90-91 OPC Premier: bubble or undervalued set finally catching on?

[powejr01]

I love this set - always have. I was 12 in 1990 and it was a really big deal for hockey collectors in the northeast. Great HOFers, great RCs, great design. I do think the price has gotten a little ahead of itself, but I also think it was undervalued for a while. I don't know what the actual numbers are, but back when these cards were on the shelves you could fall out of bed and buy all the score, pro set, and UD you wanted but had to look for OPC Premier, and then spend your entire allowance on a couple packs.

[Willikn]

Originally Posted by powejr01

I love this set - always have. I was 12 in 1990 and it was a really big deal for hockey collectors in the northeast. Great HOFers, great RCs, great design. I do think the price has gotten a little ahead of itself, but I also think it was undervalued for a while. I don't know what the actual numbers are, but back when these cards were on the shelves you could fall out of bed and buy all the score, pro set, and UD you wanted but had to look for OPC Premier, and then spend your entire allowance on a couple packs.

They were hot almost from jump. Like many "hot" sets from that era, the factory sets came later and jacked up the supply. 1989 UD baseball. 1989 Score football. 1992 St Club Beam Team basketball (member's only sets).

[Willikn]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

Prices have more to do with demand than they with supply. All of 30 people in the world create the demands for hockey cards vs hundreds of millions for basketball. Thats what sets apart a pop 25k card getting crazy prices vs hockey cards getting no love. Plus a majority of hockey card collectors are Canadians. Canadians in general dont pay premiums for hockey cards.

I'm looking at older boxing, MMA, soccer, and golf stuff and seeing the same kind of jump that the 1990 hockey sets are realizing. What hockey does have, that the NFL and MLB generally do not, is global appeal. Also very popular in New York and Chicago, two hot spots for high rollers in the card game.

Someone paid seven figures for a Gretzky RC. Screams, "no ceiling" to me.

[Orangejello727]

Originally Posted by Willikn

I'm looking at older boxing, MMA, soccer, and golf stuff and seeing the same kind of jump that the 1990 hockey sets are realizing. What hockey does have, that the NFL and MLB generally do not, is global appeal. Also very popular in New York and Chicago, two hot spots for high rollers in the card game.

Someone paid seven figures for a Gretzky RC. Screams, "no ceiling" to me.

The Gretzky was outlier because you're talking about the greatest to ever lace up skates and an extreme low pop of a condition sensitive card. Of course that will generate a huge sale.

Lets talk about the rest instead? any other non premium cards seeing massive increase like they are in basketball? Anything in the past 2 yrs? Any YGs getting 5k ++ in psa 10 holders? I dont disagree with general increases in all card hobby related items. All I was saying is there are exponential collectors of a high pop card vs a low pop hockey card. Within that realm of collecotors, those shelling out $$$ for these cards are spending exponentially more for basketball over hockey.

You let me know when the next time someone pays $50k++ from limited 90s inserts of hockey cards.

[Melagoo]

Originally Posted by McGuillicuddy

Hi all, first post!

I've had this set since I was a teenager and while I always like it, it has been pretty much worthless forever. Now suddenly it has shot up to being sold for hundreds of dollars for a factory set, and of course the high-grade Jagr RC going for crazy money (alas my own Jagr is not a clean as I hoped when I dusted it off the other day ).

What do you all think of this? It this a set that has been chronically undervalued for decades suddenly getting the respect it deserves? Or is it a bubble that will burst as soon as people realize how much supply is available when everybody tries to cash in on the boxes that have been sitting unopened in basements/back rooms?

... one of my favourite sets ... I remember when it came out and then they did the baseball ... Great set ...

[mooselang]

The more I think of it, this set is extremely undervalued. Needs to increase 10 fold.



Is it because I had a little too much bourbon last night because the Pens suck, and did some drunk EBaying and then bought a PSA 9 Jagr for $100 for some reason?


Yes. It is.

[Willikn]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

Lets talk about the rest instead? any other non premium cards seeing massive increase like they are in basketball? Anything in the past 2 yrs? Any YGs getting 5k ++ in psa 10 holders?

I don't think so. Not yet which is really my point.

[rohara99]

Originally Posted by Orangejello727

Any YGs getting 5k ++ in psa 10 holders?

Crosby YG PSA 10 sold for $4300usd on January 9th.
Ovechkin YG PSA 10 sold for $4000usd and $4250usd yesterday.

