All Vintage Cards Large Cap Hockey Portfolio
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The All Vintage Cards Large Cap Hockey Portfolio is a collection of ten Large-Cap (or “higher-priced’) vintage hockey cards that we think have strong long-term investment potential.
As we discussed in our introduction piece, we are launching three portfolios for each major sport–Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap.
For those not familiar with the lexicon, this corresponds to mutual fund portfolios in the investment world. Large-Cap within the investment space equates to an equity portfolio of the largest companies.
For this All Vintage Cards Large Cap Value Hockey Portfolio we have selected ten cards, each with a value of $3000 or greater.
Note that these selections are based on what we perceive as ‘relative’ value in the marketplace, meaning that we think these cards offer a good value versus other comparative cards.
I will also note that this information is not investment advice, nor are we making any promises in relation to future performance. Please use your own judgment and budget when accounting for any acquisitions of cards in this portfolio.
Please also see our All-Vintage Cards Small-Cap Hockey Value and All-Vintage Cards Mid-Cap Hockey portfolios.
Total Value (as of 6/30/2021) = $56,700Average Price Per Card = $5670
1911 C55 Georges Vezina #36 (RC)
Estimated Cost – VG/EX Condition: $6900
The 1911 C55 rookie card of Georges Vezina.
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: Known as the “Chicoutimi Cucumber” (Vezina grew up in Chicoutimi, Quebec) for his cool composure in goal, Vezina led the league in goals against average seven times, while helping lead the Canadiens to Stanley Cup wins in 1916 and 1924. Many are likely familiar with the Vezina name due to the ‘Vezina Trophy’ which is awarded to the best goaltender each year in the NHL. Thus, his rookie card from the 1911 C55 set is often considered to be one of the landmark vintage hockey cards.
Current PSA Population: It has been graded approximately 200 times by PSA; which makes the Vezina card and the C55 set in general a bit easier to find than the C56 set from 1910. Still, a Near Mint copy is worth ~$75,000. Lower graded copies still demand a good premium, with even good (PSA 2) copies selling in excess of $3000.
1911 C55 GEORGES VEZINA Rookie #38 SGC A - No Creases
 | $7,795.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $7,795.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1911-12 C55 Imperial Tobacco #38 Georges Vezina Rookie RC PSA 5
 | $32,922.41 Buy It on eBay for only: $32,922.41 Buy It Now on eBay |
1911 C55 Imperial Tobacco No 38 George Vezina Rookie PSA 4 + Hi-End
 | $22,490.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $22,490.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1923 V145-1 Howie Morenz #25 (RC)
Estimated Cost – Poor Condition: $5800
The V145 Rookie Card of Howie Morenz
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: Some refer to Morenz as the ‘Babe Ruth’ of Hockey due to his dominance as a goal scorer and his speed on the ice. Over his fourteen year playing career, Morenz was the league’s top ten scorer in ten seasons, a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams with the Canadiens and a three time MVP winner. Thus, when putting together this portfolio, the Morenz rookie card was a no brainer for me—hard to assemble a top ten without Morenz in the mix.
Current PSA Population: His rookie has been graded roughly 45 times by PSA, which roughly equivalent with most of the other cards in the set. While an Excellent (PSA 5) graded Morenz rookie is going to set you back in upwards of $20,000, lower graded copies can certainly be found for less, but still will likely run in excess of $5000.
1923 V145-1 HOWIE MORENZ Rookie #15 SGC A
 | $3,595.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $3,595.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1924 Champ’s Cigarette (C144) – Howie Morenz
Estimated Cost – EX Condition: $4500
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: The Champ’s Cigarette (C144) cards were issued as a 60 card set by Tobacco Products Corporation and inserted inside of packs of Champ’s Cigarettes. Morenz is the most valuable card in the set, yet the issue is loaded with cards of stars such as Georges Vezina and King Clancy along with many first-year issues. I like the card for its scarcity and importance in the hobby as one of the most popular pre-war tobacco hockey issues.
Current PSA Population: Only 20 copies have been graded by PSA of this 1924 Champ’s Cigarette (C144) card of hockey legend Howie Morenz, thus finding one might be a challenge. As of this writing, recent sales in the VG/EX to EX range have been at around $5000+. I think based on the scarcity, still a solid investment.
1924 C144 Howard Morenz - SGC 60
 | $7,150.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $7,150.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1951 Parkhurst Maurice Richard #4 (RC)
Estimated Cost – VG/EX Condition: $4200
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard was one of the best to play the game, and was named as the #5 best NHL player the Hockey News 100 Greatest Players of all time. Richard’s 1951 Parkhurst rookie card is one of the key cards to the landmark 1951-52 Parkhurst hockey set.
