First look: In The Game’s History of Hockey
By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Hockey Editor
In The Game’s hockey products have been around for more than a decade. Now, Dr. Brian Price is bringing together a product that highlights its past with History of Hockey.
There are just four cards in each box: a memorabilia card, a PSA/DNA certified autograph, a Rookie Card and a buyback.
ITG hasn’t released dates or pricing yet, but there are plenty of pictures and early information about History of Hockey for hockey collectors.
Most of the original work comes in the 145-card set Great Moments in Hockey. These are all memorabilia cards and includes an extensive checklist.
Some of the highlights include Paul Henderson‘s “Goal of the Century” in 1972 to clinch the Summit Series against the USSR, Wayne Gretzky’s record-setting 802nd goal, Bobby Orr’s flying goal to complete the sweep of the St. Louis Blues in 1970 and the Miracle on Ice.
These first two group of cards in Great Moments in Hockey will have artwork by Jared Kelley and Mike James, whose cards will include vintage authentic memorabilia. Each card will feature hand-painted artwork with nine silver versions and just one gold version. The final 85 in the group will also have artwork, but will have 30 silver versions and 10 gold.
ITG’s buy backs will be cards from past products starting with 1998-99. There are some huge names that are going to be included such as Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemeiux and Patrick Roy. ITG will include 4,000 buy backs (which should give you an idea of how many boxes will be made of History of the Game).
Half of the 4,000 will be autographs and the other will be memorabilia cards.
ITG has combed the years to find some of the best Rookie Cards of top players. There are opportunities to snag Orr’s 1966-67 Topps RC or Maurice Richard’s 1951-52 Parkhurst RC. Some of the Rookie Cards will be more valuable than others, but there is a chance to pull some great cards.
The final card in the box is an authentic autograph on cards various sets and companies such as a Gretzky on a 1981 O-Pee-Chee or Phil Esposito on 1975 Topps. All the autographs have been verified by PSA.
Each of the cards are encapsulated, clearly labeled and serial-numbered.
Susan Lulgjuraj is the editor of Beckett Hockey magazine. You can email Susan here with ideas, comments and questions. Follow her on Twitter here.
thank u for the heads up on what appears in this ryupcoming set it is right up my alley. I love masterpieces 0809 that is my primary collection which I am quite proud of but yet to complete. A few comments come immediadtliy to mind .why can’t itg get an NHL licsenceing, I MeanFor the most part that is what prevents me and others from buying the product. They “are far and away the most>> inventive of the major card company, the most colorful with the best ideas for sets and subsets but it’s such a turnoff to not see the crests or have the teams refered to as “Boston” instead of the bruins on every bloody card. It seems to not bother and maybepy of each even attract some collector’s I can ‘ t stand The practice it cheapens the cards. However if itg ever worked with the NHL correctly it would be far and away my fav brand. The second Comment I have is realymore of a pet peave .why is it that these collections try to get you to buy different versions of the same card for ex with masterpieces my goal is to collect one of each canvas or jsy card, one of each auto card ,one of each parrallel card to the base set and possibly the 5 x7 auto cards. Now I’ve got maybe 80% of the parallels ,75. %of the jsy cards and about58%of the autos, the way I count having a card is any border card so brown(no count) blue(1\”85)’,green(1of35)red(1of5or10)orblack(one0f1).now can u imagine the cost on trying to get a copy of each colour of every card so why bother I mean we are talking about estetically a dif in border colour and that is I know vsalues go up with lower numbered cards. But really one of each will make mevproud when I reach that goal I think expecting people to go for all collours is cruel and almost an impossible task.I look forward to more of these kinds of se
so its itgs vewrsion of leaf’s best of (fill in sport), in this case hockey !
love to see the nhls reation to the orr card with all the logos