1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set
Hockey card collecting has been a popular hobby since the early 1900s, and Upper Deck has been a leader in the industry since the company's founding in 1988. One of their most popular releases was the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set. This set was jam-packed with exciting cards, including rookie cards of some of the biggest names in hockey history. In this article, we'll take a comprehensive look at the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set and explore why it still holds up as one of the most sought-after sets among collectors today.
Set Design
The design of the cards in the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set was clean and simple. The fronts featured a photo of the player in action, with a white border around the edge. The player's name and team were printed in the bottom left corner, with the Upper Deck logo in the bottom right. The backs of the cards contained stats and biographical information about the player, as well as a short write-up about their career.
One of the standout features of the set was the use of foil stamping. Many of the cards had foil accents, including the player's name and team logo on the front of the card, as well as the Upper Deck logo on the back. This gave the cards a high-end look and made them stand out from other hockey card sets on the market at the time.
Rookie Cards
One of the most exciting aspects of the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set was the rookie cards. This set included rookie cards of several players who would go on to become NHL legends. Some of the biggest names included Eric Lindros, Scott Niedermayer, and Peter Forsberg.
Eric Lindros was the number one overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft and was one of the most highly-anticipated rookies in the set. His card featured a photo of him in his Philadelphia Flyers jersey, with the team logo and his name in foil stamping. The back of the card contained his stats from his time in junior hockey and a short write-up about his career prospects.
Scott Niedermayer was another highly-regarded rookie in the set. His card featured a photo of him in his Devils jersey, with the team logo and his name in foil stamping. The back of the card contained his stats from his time in junior hockey and a short write-up about his career prospects. Niedermayer went on to have a Hall of Fame career and won four Stanley Cups during his time with the Devils and Ducks.
Peter Forsberg was another standout rookie in the set. His card featured a photo of him in his Nordiques jersey, with the team logo and his name in foil stamping. The back of the card contained his stats from his time in Sweden and a short write-up about his career prospects. Forsberg would go on to win two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.
Insert Cards
In addition to the base set, the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set also included several insert sets. One of the most popular was the "Hockey Heroes" set, which featured cards of some of the greatest players in hockey history. These cards had a unique design, featuring a cartoon illustration of the player with a background resembling a hockey rink.
The set also included the "Award Winners" set, which featured cards of the previous season's award winners. These cards had a similar design to the base set, but with a silver foil stamp on the front denoting the player's award.
Value
The value of the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set has remained strong over the years. The set is highly sought after by collectors, particularly the rookie cards of Lindros, Niedermayer, and Forsberg. According to Beckett, a set in near-mint condition can sell for upwards of $500. Individual rookie cards can sell for several hundred dollars each, depending on the condition.
Conclusion
The 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set was a groundbreaking release that set the standard for hockey card sets to come. The clean and simple design, combined with the use of foil stamping, made these cards stand out from other sets on the market. The inclusion of rookie cards of some of the biggest names in hockey history only adds to the set's appeal. Even today, nearly 30 years later, the 1991-92 Upper Deck Hockey Card Set remains a highly sought-after set among collectors.
