Bourque vs Messier. I feel like Rip Van Winkle

[rustyisin]

I haven't collected cards for at least 10 years. Bought my first Beckett in about 13 yrs.
On what planet can you justify nearly double the value for Ray Bourque over Mark Messier? 6 Stanley Cups, Conn Smyth, 2x Hart trophy, 2nd all-time points, greatest captain in sports history.
Is Beckett insane or am I?

[Drewk86a]

That's odd since The Messier card was only available in the 80-81 OPC set. While the Bourque RC is found in both 80-81 OPC and 80-81 Topps. That said, the 80-81 Topps set had that wacky black puck over the players name and many were scratched off. Perhaps finding an unscratched card is more difficult.

Regardless of what Beckett says, the actual sale of cards seems to show the values reversed. The 80-81 Messier is selling on eBay for around $40 while the Bourque RC are going for $15 - $20 (a poorly centered unscratched Topps recently sold for $11!)

At those prices I might have to go for these cards! A RC of a HOF for less than $20?!? Can't beat that!

[RGM81]

That is truly odd - how deep does that difference run? Is it for just the one card or is it across the spectrum?

[mightykeebs]

My guess is more the due to the fact the Bourque was a Bruin. Those bean town fans are just as passionate any of the other orginal 6 teams. I know the Oilers had their dynasty however before that the fans here grew up with the orginal 6 teams.

It makes sense in my mind lol

[TeamChevelle]

And the Beckett is a guide....there are more then just those cards that are way off. I do find the older cards rarely change in price as well.

[rustyisin]

That's odd since The Messier card was only available in the 80-81 OPC set. While the Bourque RC is found in both 80-81 OPC and 80-81 Topps. That said, the 80-81 Topps set had that wacky black puck over the players name and many were scratched off. Perhaps finding an unscratched card is more difficult.

Regardless of what Beckett says, the actual sale of cards seems to show the values reversed. The 80-81 Messier is selling on eBay for around $40 while the Bourque RC are going for $15 - $20 (a poorly centered unscratched Topps recently sold for $11!)

At those prices I might have to go for these cards! A RC of a HOF for less than $20?!? Can't beat that!

I'm not talking about the rookies - check every other OPC card of Messier and Bourque. Bourque is nearly double. ™™™!

[comfortably9numb]

In my opinion, Messier has the most underrated amount of "hobby love" out of any player int he history of the game...for the achievements he has, his cards routinely sell for very mundane prices

[rustyisin]

My guess is more the due to the fact the Bourque was a Bruin. Those bean town fans are just as passionate any of the other orginal 6 teams. I know the Oilers had their dynasty however before that the fans here grew up with the orginal 6 teams.

It makes sense in my mind lol

it runs throughout the whole run of cards except the rookies.

And the Bruin vs Oiler doesn't hold water since there are high value Coffey, Gretzky, Kurri, etc.

I just don't get it. Does Beckett have some bias toward Bourque.

[centrehice]

Beckett does all things by popularity. Simply put the Bruins have more fans all over the World than the Oilers.

Oiler fans are very Regional, hence the lack of love from Beckett.

There are far more Bruin Fans than there are Oiler fans in Canada, probably 4 to 1 more, perhaps greater. Beckett bases Messier on his Oiler popularity, not his Ranger popularity.


Other great players that get little of No Hobby Love are:

Ronny Francis
Keith Primeau
Rod Brind'Amour
Keith Tkachuk
Mike Richter
Mark Recchi
Patrick Marleau
Chris Chelios
Steve Larmer
Wayne Cashman
Denis Savard
Claude Lemieux
Joe Nieuwendyk
Al MacInnis
Scott Stevens
Larry Murphy
Phil Housley

And to some extent Brett Hull.

I've probably missed several, but it's a Crime.

[Wickabee]

it runs throughout the whole run of cards except the rookies.

And the Bruin vs Oiler doesn't hold water since there are high value Coffey, Gretzky, Kurri, etc.

I just don't get it. Does Beckett have some bias toward Bourque.

Boston v Edmonton doesn't hold water because Messier is better remembered as a Ranger than an Oiler, not to mention that, other than RCs (Hall, Eberle, etc) Boston generally seems to have more collectors overall than Edmonton. Bourque is very fondly remembered in Boston, even if his only cup came in Colorado.
Bourque is also one of those guys very few non-Bruins fans would say they dislike or hate. Messier is loved in the towns he played for and pretty much despised (though respected for his accomplishments) everywhere else. The only exception is Vancouver, where he played for three seasons. Canucks fans can't stand Messier and I'm sure only a handful even respect him as a player..