In the middle ages of hockey cards
between 1951-52 and the NHL expansion days of the late 1960’s and
early 1970’s, the 1958-59
Topps series stands out as one of the most desirable to vintage
hockey cards collectors. The full set of 66 cards is valued as high
as $4500 by Beckett Hockey. The majority of that value is provided by
the Bobby
Hull rookie card.
The top five cards in the 1958-59
series are all valued at $150 or more. Two of the five are rookie
cards, Bobby Hull and Eddie Shack. Two are goalies and the other is a
hockey legend whose combined career hockey card value is worth a
small fortune.
It should be noted that the values
given are 'book value' and are used as reference only. Sale prices of
vintage hockey cards, as in any form of art, can change drastically,
influenced by demand, condition, timing, the seller's and buyer's
knowledge, etc.
Glenn Hall – Chicago Blackhawks
The number 13 card of goaltender Glenn
Hall is fifth with a value of $150. Although he began his career in
1952-53 with the Detroit Red Wings, in 1958-59, Hall was well into a
ten year stint with the Chicago Black Hawks that would make him a
Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender.
Terry Sawchuk – Detroit Red Wings
Next up the ladder is the number 2 card
of Terry Sawchuk. Sawchuk, Hall and Jacques Plante were constantly in
the running for the Vezina trophy during this era. Sawchuk began his
NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1949-50 and had returned to
Detroit from a two-year stint with the Boston Bruins by the time this
series came out. Like Hall (and Plante, for that matter), Terry was
an automatic for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Eddie Shack – New York Rangers
The third most valuable card in the
1958-59 Topps set is that of the only player in the top five to not
be a member of the Hall of Fame. The number 30 rookie card of Eddie
Shack is valued at up to $250. Shack began his NHL career with
the New York Rangers in that 1958-59 season and played with the
Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo
Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins before retiring during the 1974-75
season. He may not officially be in the Hall, but he should be.
Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings
If Gordie Howe’s picture is on the
cardboard, it’s worth money. From his rookie card in 1951-52
(bringing the re-birth of hockey card collecting) with the Detroit
Red Wings to his final card in 1979-80 as a member of the
Hartford Whalers, Howe’s cards are always valuable. His 1958-59
Topps number 8 is valued at up to $500.
Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks
After the re-birth of hockey cards in
1951-52, there are three hockey cards that are valued above all
others. All valued at $3000, those three cards are the rookie cards
of Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and the 1958-59 Topps number 66 of Bobby
Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks. It was just the start of an amazing
career that stayed in Chicago until 1972-73, jumped tracks to the
Winnipeg Jets of the WHA and ended up with Gordie Howe and the
Hartford Whalers in 1979-80.
