OT: Hockey Cards

[Rico7]

1 hour ago, French Collection said:

I am leary about sending a card in the mail. I am bringing my Gretzky rookie to KSA for grading. It is not as high profile as PSA but it is relatively close to me (Kitchener) and I hand my card to the grader and can watch the process.

Curious about KSA. Never heard of that before 

[Apollo]

On 3/27/2026 at 6:41 PM, shrader said:

Weren’t they always rock hard? All I can picture is a shattered piece of gum. 

I can still smell the gum and white sugar on some of my cards. The gum definitely was brittle.

 

[Rico7]

This thread has me excited about getting back into collecting. Thank you OP for starting it! The investment part of me thinks they will, at very least, hold their value, but, as time goes on, values will increase. Not worried about that aspect, but good to know. 

My thing about collecting is getting early 60-70s Opeechee cards. Maybe some newer ones too, but would be selective.

Want to add, beside my love of hockey at a young age many moons ago, the NHL cards were easier to collect. Sets were typically around 250-300 cards. 10 cards in a pack plus lousy stale gum. By comparison, MLB cards were about 800 in a set. Plus I was way more into NHL because of Sabres. Hated the NFL cards because the NFLPA and league did not have a license agreement with Topps, so the cards had all the logos on helmets, unis, etc. touched out.

Collecting can be funny/interesting. For example,  there is Topps MLB card from 77, I think, of this obscure catcher from the Astros. 99% of this guy's card were printed out of register or there is a hickey in the printing. If you can find one in register. And decent shape, it's worth a pretty penny.

I also always loved the personal tidbits on the back of the cards. Like, he likes to flyfish in the off-season 

This thread has me stoked. I will share some pics when able

[ska-T Chitown]

I got back into collecting 3 or 4 years ago. I may have spent 4-5 hours on my collection yesterday ... just found some plastic pages that fit in 3-ring binders with 4 pockets per page to put either graded cards or cards in the hard plastic magnetic holders so they can be more easily displayed!

I have put together a binder with one card from every player in the HHOF. Some were easy, I had some cards laying around from the 90's and 2000's ... eBay has a lot to offer, too. Others, nothing "original" exists so I had to settle for some of the "all-time greats" insert sets from the 50's and 60's and other historical reprint sets. I made a card-sized printout for each year with the year, the HHOF logo, and the player list for that year. I put that printout in a pocket in the page and then the players follow. I skipped non-players (coaches, founders, etc). I have also been slowly going back to try to get as many rookie cards of the players as I can, too. 

For modern players, I just grab who I like (mostly Sabres!) and some of the "hot" young kids. Some work out (got Celebrini for 1/4 of what it is worth today); some don't (Bedard's cards have tanked a bit due to his injuries) - but it is fun.

@Rico7 - I will say that cards of established players hold value ... all the young kids - total crap shoot. And don't even get me started with all the subsets now ... dazzle this, highlight that (complete with QR code to watch video clips online), snipers, jersey bits (actually really cool), autographs (hit or miss ... sometimes they just have the player autograph a sticker they slap onto the card, boo), low count serial numbered cards (down to 1 of 1 ... trying to capture the frenzy around "error" cards from the early days).

I also grabbed the main card from each year from Hank Aaron and put them in a binder. I got a reprint of his rookie ... even missing a full chunk they go for well over $1000 and I spent a little too much on a second year card and now it lives in my fire safe with Wayne, Mario, Sid, Ovie, and a few other rookie cards that I can't insure if they are not locked away.

12 hours ago, Rico7 said:

Curious about KSA. Never heard of that before 

This is a huge topic. If you are just getting the card "graded" so it is locked away in the plastic case for your own personal collection with no intention of trying to sell it, go for it. KSA is (was?) known for playing fast and loose with grades. I have a KSA "10" Grant Fuhr rookie ... you can clearly see edge wear without using any magnifier. Beckett (BGS) and PSA are the only grading services that have real value on the resale market, buyer beware. If you find KSA cards for sale, go in assuming the card is actually 1.5 - 2 grades lower than what it says. Getting cards graded is a pain simply because of the time it takes. I have whisked several $thousands in cards over to PSA and had no trouble. Get the insurance and tracking, you'll sleep better.

https://www.sportscardspro.com/ <-- Is a great site. It tracks somewhat real-time eBay sales data to give you insight on how values are trending. You can create a free account. I have about 6500 cards logged in my free collection. My observation is that most old cards (1970's and before) tend to sell on eBay for close to what they would be worth if they were graded and newer cards of high end players (last 4-5 years) tend to sell raw for what the upper grades (8 or 9) would get you, since "pack fresh" would tend to get you an 8 pretty easily. Anyhow, the site helps with that, too.

