Starting my HHOF project, need help!

[oilerfan71]

So I’ve thought about this project for a few years now, and I figure 2018 is a good time to start. I’m going to attempt my most ambitious collection to date, collecting the rookie card of every player currently in the Hockey Hall of Fame. But I have a few questions before this gets under way, and I’m hoping the H.I. Universe can help me out by answering a few questions:

1. Is there a book/website/list of HHOF players’ rookie cards? I’ve looked at Hockeydb.com, but there are still quite a few players that I can’t find any listings of. I realize some players may not have any cards at all, so I want to be able to note this.

2. The card world is (unfortunately) littered with fakes and reprints. Is there a book/website that helps to spot fakes?


3. Vintage cards are often slabbed and graded. This is the easiest way to ensure authenticity. I know Beckett and PSA are top graders, what about KSA or ASA? I don’t know much about the lesser known graders. Any I should avoid?

4. Do the female HHOF players have cards? I can’t find any information on any!

5. Any ideas on the best people/shops to deal with who specialize in vintage, or who to avoid?

Thanks for any information you can provide. I have a few cards that I’ve picked up over the years to get me started, but I have a feeling this this may end up being a lifelong pursuit. I will keep you all posted as the project progresses. Cheers!

 

[C55]

Hi,

1. This list is a good place to start, though there are a few inclusions who were not actually inducted as players and at least one (Meeker) who is not actually enshrined. I also don’t consider the postcards to be RC’s, but you can get them for completeness if you want.
https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/hockey/players/hall-fame-players-rookies/composition/4276
2. Buy from reputable sellers and/or cards graded by the big 3 (PSA, SGC, BVG/BGS). Also feel free to post or contact one of the vintage collectors on here for help.
3. Stick with the big 3. ASA hasn’t been around long enough for me to say. KSA is reliable as far as authenticity, but are wildly inconsistent with grades and often miss trimming. If a card is in any other slab you can assume it is fake or has been altered.
4. The list above includes women.
5. Auction houses such as eBay, Heritage, SCP, MHCC, Memory Lane, and Classic Auctions, Capsorts2000.com, the people on VintageHockeyForum, and me of course

 

[oilerfan71]

Thanks for the help! I was able to find all I needed to fill in all the gaps! I was pretty sure to stick to Beckett and PSA, this confirms it. I will be in touch! BTW, Howie Meeker should be in the hall, IMHO!

 

[Zorro]

C55 did a great job of summarizing all the key points. I started the same collection 2.5 years ago and it's been awesome. My sig contains a link to my HOF rookie collection if you care to check it out. Mine is all PSA, I like the uniformity and the slim cases. Have fun!