On some projects you just have to aim high…

On that note, welcome to the inaugural edition of the Ultimate Set Build, one man’s quest to build an on-line museum documenting the history of hockey cards! A lofty goal, but if it were easy how interesting would this be?!?!

Here’s how it will go: At least once a week I will be presenting a card from every major set and sub-set ever produced! In addition to having a peek at the front and back of the card I will give some point-form info about the set the card came from, pricing, other features, checklist highlights and other info as warranted. So in essence, each installment is meant to give you an idea about what the overall set or sub-set looks like and what features it has as a whole.

One might ask what the use of a feature such as this is. Well, here are just a few that spring to my mind. First off it serves as a pictorial reference to the history of the hockey card on a set by set basis across the close to 100 years they have been produced. It also allows for us to walk through the years and see the changes in card design, sets, pricing and distribution. For some it will act as a reference point in terms of researching products, whether for purchase or purely for learning. Finally, it will act as a personal opportunity for me to compile a physical collection of the “Ultimate Set”, with each card you see presented here being assembled into a collection spanning the history of cards in this sport that can hopefully be shared with a wider audience to enjoy in the future.

Will I ever complete the set? I can’t say for certain, but I’m going to give it a shot! At the same time, can it truly ever be completed? Well, I guess as long as new sets are being released then it will always remain “in progress” at best. Whatever the outcome, or regardless of whether the goal can ever really be reached, I hope there will be an audience for this who will share in the journey with me and who will gain something from it. I say this as that would be the best cheering section I could have as I undertake this task!

Well, I suppose no task is ever completed by just standing around! Time to take that first step…

THE ULTIMATE SET BUILD #1:
2003-04 Topps: Stanley Cup Heroes Sub-Set






This sub-set from the 03-04 Topps release features Stanley Cup winning players from the 1970’s and ‘80’s.

The sub-set contains six (6) cards, featuring the following players:
Bobby Nystrom
Grant Fuhr
Jacques Lemaire
Bobby Clarke
Serge Savard
Dave Schultz

Each card is die cut with a foil front and gold stamped player and team name.

Cards from this sub-set are numbered with the “SCH-“ prefix, followed by the players initials (i.e., Grant Fuhr = SCH-GF).

The odds of pulling one of these cards was 1 in 36 packs on average across the production run (one per box on average).

Book prices for these cards range between $10-$12


Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
BBM: 311A4F7D
_________________________________________________________________________

Ultimate Set Build

INDEX


Previous “Who Am I?” Articles

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5


Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?

#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?

#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?

#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?

#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?

#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?


Previous “Devil's Advocate” Articles

Gary Bettman and the Phoenix Coyotes


Previous “According to Twitter” Articles

Olympic Gold Medal Game

Olympic Hockey

Kovalchuk Trade


Previous “Humpday Hockey Videos”

January 20, 2010: Pain for Pleasure

January 27, 2010: National Anthems

February 3, 2010: Dion Phaneuf

February 10, 2010: Hockey Fans



Previous “Who Knew?” Articles
#1: Gordie Howe

#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility

#6: The Puck

#7: Don Cherry

#8: Cam Neely

#9: The Early Years of Les Canadiens

#10: Hockey Superstitions!

#11: Olympic Hockey Pt1



Previous “Town Without A Team” Articles

Booger Hollow, Arkansas

Hell, Michigan



Previous “Hockey Psychology” Articles

State Dependent Learning

Arousal and Performance

Depression