Current PSA Population: Richard’s rookie has been graded roughly 400 times by PSA, so given the relative demand for the card, nicer condition copies can demand a significant premium. The latest sale of a Near-Mint copy eclipsed $10K, so we settled for a VG/EX copy at a little over $4K.
MAURICE RICHARD - 1951-52 PARKHURST ROOKIE CARD PSA 1.0
 | $2,158.25 Buy It on eBay for only: $2,158.25 Buy It Now on eBay |
1951 Parkhurst #4 Maurice Richard Canadiens RC HOF PSA 2.5 - GD+
 | $4,270.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $4,270.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1951-52 PARKHURST MAURICE RICHARD #4 PSA 2 GOOD
 | $2,925.70 Buy It on eBay for only: $2,925.70 Buy It Now on eBay |
1951 Parkhurst Gordie Howe #66 (RC)
Estimated Cost – Good Condition: $5500
The 1951 Parkhurst rookie card of Gordie Howe.
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: When you talk about the all time NHL Greats, Gordie Howe must be mentioned. A 23 time NHL All-Star, Howe was considered to be on the best all-around players to play the game, due to his amazing offensive abilities and defensive abilities. Howe’s rookie card from the 1951 Parkhurst set is one of the most sought after hockey cards of all time. I think it will remain one of the better investments across all of vintage hockey cards.
Current PSA Population: More than 500 copies have been graded by PSA, making it quite expensive for higher graded copies. For anything in mid to high grade condition, expect to pay up—I opted for a Good condition card, which is typically selling for over $5000.
Gordie Howe 1951 Parkhurst #66 Rookie PSA 2 📈🐐💥 Eye Appeal 👀
 | $4,999.99 Buy It on eBay for only: $4,999.99 Buy It Now on eBay |
GORDIE HOWE SIGNED 1993 PARKHURST 1951 ROOKIE REPRINT CARD PSA/DNA Auto HOF
 | $349.99 Buy It on eBay for only: $349.99 Buy It Now on eBay |
1951 52 PARKHURST GORDIE HOWE RC ROOKIE PSA 4 REGRADE? #66 DETRIOT RED WINGS SP
 | $13,499.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $13,499.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1955 Parkhurst Jacques Plante #50 (RC)
Estimated Cost – NM Condition: $6500
Rookie card of star goaltender Jacques Plante.
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: Maybe one of the greatest poses on any hockey card of all time, the 1955 Parkhurst rookie card of goaltending great Jacques Plante is a thing of beauty. Ranked as the thirteenth best player of all time by The Hockey News, Jaques Plante is known as the pioneer of modern goaltending.
Current PSA Population: Plante’s 1955 Parkhurst rookie card has been graded ~300 times by PSA thus it tends to be tougher to find then many of the other issues of the era. I opted for a higher grade copy for this Large Cap Hockey portfolio. A Near Mint condition copy runs at about $6500, and notably, less than 60 copies have been graded at NM or better.
1955 Parkhurst Quaker Oats #75 Leaf Speedsters Attack (Jacques Plante) PSA 7
 | $3,000.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $3,000.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1955-56 Parkhurst #50 Jacques Plante Rookie Card & 8 others Tim Horton etc
 | $2,000.00 End Date: Thursday Oct-10-2024 23:14:55 EDT Buy It on eBay for only: $2,000.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1955 Parkhurst Quaker Oats #71 Plante is Protected PSA 8 HIGHEST GRADED POP 1
 | $15,000.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $15,000.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1958 Topps – Bobby Hull #66 (RC)
Estimated Cost – EX Condition: $7200
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: Arguably, one of the best player to ever play the game of hockey, Hull was an offensive wizard, with blazing speed and a shot that ultimately earned him the nickname “The Golden Jet”. Hull’s rookie card is considered to be one of the premier rookie cards for vintage hockey collectors and I do think the future potential of this one is quite good. In addition, as I note in the next section, a fairly limited population.
Current PSA Population: The 1958 Topps Hockey set wasn’t widely distributed and due to Hull’s position on the printing sheets, the card was often printed with centering problems. Also it was the last card in the set, and victim to many of the rubber bands that have plagued card conditions over the years. PSA has graded less than 550 copies and I opted for a higher grade version.