I am such a nerd, I could talk about this stuff allllllllllllllll day!

[Porous Five Hole]

16 hours ago, shrader said:

This is a new card I wasn’t expecting in 2026.

 

I have a Barnaby signed card that came with a bit of the front rim he was driving on from when he was arrested for DWI in 2011. 

[shrader]

36 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

I have a Barnaby signed card that came with a bit of the front rim he was driving on from when he was arrested for DWI in 2011. 

I’ve been wanting to work that reference into this card somehow

[North Buffalo]

I have a bunch of old hockey cards from 70s never had them looked... at probably around 1000 cards.  One day Ill sell them for whatever they are worth.

[Rico7]

13 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I got back into collecting 3 or 4 years ago. I may have spent 4-5 hours on my collection yesterday ... just found some plastic pages that fit in 3-ring binders with 4 pockets per page to put either graded cards or cards in the hard plastic magnetic holders so they can be more easily displayed!

I have put together a binder with one card from every player in the HHOF. Some were easy, I had some cards laying around from the 90's and 2000's ... eBay has a lot to offer, too. Others, nothing "original" exists so I had to settle for some of the "all-time greats" insert sets from the 50's and 60's and other historical reprint sets. I made a card-sized printout for each year with the year, the HHOF logo, and the player list for that year. I put that printout in a pocket in the page and then the players follow. I skipped non-players (coaches, founders, etc). I have also been slowly going back to try to get as many rookie cards of the players as I can, too. 

For modern players, I just grab who I like (mostly Sabres!) and some of the "hot" young kids. Some work out (got Celebrini for 1/4 of what it is worth today); some don't (Bedard's cards have tanked a bit due to his injuries) - but it is fun.

@Rico7 - I will say that cards of established players hold value ... all the young kids - total crap shoot. And don't even get me started with all the subsets now ... dazzle this, highlight that (complete with QR code to watch video clips online), snipers, jersey bits (actually really cool), autographs (hit or miss ... sometimes they just have the player autograph a sticker they slap onto the card, boo), low count serial numbered cards (down to 1 of 1 ... trying to capture the frenzy around "error" cards from the early days).

I also grabbed the main card from each year from Hank Aaron and put them in a binder. I got a reprint of his rookie ... even missing a full chunk they go for well over $1000 and I spent a little too much on a second year card and now it lives in my fire safe with Wayne, Mario, Sid, Ovie, and a few other rookie cards that I can't insure if they are not locked away.

This is a huge topic. If you are just getting the card "graded" so it is locked away in the plastic case for your own personal collection with no intention of trying to sell it, go for it. KSA is (was?) known for playing fast and loose with grades. I have a KSA "10" Grant Fuhr rookie ... you can clearly see edge wear without using any magnifier. Beckett (BGS) and PSA are the only grading services that have real value on the resale market, buyer beware. If you find KSA cards for sale, go in assuming the card is actually 1.5 - 2 grades lower than what it says. Getting cards graded is a pain simply because of the time it takes. I have whisked several $thousands in cards over to PSA and had no trouble. Get the insurance and tracking, you'll sleep better.

https://www.sportscardspro.com/ <-- Is a great site. It tracks somewhat real-time eBay sales data to give you insight on how values are trending. You can create a free account. I have about 6500 cards logged in my free collection. My observation is that most old cards (1970's and before) tend to sell on eBay for close to what they would be worth if they were graded and newer cards of high end players (last 4-5 years) tend to sell raw for what the upper grades (8 or 9) would get you, since "pack fresh" would tend to get you an 8 pretty easily. Anyhow, the site helps with that, too.

I am such a nerd, I could talk about this stuff allllllllllllllll day!

There was a place by me. Not so much a card shop, but more of Sabres and Bills store. He had a thing to do grading. But it was a desktop scanner where you would scan the card and he would email the scan to the people grading it. Sounded dicey to me and even the owner was skeptical 

Edited August 3 by Rico7

[ska-T Chitown]

12 hours ago, Rico7 said:

There was a place by me. Not so much a card shop, but more of Sabres and Bills store. He had a thing to do grading. But it was a desktop scanner where you would scan the card and he would email the scan to the people grading it. Sounded dicey to me and even the owner was skeptical 

I have seen those before. I think it is a way to save yourself from wasting money on a crappy grade. There are a ton of cards that if they come back as a 9, you barely recoup the grading fee with the new value. This mostly applies to mid-80s and later "normal" cards.

[Rico7]

2 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I have seen those before. I think it is a way to save yourself from wasting money on a crappy grade. There are a ton of cards that if they come back as a 9, you barely recoup the grading fee with the new value. This mostly applies to mid-80s and later "normal" cards.

