Following Topps releasing a baseball set of Deckle edge card in 1969, O-Pee-Chee came out with a similar product for the 1970-71 hockey season. The Topps baseball set was slightly different in physical size and there were fewer cards with just 33. The O-Pee-Chee series of hockey inserts consisted of 48 cards.
The 1970-71 Deckle inserts were distributed one per pack with the regular issue 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee hockey card series. The cards measured 2 1/8″ wide by 3 1/8″ tall. Each card featured a black and white profile photo on the front with the player’s signature across the card. On the back was simply the player’s name with the card number (x of 48 photos).
According to Beckett Hockey Monthly, a complete set of the 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Deckle cards is valued at $400. A common card is valued at $5. The usual suspects are at the top of the value list for these inserts. Card number 4, featuring Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins, is the highest valued card at $80. Number 18 with Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings on the front is valued at $50. Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks comes in just behind Howe at $40. Jean Beliveau of the Montreal Canadiens and Tony Esposito of the Chicago Black Hawks both have cards worth $20.
Generally, the 1970-71 deckle cards are worth approximately half of each players regular hockey card from the 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee series.
I monitored several of these inserts on eBay recently. There were several different sellers and a wide range of starting bid prices on a selection of cards. Not one single one sold. What does this say about these cards? Were the starting bids too high? Is there no interest in these cards? Is this a good time to collect this set?
O-Pee-Chee did something similar with their 1977-78 set. This time, the edge was clean but rounded at the corner. Also, in 1977-78, the images were colour. One was included in each pack of regular hockey cards. I remember at the time, the inserts were a bit of an unwanted item and were mostly stuffed away or just thrown away.
I’m a 49 year old Ottawan, and have had a stack of these since who knows when. Always wondered where they came from. Thanks for the info.
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