockey cards on soft paper that were given out to people who bought gas.
Most the companies kept printing, though O-Pee-Chee sold its licenses to Topps and then Upper Deck in the mid-90s. There was a lockout that wiped out the entire ’04 NHL season. After all the debris cleared and play resumed in ‘05, there were only one company standing at the time – Upper Deck. They secured an exclusive contract and then after it ran out, while they renewed it, Panini America was also allowed to produce NHL trading cards.
As you can see, hockey cards have their own rich varied history that rivals MLB, the NFL and the NBA. It will be interesting to see what the next 100 years brings.
| 1968-1969 Topps Bernie Parent #89 Hockey Card ROOKIE card | |
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$10.53 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 22h 8m |
| 2015-16 Ud Retro Ice Premieres Jack Eichel Rc #/149 Bgs 10 Pristine | |
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$399.99 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 35m Buy It Now for only: $399.99 |
| 1958 Parkhurst Phil Goyette #47 PSA 8 NM-MT (PWCC) | |
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$1.25 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 7d 6h 9m |
| 1957 Topps Dean Prentice #62 PSA 8 - NY Rangers | |
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$175.00 Time Remaining: 3d 4h 46m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 |
| 1959 Parkhurst Marc Reaume #11 PSA 8 NM-MT (PWCC) | |
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$0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 7d 6h 11m |
| 1953 Parkhurst George Gee #83 PSA 6 EXMT (PWCC) | |
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$0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 7d 5h 43m |
| 1956-1957 Parkhurst Parkies Box - Factory Sealed | |
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$39.99 Time Remaining: 28d 21h 56m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
| 1954 Parkhurst Gerry McNeil #1 PSA 1.5 FR (PWCC) | |
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$0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 7d 5h 45m |
| 1952 ED SLOWINSKI PARKHURST #19 RANGERS KSA 7.5 | |
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$46.99 Time Remaining: 26d 5h 39m Buy It Now for only: $46.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #111 PSA 9 Chico Maki Black Hawks 111 | |
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$85.00 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 58m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
| 1967 Topps HK #072 PSA 8 Henri Richard Canadiens 72 | |
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$85.00 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 56m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
| 1967 Topps HK #105 PSA 9 Bart Crashley Red Wings 105 | |
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$74.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $74.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #028 PSA 8 Bob Nevin Rangers 28 | |
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$29.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 55m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #040 PSA 8 Tom Williams Bruins 40 | |
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$29.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 56m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #058 PSA 8 Paul Terbenche Black Hawks 58 | |
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$34.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 56m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #089 PSA 8 Arnie Brown Rangers 89 | |
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$29.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 56m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #094 PSA 8 Ted Green Bruins 94 | |
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$34.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #104 PSA 8 Jean Guy Talbot Red Wings 104 | |
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$29.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #111 PSA 8 Chico Maki Black Hawks Nice! 111 | |
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$34.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 58m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
| 1967 Topps HK #091 PSA 8 Jim Neilson Rangers 91 | |
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$29.99 Time Remaining: 24d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
hi my name is Alisha. I am Trying to find the value of what seems tol be retro hockey cards with just thier first and last names on the front of the cards
Thank u for your time much appreciated.
Alisha