1958-59 TOPPS #66 BOBBY HULL ROOKIE CARD GRADED PSA 1 (MC) RC
 | $226.80 (30 bids) End Date: Saturday Oct-12-2024 22:09:33 EDT Bid |
1958/59 TOPPS NHL HOCKEY CARD #66 BOBBY HULL ROOKIE RC KSA 4 NICE 58/59 TOPPS NN
 | $2,299.99 Buy It on eBay for only: $2,299.99 Buy It Now on eBay |
1958-59 Topps - #66 Bobby Hull (RC)
 | $549.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $549.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1966 Topps Bobby Orr #35 (RC)
Estimated Cost – VG/EX Condition: $6700
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: In any discussion in the best overall player of all time, the names thrown around usually center on Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe and Orr. Orr played twelve seasons in the NHL winning eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman, three Hart Trophies (MVP) and two Stanley Cup titles with the Bruins.
Orr’s 1966 Topps rookie card is certainly one of the most sought after for vintage hockey card collectors. While the card has definitely seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, I think it will remain one of the best long term investments among all vintage hockey cards.
Current PSA Population: PSA has graded Orr’s 1966 Topps card less than 1000 times, so they aren’t scarce by any means, but given the demand, higher graded copies will certainly set you back a few bucks. We opted for one in low to mid grade (VG/EX) but for anyone with deeper pockets, a higher grade copy would be recommended.
1966-1967 Topps Bobby Orr Rookie Bruins Card #35 RC - Certified BVG 4.5 (VG-EX+)
 | $5,865.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $5,865.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1966 TOPPS #35 ROOKIE CARD BOBBY ORR - PSA 4 (MC) VG-EX - GREAT EYE APPEAL !!!
 | $4,389.65 Buy It on eBay for only: $4,389.65 Buy It Now on eBay |
1966-1967 Topps Bobby Orr Rookie Bruins Card #35 RC - Certified SGC 1 - Rare!
 | $2,295.00 Buy It on eBay for only: $2,295.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
1979 OPC Wayne Gretzky #18 (RC)
Estimated Cost – NM Condition: $5500
The ‘Great One’s’ 1979 OPC Rookie card.
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: The rookie card of the ‘Great One’ Wayne Gretzky, is likely the most well-recognized card in the history of hockey cards. For sports card collectors, the Gretzky rookie is a must-have and can be relatively affordable in lower graded conditions.
Current PSA Population: Based on PSA’s stats, Gretzky’s OPC rookie card has been graded slightly less than his Topps variation, by around a few hundred or so, thus the OPC isn’t necessarily all that much scarcer. The OPC Gretzky rookie card has been graded nearly 8000 times, but if we look at NM or better copies, that number drops to less than 1200. Thus, opt for higher grade if you can.
1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card RC #18 - Certified SGC 5 (Excellent)
 | $1,778.40 Buy It on eBay for only: $1,778.40 Buy It Now on eBay |
1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card OPC RC #18 - Certified SGC 3.5 (VG+)
 | $1,102.95 Buy It on eBay for only: $1,102.95 Buy It Now on eBay |
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee OPC Hockey #18 Wayne Gretzky RC Rookie HOF KSA 9.5
 | $2,247.00 (21 bids) End Date: Tuesday Oct-15-2024 23:49:01 EDT Bid |
1985 O-Pee-Chee (OPC) Mario Lemieux (RC)
Estimated Cost -MINT Condition: $3900
Why We Selected It For The Portfolio: One of the greatest to ever play the game, if we’re talking all-time hockey greats, we have to bring Lemieux into the discussion. One of the greatest goal scorers of all time, Lemieux had his career interrupted by a bout with cancer—and even still, he ranks #8 all-time in overall points. Who knows what he would have been able to do if he didn’t get sick?
Current PSA Population: Lemieux’s O-Pee-Chee rookie card has been graded nearly 4500 times by PSA, so not necessarily a rare card. Amazingly the Topps card has only been graded a few hundred more times, so not a ton of disparity in overall supply. PSA has graded around 700 OPC Lemieux copies at Mint or Better, so I definitely prefer something in high grade.
1985 O-PEE-CHEE #9 MARIO LEMIEUX ROOKIE RC PSA 8
 | $501.00 (4 bids) End Date: Sunday Oct-13-2024 21:16:00 EDT Bid |
1985-86 O-Pee-Chee Mario Lemieux #9 SGC 7 Rookie RC HOF
 | $220.50 (11 bids) End Date: Saturday Oct-12-2024 20:14:57 EDT Bid |
1985 O-PEE-CHEE #9 MARIO LEMIEUX ROOKIE RC PSA 7
 | $790.00 End Date: Friday Oct-11-2024 21:23:00 EDT Buy It on eBay for only: $790.00 Buy It Now on eBay |
