Topps Hockey Base Set Expert Help Needed

[ThoseBackPages]

Why did they skip the 1982/83, 83/84, 96/97 (Topps "Picks" doesn't count) & 97/98 seasons.

Do you guys know?

Also, seems that there were NO sets issued for the 56/57 season, no Parkies OR Topps, strange.

 

[jetsman]

I'll shed as much light as I can.

56-57 there were no cards because of licensing and fee disputes if i remember correctly on how the story went.

in 82-83, Topps was re-evaluating the market. That was also the only year they did their own sticker set (OPC did stickers throughout the 80s of course). 83-84 was the only true year where there were no Topps hockey products.

96-97 and 97-98 essentially where the same story, but Topps issued products both years. As you noted, 96-97 was the Topps Picks set, and in 97-98, Topps issued sticker panel cards and also did a Bowman CHL prospects series.

 

[quincy]

For both 96-7 and 97-8, Topps did not have a license. The Topps Picks was done in partnership with Fleer, and since the commitment was on paper when they still had a license it was allowed to go forward with special permission - I think it was as a sub-licensor of Fleer, but someone else may have more accurate information.

Stickers are a separate license from cards, so it's perfectly acceptable for Topps (or for that matter, Panini) to issue stickers but not cards.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Thank You Jetsman and Steve. Good points overall.
If anyone else has anything to add, id love to hear it.