Question - 02/03 OPC Factory Sets?

[The Great Zo]

Hey everyone,

Here's a question that's been haunting me (and maybe others) for a while now. Shift your brains back to fall of 2002, when Topps and O-Pee-Chee released their 02/03 product.

Shortly after the regular case-box-packs product was released, Topps released a factory set version which was sold, from what I understand, in hobby shops and also in retail outlets as well. They contained the entire set of cards from that year, with a difference - instead of the standard silver foil, the cards featured holographic gold foil, and a slightly glossier finish.

Now, I know that the Topps factory set cards do exist, as I own a couple for my player collections. However, they have proven very hard to find. My question, however, deals with the O-Pee-Chee brand. Does anyone know if an OPC version of the factory sets (with holo-foil) was created? I haven't yet seen ANY of these, but from what I remember, I was pretty sure that they did exist.

So that's the question of the day. Are the OPC Factory Set cards just an impossibility for a player collector to find, or are they just a figment of my imagination?

 

[drearick]

Andy -

I actually just started looking into this since I've been digging a little deeper for my Penguins collection...

From what I've found, the Hometown Heroes insert set was part of this "factory set" effort. As such, the Canadian Hometown Heroes inserts that were issued with the OPC label seem to have been done, but I haven't been able to find any reference to an OPC factory set ... so am I just to assume that the OPC heroes cards were inserted into the Topps factory set?

Anyway, since I need 30 to 40 of the factory set cards for my collection, I was just considering grabbing one of the full factory sets from D&A's since I think they have them for about $35...although if anyone has one of the factory sets that they've broken down for singles already, I'd love to hear from you.

Sorry I couldn't be more help Andy, but I found it interesting that this question came up at the same time I started putting a list of these together for myself....

Dave

 

[TanguayFan]

To answer your question, no, there is no OPC factory set.....I just picked up the Topps Tanguay factory set single for my player collection...they're actually quite nice cards, with the holographic lettering...

 

[The Great Zo]

Well, now that I had some time between classes, I did a bit of research and found a ton of listings for the Topps Factory Set. To answer your question, Dave, it looks like the Topps Factory Set contains the first 20 cards (the USA cards) from the Hometown Heroes set.

I was just about to give up hope finding any mention of the OPC Factory Set, but then I saw this:

http://www.pghsportswholesale.com/Storefront/ItemBuy.cfm?ItemID=5390

Looks like it does exist... and for $25.00, you could make up the cash from that selling the singles REAL EASY. I'd pay $2.00 each for the three I need, and when you figure it's a 330 card set... the math adds up pretty good.

(for the record, I'm missing Samsonov from the Topps, and ... apparently since it exists... Kudroc, Keefe, and Samsonov from the OPC)

 

[X-Head]

Well, you've answered your question, but i was going to say that the OPC factory sets do exist. I remember seeing them in Wal Mart around Christmas time here and contemplating buying one. Then deciding not to because I'd rather spend the money on a box and get a full set tat way, with the chance of pulling a jersey or auto.

 

[PhilM]

+ they were really expensive @ wal mart if my memory serves me at all,

 

[X-Head]

+ they were really expensive @ wal mart if my memory serves me at all,

They were, thats why i chose to spend the money on a sealed box.

 

[TanguayFan]

I stand corrected...I hadn't been able to find evidence of an OPC factory set at all.....guess I need to update the ol' sig and add a card to my base set needs....

 

[bryanstarock]

andy...i was always wondering that too...i had marked them off my stefan wantlist because i thought they were the same cards...

 

[Harris Sports Cards]

Yup, I have one in my Ivan Huml collection. Picked it up pretty cheap on the beckett marketplace actually.

Josh

 

[drearick]

Based on this thread, I decided to pick up one each of the Topps and OPC factory sets to get the singles for my PC ... but that will leave me with lots of extras which I'll be glad to move to player collectors. If anyone is interested, check out my thread in the Buy/Sell area or PM me ...

Thanks.
Dave