7 GREATEST INSERT SETS

They might lack the elements that define a desirable insert in 2021, but these bonus cards brought a little extra excitement to every pack through the first half of the decade.

1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Sticker Stamps

Half a century later, these might be the toughest of all the ‘70s inserts. No mystery why. Kids used them as intended, slapping them on school books, bedroom walls and every other surface that needed a bit of pizzazz. Those that did survive tend to suffer from damaged corners, the inevitable result of the soft paper used. The 33 unnumbered stickers, inserted one per first-series pack, have recently become darlings of the grading community.

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Team Canada

Let’s address the elephant in the room right o the top: These cards are hideous. There are no circumstances in which a floating head is an acceptable design option. All that said, this set is amazing because it captures the stars of the greatest hockey series in history. OPC may not have had the rights to show them in their Hockey Canada gear, but that doesn’t stop these cards – issued one per second-series pack – from bringing back memories of that traumatic and, ultimately, triumphant September of 1972.

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Booklets

Fans today are blessed with almost unlimited access to hockey information. Whether it’s from broadcasts of every game, to team and player social channels, to in-depth media, there’s a level of intimacy kids in the ‘70s couldn’t have imagined. Because we were so starved to learn about our favorites, these booklets were of immense value, giving us looks into their backgrounds, their families, their skills and their interests. Just a brilliant idea.

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Team Crests

Similar to the stickers issued two seasons earlier, these team crests can be tough to find intact because so many young collectors punched them out. But it’s not just scarcity that makes this a fascinating set to collect. The logos, issued one per series-three pack, capture a unique period in hockey history, with SP tributes to the inaugural seasons of the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames, along with the 12 teams of the new World Hockey Association.

1970-71 O-Pee-Chee Deckle Edge

The term “deckle edge” refers to the rough cut of paper caused by a type of wire slicer known as a deckle. It’s hard to imagine why anyone thought the aesthetic of this process would be preferable to a sharp, clean razor slice, but this 48-card set proves that someone did. To be fair, these undersized, black-and-white, second-series inserts are instantly identifiable 50 years later, thanks to their unique style.

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Player Crests

Like the Team Crests issued later that season, the 22 Player Crests are tough to find intact these days. Found one per series-one pack, they were often immediately punched out and affixed to personalize favorite items. The thicker cardboard stock means those that survived tend to be in better condition than the player stamps issued two years earlier, but their scarcity makes them a favorite of graders.

1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Team Rings

These series two inserts won’t win any beauty contests. Still, these were part of the practical use craze which means the vast majority of them were punched out by kids and worn to school to let everyone know their team affiliation. As a result, they can be a challenge to track down today, especially more popular teams like the Leafs, Canadiens and Bruins.