A little rusty

**robcyb** · 02-06-2009, 08:34 PM

I came accross this site looking to absorb some knowledge and to get back into collecting after a 12 year break.

I started my collecting after guys at school started showing up with card decks and if you didn't have one, you were alone at recess! it was the 90s and pro-set had it's first card line out. Of course, today they aren't even listed in any guide but that set was my first taste of hockey cards. The second series with it's hall of famer sub sets got me into older cards. They were nice, but somehow seemed a little phony and I was instantly hooked on older cards. I never did get many older cards of value, but I did leverage my pro-sets and 90-91 upper decks to salvage some poorer condition cards of the late 70's and early 80's. It seemed a lot of friends had a binder full of older cards passed down to them, but with none of my own and no money, I could only "salivate" over them! I distinctly remember seeing Ken Dryden cards, Bobby Orrs, Jari Kurri RCs, Andy Moog's RC, Tony Esposito and Roy's RC.

Well, I've grown up and started working since then and discovered e-bay. In fact, the very first card I bought was an un-graded Ken Dryden 76-77 Topps #200 for 2.49 shipped! The card is probably a 7 to 7.5 but it's a card I've wanted for a long time. I particularly like the older goalie cards that have the intimidating looking 'jason' masks. I want to get a tony esposito, Bernie Parent and Rogie Vachon in this same set, O pee chee or Topps as they display this feature.

I grew up watching the players of the 80s, and I guess that's where I'd like to focus my collecting - I want to collect all of the O pee chee sets made in the 80s. In addition, older singles and un-opened packs are also of interest to me. Finally, the 08-09 o pee chee has kind of re-kindled this whole thing with buying a few packs at the corner store. I want to collect this whole base set and am about 250 cards shy.

One questions I'd like answered is: Card grading, never owned or even held a graded card!! Who is the best company out there? PSA and Becket are the main I've heard of. Then I did a little research and realized Beckett has different grading services, BCCG, BGS and BVG?? Can anyonw explain?

Thanks,

**alpinemedic** · 02-06-2009, 08:39 PM

Welcome to SCF! Come on over to the hockey forums and ask your question in the hockey card talk forum, I'm sure you will get quite a few responses.

**Rybowski** · 02-06-2009, 08:58 PM

Welcome to SCF, enjoy yourself. PSA and BGS are the top 2 grading companies out there. BGS graded cards will fetch more money than a PSA with the same grading.