Agree completely. Could be some kid in his mom's basement grading. Super reliable, right?

Like I mentioned previously, I know the approximate value of my cards. Doing that scanner avanue seems a waste of time and $.

Just want to walk up to a person with card in hand and watch them with them and hand back to me. I may not like their assessment, but I know im getting MY cards back.

Also have a bunch of autographed cards. As a kid in early 70s , I would mail cards to a team, say some nice things. The team would send me back the autographed card and photo along with bling. Nolan Ryan was great with that. My '75 Nolan Ryan is a prized possession.

Wilf Paiment, Bob Gainey, Dennis Maruk, Gary Bromley amongst others were always consistent in not only signing and returning but would have a hand written letter too. 

[shrader]

I just got back into it this year. He’s all over every product. I could probably build a Noah Östlund wall. I have so many of his cards.

 

[ska-T Chitown]

2 hours ago, shrader said:

I just got back into it this year. He’s all over every product. I could probably build a Noah Östlund wall. I have so many of his cards.

 

I'll post a collage once I get them all delivered.

[ska-T Chitown]

4 hours ago, Rico7 said:

Agree completely. Could be some kid in his mom's basement grading. Super reliable, right?

Like I mentioned previously, I know the approximate value of my cards. Doing that scanner avanue seems a waste of time and $.

Just want to walk up to a person with card in hand and watch them with them and hand back to me. I may not like their assessment, but I know im getting MY cards back.

Also have a bunch of autographed cards. As a kid in early 70s , I would mail cards to a team, say some nice things. The team would send me back the autographed card and photo along with bling. Nolan Ryan was great with that. My '75 Nolan Ryan is a prized possession.

Wilf Paiment, Bob Gainey, Dennis Maruk, Gary Bromley amongst others were always consistent in not only signing and returning but would have a hand written letter too. 

I have heard you can get an in person grade at some of the major card shows. They give you their opinion and "seal" the regular card holder. You still have to send it in if you want it in the sealed case.

If I were buying that from someone, I'd haggle to deduct the $30 it would cost me to get it graded and cased. But like I said, raw cards seem to sell for near their graded value regularly.

[shrader]

34 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I'll post a collage once I get them all delivered.

I’ll line up all the good Ostlunds tomorrow. 

[ska-T Chitown]

18 minutes ago, shrader said:

I’ll line up all the good Ostlunds tomorrow. 

I am traveling for work and still waiting on a few to get delivered. Can't wait to see what you have found!

[shrader]

15 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I am traveling for work and still waiting on a few to get delivered. Can't wait to see what you have found!

I just threw together my wall of Östlund (wallstlund ?).

 

Edited August 4 by shrader

[ska-T Chitown]

11 hours ago, shrader said:

I just threw together my wall of Östlund (wallstlund ?).

 

Definitely a few in there I have not seen.

I am the exact sucker they are looking for when they release the same card but in 4 different colors with different numbering, lol

[French Collection]

My father in law grew up in the 40’s, listening to hockey games on the radio. To add a visual element, he had his Beehive hockey pictures on the kitchen table and put out the lines of both teams as Foster Hewitt described them.

I always thought that was pretty imaginative and could visualize that myself.

[shrader]

10 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

Definitely a few in there I have not seen.

I am the exact sucker they are looking for when they release the same card but in 4 different colors with different numbering, lol

There are a couple of the non-numbered versions hidden behind some of those.  And then there's some of the base rookies back there too.  So many Ostlunds!  I'll shuffle the shelf around a bit when I get bored.

[shrader]

This one is my “hide it in a safe” card, 9/10. 
 

 

Edited August 6 by shrader

[ska-T Chitown]

On 8/5/2026 at 8:28 PM, shrader said:

This one is my “hide it in a safe” card, 9/10. 
 

 

I found you, lol!

 

Also, just go the last of the Noahs in the mail today, will take pics tomorrow.

Edited August 12 by ska-T Chitown

[shrader]

51 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I found you, lol!

 

Also, just go the last of the Noahs in the mail today, will take pics tomorrow.

So many views but no one likes to make offers. It’s just a fake number to make sure no one buys it outright. 

[ska-T Chitown]

@shrader I present ... nope, gotta shrink the pics ...

[ska-T Chitown]

My Noah Young Guns

Noah 2 of 6

Noah 3 of 6

Noah 4 of 6

Noah 5 of 6

[ska-T Chitown]

Noah 6 of 6

These won't fit in a binder page, too thicccc

Like I said - I am a sucker for "wait!?!? that comes in GREEN, too???"