Building the Mount Rushmore of Hockey Cards
In our continuing series, building trading card versions of Mount Rushmore, we now turn our sights to the legends of the ice. While the sport of hockey has lost some of its mass appeal in recent times, which is partly due to the lack of mainstream television coverage, the history of the sport is just about as rich as any of the team variety.
Here is my attempt at sculpting the prestigious side of the mountain and the reasons behind each selection.
1911 C55 #38 Georges Vezina – Vezina is to goalies what Cy Young is to baseball pitchers. Vezina’s name has become synonymous with goal-tending excellence as hockey’s annual award bears his name. He also led the Montreal Canadiens, one of the most storied franchises in the sport, to their first two Stanley Cups in 1916 and 1924. Vezina would ultimately be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 1945, but it was long after his early death in 1926. This colorful but elusive classic captures Vezina in striking fashion, as a result of the bold red in his jersey contrasted against the light background.
1954 Topps #8 Gordie Howe – By the time Topps entered the hockey card market, many hockey issues had already been produced during several previous decades, but their first effort did not disappoint. Generally considered one of the best-looking card sets ever produced, the 1954 Topps hockey issue exhibits tremendous color and attractive artwork. Howe’s longevity was remarkable as he scored at least 23 goals per season for 22 straight years, scoring more goals after the age of 30 than before. “Mr. Hockey” remains the centerpiece of the set, as he skates towards the viewer with ice shards shooting from his blades.
1966 Topps #35 Bobby Orr – Howe is “Mr. Hockey” and Wayne Gretzky may be “The Great One,” but when it comes to hobby popularity, it’s hard to surpass Bobby Orr. Just as Vezina set the standard for goalies, Orr raised the bar for defensemen as a member of the Boston Bruins, and later with the Chicago Blackhawks. His career numbers and accomplishments are staggering for the position. Winner of eight consecutive Norris Trophies for his defense and three Hart Trophies as the league’s MVP, Orr still holds the record for most points (139) and assists (102) by a defenseman in a single season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame at the age of 31 in 1979. Orr’s rookie is surrounded by brown borders, which are susceptible to chipping and general wear.
1979 O-Pee-Chee #18 Wayne Gretzky – There was Babe Ruth, there was Michael Jordan and there was this man. Certain athletes set a standard, not only at a particular position but for the sport itself, and “The Great One” has become the hockey player that all others are measured against. At the time of his retirement, Gretzky held 61 total records. No other player in history has reached 200 points in a single season, and Gretzky did it four times. Gretzky won an amazing nine Hart Trophies as the league’s best player. The accomplishments are endless and staggering. The rough-cut O-Pee-Chee rookie, which is clearly tougher than its Topps counterpart, is susceptible to chipping along the blue border and print defects.
Never get cheated,
Joe Orlando
PSA President
Which of the following cards do you think should take the final spot in the Mount Rushmore of Hockey Cards?
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1954 Topps #8 Gordie Howe
1923 V145-1 #25 Bert Corbeau
1958 Topps #66 Bobby Hull
1985 O-Pee-Chee #9 Mario Lemieux
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Vote at www.PSAcard.com/takingmyhacks