Based on their movement since the summer they'll hit $5k in the near future IMO

[OhioPlayer]

I made a drunken purchase of a case of 1991 upper deck football and hockey

[McGuillicuddy]

Originally Posted by OhioPlayer

I made a drunken purchase of a case of 1991 upper deck football and hockey

What did the hockey run you?

[OhioPlayer]

Originally Posted by McGuillicuddy

What did the hockey run you?

$200 football is 230

[rohara99]

Originally Posted by OhioPlayer

$200 football is 230

$200 to crack and sort that many packs is a steal!

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by OhioPlayer

$200 football is 230

Hey maybe a Namath or Montana autograph?
What sealed product can you buy these days for $230?

[Melagoo]

I think mine will grade well ...



This Frank Thomas should as well ...

[OhioPlayer]

picked up the boxes today-thinking i might just keep the cases sealed for a bit and see if market still rises.

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by Melagoo

I think mine will grade well ...



This Frank Thomas should as well ...

The Thomas isn't a Rookie card....

[Melagoo]

Originally Posted by valleynuckfan

The Thomas isn't a Rookie card....

- I know ... 1990 is his true rookie card year ... The hockey set is filled with RCs ... a nice card anyway ...

[valleynuckfan]

Yup nice looking card for sure.
My LCS has cases of the Premier Baseball. It was printed in enormous quantity and you virtually trip over it in this neck of the GWN.

[Willikn]

Originally Posted by OhioPlayer

I made a drunken purchase of a case of 1991 upper deck football and hockey

1991 UD hockey loaded too. Just grabbed some boxes myself.

[jasonm2121]

One of the nicest hockey sets ever produced. I say it is still low.

[McGuillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Willikn

1991 UD hockey loaded too. Just grabbed some boxes myself.

Would that be 90-91 or 91-92? Both are solid for rookies.

[Willikn]

Originally Posted by McGuillicuddy

Would that be 90-91 or 91-92? Both are solid for rookies.

Read this thread's opening post. Started applying current hobby logic (or lack thereof). I was stunned at the HOF rookie group in 1990 OPC Premier. I remember the packs being hot in 1991, I knew about the Jagr, but little else.

Found that the UD set meets and exceeds that HOFer RC list. First year UD. The "flagship" from the 90's until today introducing the Young Guns moniker. Boxes are $20 and no factory set for 1st series? Saw that PSA 10 pop, despite the high print run, is actually really low (compared both to OPC Premier and a 2015 YG McDavid). Fun dart throw plus I love some of the photos. I enjoy the holograms.

A few days later dive into the 2nd year and it is nearly as loaded. Two Lidstrom RCs, Hasek and Forsberg. High or low $25 a box. What can you buy today for $25 that gets you 36 twelve card pack ripping fun?

After decades of sitting in junk bins for $5 a pop, a Topps Kobe Bryant RC has become a $5,000 card in a 10 slab. Are any of these guys Kobe? No, but there's a whole lot less 1990 and 1991 UD hockey in 10 slabs. Worst case, I've got hours of pack ripping waiting for me whenever and that's a can't lose.

1990 Score nearly as much fun and that's even cheaper. Subtract Fedorov and Belfour. Add Brodeur and Lindros.

Say what you want about "junk wax" but this new world of collecting is bending reality. $10 junk boxes from 2018 are today's $200 BBCE sealed box (see 1990 Fleer basketball) and you can't beat the rookie list in 1990 or 1991. Any 1996 basketball, even Collector's Choice, is solid gold because of four HOF RCs.

[k13]

Some Junk wax I got recently.

Noticing the non-french already starting to sell well.

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by k13

Some Junk wax I got recently.

Noticing the non-french already starting to sell well.

Quit begging for attention by posting 2015-16 S2 as junk. Despite your opinion on McDavid his Canvas out of S2 is very popular and not exactly being given away any time soon.

[k13]

Originally Posted by valleynuckfan

Quit begging for attention by posting 2015-16 S2 as junk. Despite your opinion on McDavid his Canvas out of S2 is very popular and not exactly being given away any time soon.

I was talking about old UD.
Have boxes laying around everywhere.

No one wanted S2 for five years and it was $80 now everyone wants it.
McDavid Canvas/OPC were in there from the start....duh