1954 Topps Hockey

[LuckyLarry]

What's not to like about this set? Nice BIG cards, beautiful fronts AND backs, and only 60 cards in the set! And the only card I need to complete my set, is somewhere between here and Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada. A beat up and trashed Gordie Howe RC.

[frankbmd]

Larry,

Howe long have you been waiting for Gordie?

Frank

[Billwinkle]

I still need #5, 20, 50 and 59 for my set. I want ungraded but as close to mint as possible. The rest of my collection is as good if not better than these three. If you have any of the 4 listed as double we need to talk!!!!


55 sawchuk (281x400).jpg

55-gordie (288x400).jpg

55-gump.jpg

[brewing]

I love this set. Good luck in your pursuit.

[LuckyLarry]

With this cold front pushing south, Gordie picked up a nice tailwind and showed up at my house today Frank billwinkle I have no duplicates sorry your cards look very very nice! I paid "full book" for this Gordie Howe RC (adjusted for condition of course). $43 plus $20 shipping $63 total or just a touch less than 4% NM value. At least the online guide I use says NM $1600 for this card.
As I complete my 50s and 60s Topps hockey sets I've been buying lots of cards from Canada. I still don't understand Canadas shipping charges but I was fully aware $20 would be charged for this auction I'm sure it chased some bidders away.
Next up my 1957 Topps hockey set I need sixteen cards to complete.
Larry

[CW]

Whether you like hockey or not, it hard to deny the simple beauty of this set. One of the all time classics, and maybe the best looking hockey set ever created.

Congrats on the Gordie!

[jb217676]

Gordie!

[LuckyLarry]

Despite wearing eyeglasses during games due to his poor vision, Laycoe gained a reputation as one of the most physical players in the league. His high stick on and subsequent fight with French-Canadian superstar Maurice Richard was the catalyst for the infamous Richard Riot. Laycoe retired after the 1956.

[LuckyLarry]

On the back of my Laycoe card is what appears to be an Easter Seals stamp dated 1956. Google translated: "Help Disabled Children"

[LuckyLarry]

One more before I head out to babysit one of my grandkids
Hard to believe these goalies did not wear masks until 1959?
Rollins is one of the three players to win the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) and not get selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

[gawaintheknight]

Congratulations on your pickup. I'm working on Topps sets from the 60s if you have anything there you want to trade away....

[Billwinkle]

I agree that this set is one of the nicest ever produced however there are two extremely important items missing. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadians. What were they thinking? The two teams that won 18 (9 Each) of the 27 Cups after the NHL contracted from 8 teams to 6 in the 40's. Can you imagine the value of this set if they had all 6 teams!!!!!!!

[Huysmans]

[QUOTE=LuckyLarry;1342100]What's not to like about this set? Nice BIG cards, beautiful fronts AND backs, and only 60 cards in the set! And the only card I need to complete my set, is somewhere between here and Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada. A beat up and trashed Gordie Howe RC.



[/QBrent

I totally agree, one of the truly great sets. Although, my favorite 50's set would have to be the 57-58 Parkhurst. It has Plante's best card, and I would call it one of the most aesthetically pleasing cards ever made.
My ONE pet peeve, and I know this is nitpicking... But I'm not a fan of calling the 54-55 Topps Howe his ROOKIE. It's his first Topps card, nothing more.
Then again, this could be said for a number of cards, the biggest that comes to mind is obviously Mantle's '52 Topps.
....just my opinion.

Brent

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Billwinkle

I agree that this set is one of the nicest ever produced however there are two extremely important items missing. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadians. What were they thinking? The two teams that won 18 (9 Each) of the 27 Cups after the NHL contracted from 8 teams to 6 in the 40's. Can you imagine the value of this set if they had all 6 teams!!!!!!!

Topps did not have the rights to those two teams in '54-55.

[GrayGhost]

Originally Posted by LuckyLarry

With this cold front pushing south, Gordie picked up a nice tailwind and showed up at my house today Frank billwinkle I have no duplicates sorry your cards look very very nice! I paid "full book" for this Gordie Howe RC (adjusted for condition of course). $43 plus $20 shipping $63 total or just a touch less than 4% NM value. At least the online guide I use says NM $1600 for this card.
As I complete my 50s and 60s Topps hockey sets I've been buying lots of cards from Canada. I still don't understand Canadas shipping charges but I was fully aware $20 would be charged for this auction I'm sure it chased some bidders away.
Next up my 1957 Topps hockey set I need sixteen cards to complete.
Larry

I got this one with four other lower grade 54 topps incl Worsley for just 16.00. Im poor, don't buy many cards, but just love the set and card, like u do yours sir

[benderbroeth]

I am only 8 cards from a graded set!!! Love this set so much

[joelefsox]

Does anybody know the reason why Montreal and Toronto were not included in the 1954 Topps Hockey set? Joel

[Jeff Alcorn]

Hi Joel,

Topps only had the rights to the 4 American based teams, while Parkhurst had the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs. This situation continued until Parkhurst dropped out after the 1963-64 season and Topps then had all 6 teams. I remember reading in an interview that the owner of Parkhurst felt that the cost for the rights had gotten too expensive so he let Topps go it alone. I hope that helps.

I have always wondered why none of the 6 expansion teams were printed in the 1967 set. Does anyone know?

Thanks,

Jeff

[epike3]

I agree, this is a great set!

5 down, 55 to go - looking for your beat-up duplicates.

Best,
Ed