1950-1959 Hockey Cards

After a down decade in the 1940s, the 1950s hockey cards saw a resurgence. Parkhurst and Topps both released full-color products during this period. The early 1950s cards from Parkhurst, particularly 1951-52 Parkhurst, feature some of the most valuable and popular hockey cards in existence.

The top overall rookie options from 1950-1959 hockey card sets include Gordie Howe and Maurice “Rocket” Richard. Both rookie cards are found in 1951-52 Parkhurst. Other top rookies from the decade include Doug Harvey, Tim Horton, Dickie Moore, Jean Beliveau, Johnny Bower, Jacques Plante, Frank Mahovlich, and Bobby Hull.

1954-55 Topps Hockey Cards

1954-55 Topps Hockey is the company’s first-ever set for the sport. Featuring players from the NHL’s four American teams, Gordie Howe and Terry Sawchuk are the most popular cards.

Product Details

1954-55 Topps Hockey is the company's first set for the sport. The 60-card set  features players from the four teams that played their home games in the United States at that time: the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. They are also the only set of hockey cards Topps printed in its larger pre-1957 size.

Card fronts feature an action shot of the player superimposed onto a solid white background. A team logo appears in an upper corner and a facsimile autograph runs across the player's image. Below the picture, a red strip has the player's name and position. A blue strip has the team name.

1954-55 Topps Hockey card backs are printed in red and blue ink on white card stock, matching the all-American content of the set. The card number is inside a puck-shaped circle in the upper left corner. A blue stripe along the top names the player's position and gives his team, while a red stripe under that has his full name. There is a blue hockey stick that isolates the player's vital stats over to the left side. A cartoon on the right side explains a generic hockey term. In the center of the card, a biography is printed in blue ink, and a line of stats from the previous season runs along the bottom.

Although it was the first Topps set, few cards actually show rookies because Parkhurst had been making their own hockey cards for several years. Despite that, the card showing Gordie Howe is the key card of the set. Terry Sawchuk's card is also very popular among collectors. Rookie cards in 1954-55 Topps Hockey include Camille Henry and Doug Mohns.

How We Grade:

Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. 

Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. 

Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. 

Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks.

Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. 

Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. 

Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. 

Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. 

We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund.

Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.

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