The 1958-59 Topps hockey card set is best known for card #66 – the Bobby Hull rookie card that is valued at $3000 by Beckett Hockey Monthly. However, the second most valuable card in the set is that of Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings. The number 8 card of Howe is also an uncorrect error card. Why? On the front of the card, Mr. Hockey’s first name is spelled ‘Gordy’.
Just the facts:
- Topps mis-spelled Howe’s first name ‘Gordy’ on his 1958-59 hockey card.
- The 1958-59 Topps #8 is valued at $400 by Beckett Hockey Monthly.
- Gordie’s rookie card came out in 1951-52 and is valued at $3000.
- The 1958-59 card is the second most valuable in the set with Bobby Hull’s rookie card being the most.
The complete set of 66 cards is valued at $4500 and a common card goes for $20. The Howe card is valued at $400. This is a far cry from the Gordie Howe rookie card from the 1951-52 Parkhurst set that is valued at $3000.
The back of the card features Howe’s stats from the 1957-58 season. It was Gordie’s 12th year in the National Hockey League and his 12th with the Red Wings. He led the Red Wings in 57-58 with 33 goals and 44 assists for 77 points. His 33 goals were second in the NHL to the 36 put up by Dickie Moore of the Montreal Canadiens. His 77 points placed him fourth behind Moore (84), Henri Richard of the Canadiens (80) and Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers (78). Detroit was swept in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoff by the Canadiens, the eventual Stanley Cup champion.
Howe went on to play with the Red Wings until the end of the 1970-71 season. After a two year hiatus from the game, he returned to play in the World Hockey Association with the Houston Aeros. Gordie remained in the WHA until the league was swallowed up by the NHL after the 1978-79 season. He played one last NHL season with the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80 before retiring for good.
Gordie became a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. His number 9 was retired by the Red Wings, one of just six number that hang from the rafters at Joe Louis Arena.