SCF Official Review: 2010/11 ITG Decades 1980s

**Enigma** · 06-01-2011, 08:20 PM

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at In The Game for providing us with this box.

1 pack per box
9 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): 84.99 - 99.99

Product Description

Decades is the second product In The Game is releasing based on an extensive poll voted on by collectors two years ago. In The Game asked what was the most significant year in hockey history.

1972 narrowly won the poll over 1980 and a hockey trading card product was produced last year to commemorate 1972. This product sold out quickly and is still highly collected today.

Now In The Game has turned their attention to 1980.

There were so many events in the 1980's decade, In The Game choose to feature the entire decade in this product rather than just the year 1980.

But who could forget 1980.

Herb Brooks put together a team of young American hockey players who were supposed to have no chance to even medal at the 1980 Olympics. But they believed in Brooks and themselves and defeated a dominant Soviet Union team and then the Finns to win the history gold medal.

In The Game is pleased to feature hard signed autographs from every player on the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team - The Miracle On Ice team. Bill Baker, Bob Suter, Buzz Schneider, Dave Christian, Dave Silk, Eric Strobel, Jack O'Callahan, Jim Craig, John Harrington, Ken Morrow, Mark Johnson, Mark Pavelich, Mike Eruzione, Mike Ramsey, Neal Broten, Phil Verchota, Rob McClanahan, Steve Christoff, Steve Janaszak and Mark Wells.

Decades 1980s is taking on a complete new look and collectors are going to love it.

Each box has a total of nine cards and they are all "Hits". Each box will be hand-packed and the inserts will be guaranteed per box.

Each box is Guaranteed to include:
Three hard-signed Autograph Cards
Three Authentic Game-Used Memorabilia Cards
One Decades Rookie Card
One Non-Memorabilia Insert Card
One 100 Years of Hockey Card Collecting Card.

Hit #1
In The Game is bringing rookie card collectors what they want, Decades Rookies.
The 45-card Decades Rookie Card checklist includes; Patrick Roy, Mario Lemieux, Bernie Nichols, Cam Neely, Joe Sakic, John Vanbiesbrouck, Paul Coffey, Mike Vernon, Jeremy Roenick, Steve Yzerman, Tom Barrasso, Ron Hextall and many, many more.

Hit #2
Each box will feature one Non-Memorabilia Insert Card. There are eight different Non-Memorabilia Insert Sets; Great Moments In Hockey, Long Island Dynasty, Edmonton Dynasty, Battle of New York, Battle of Alberta, Battle of Quebec, Memorable Masks and Canada's Best.

Hit #3
The Year long celebration continues and each box will feature one 100 Years of Collecting card. Collect all 25 in Decades and all 100 across ITG brands this year!

Hit #4 #5 and #6
Each box of Decades 1980s features three hard-signed Autograph Cards.
The Autograph Card Checklist is unparalleled. Over 150 different Decades Autograph Cards and did we mention that they are all hard-signed with NO REDEMPTIONS. The checklist includes all twenty members of the Miracle on Ice team that won the Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympic Games.
No one can put an autograph checklist together like In The Game. Three hard-signed Autograph Cards per pack guaranteed.

Hits #7 #8 and #9
Decades 1980s will also feature Authentic Game-Used Memorabilia Cards from the players who played during this marvelous decade. Many of the Game-Used Cards are quads including Cup Clashes, Franchises, All-Stars, Rivalries and For Your Country.

Only In The Game could make Decades 1980s, as we commemorate the history of hockey on trading cards.

WHAT WE PULLED

Base: None (No base in release)
100 Years Of Collecting (1): Mike Bossy
Decades Rookie (1): Dino Ciccarelli
Battle Of Quebec (1): Joe Sakic/Chris Chelios

Dave Babych Jersey

Trophy Winners Brian Leetch Jersey

Between The Pipes Darren Pang 2-color Patch

Barry Pederson Autograph

Brad Marsh Autograph

Greg Millen Autograph

FINAL RATINGS

Base - N/A
Design - 4.5/5
Fun - 5/5
Value - 4.5/5
Rebuy - 5/5

Total - 19/20 (95%)

February 22, 1980, six simple words resonated throughout out the United States and around the world. Al Michaels, sitting next to broadcasting partner Ken Dryden, with a mere few seconds left in the USA vs USSR Olympic semifinal uttered, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Still to this day, those words bring chills to people who watched the game, saw the replays or simple lived it.

That was how the 1980s kickstarted, but it's only a glimpse into the marvel of the decade. If you lived during that era, you will never forget things such as your first Member's Only jacket, Cabbage Patch kid or the difference between Tomax and Xamot. It was the time of big hair, one-hit wonders, moonwalking and wearing your sunglasses at night.

For hockey, so much happened during the decade that ITG could not pinpoint a year or an event to center this product around. Accordingly, they are giving us ten years to celebrate. Decades 1980s streamlined collecting for everyone by not having any base cards. This product is about bringing you closer to the players of the 1980s. The box states "9 Hits", but in reality, there are six (3 memorabilia and 3 autographs). The other three cards are inserts.

Each box yields two specific inserts, 100 Years of Collecting and Decades Rookies. The third card is a mix of 1 of 8 various sets. 100 Years of Collecting is actually a set that is being released through four ITG products. Each product contains 25 of the 100 cards from the set. Decades Rookies focuses on the stars and legends who made their debut in the 1980s. Stalwarts such as Marion Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Patrick Roy grace this set.

There are numerous memorabilia sets in Decades. Some are simple themes such as a generic jersey set or a carry over from another product as in Between The Pipes. There are versions that will yield four memorabilia swatches like Franchises and For Your Country. Even the ever popular autograph/relics can be found on occasion. In addition, there are three autographs in a box and all are on-card. Even better, there are no redemptions!

ITG scores the proverbial card collecting hat trick with this one. Goal 1, create a product that collectors will enjoy opening. Goal 2, make the product worth the investment to resellers and collectors alike. Goal 3, keep the collectors coming back for more. Only a few times in a year does a product release where the price point and the yield are in harmony. This is definitely one of them!

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at In The Game for giving us the opportunity to review this release. For more information on all of their products, visit them at www.itgtradingcards.com.