Countdown 22/22
O-Pee-Chee Premier
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1991-92 OPC Premier #67
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Even though he became the 113th pick overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota by the Vancouver Canucks, Bure made his debut with the team in 1991-92. As a result, it's also where his first cards as a Canuck were produced.
If you don't count all the oddballs (they will be saved for future posts), manufacturers made 19 different cards of the Russian Rocket. Let's begin alphabetically with the O-Pee-Chee Premier.
First of all, it was the first box of hockey cards I purchased... well, actually my father for my 8th birthday. The owner of the local shop in my town was very nice. After I ripped all the packs home and sorted them, I returned with all my doubles. He gently traded me the ones missing to complete my set.
Consisting of 198 standard-size cards, the 1991-92 O-Pee-Chee Premier commemorates the 75th anniversary of the NHL. Because of that, the Original 6 teams (Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York Rangers, Montreal, and Toronto) wore throwback sweaters.
There's nothing much more to say about this set, except maybe one thing; there's an error with the Vladimir Konstantinov card. On the back, some of them have the face of Nicklas Lidstrom. Very few hit the market, so if you happen to have one, you are lucky! Beckett list this variation at 25$.
If you don't count all the oddballs (they will be saved for future posts), manufacturers made 19 different cards of the Russian Rocket. Let's begin alphabetically with the O-Pee-Chee Premier.
First of all, it was the first box of hockey cards I purchased... well, actually my father for my 8th birthday. The owner of the local shop in my town was very nice. After I ripped all the packs home and sorted them, I returned with all my doubles. He gently traded me the ones missing to complete my set.
Consisting of 198 standard-size cards, the 1991-92 O-Pee-Chee Premier commemorates the 75th anniversary of the NHL. Because of that, the Original 6 teams (Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York Rangers, Montreal, and Toronto) wore throwback sweaters.
There's nothing much more to say about this set, except maybe one thing; there's an error with the Vladimir Konstantinov card. On the back, some of them have the face of Nicklas Lidstrom. Very few hit the market, so if you happen to have one, you are lucky! Beckett list this variation at 25$.
Parkhurst
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1991-92 Parkhurst #404
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1991-92 Parkhurst #446
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1991-92 Parkhurst #462
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1991-92 Parkhurst French #404
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1991-92 Parkhurst French #446
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1991-92 Parkhurst Auto #404
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1991-92 marks the return of Parkhurst nearly 30 years after its last release (1963-64). Pro Set resurrected this iconic brand and produced a set consisting of two series of 225 cards. Bure figured three times in it, all in series 2. On the back of this one, you can see that in 65 games in his rookie season, he tallied 34 goals and 26 assists.
Cards between 432 and 450 are for league leaders. With his 60 points, Bure ranked first among left-wing rookies. Tony Amonte was leading with 69, six more than Kevin Todd (63). For this brief subset, Parkhurst recreates its 1960-61 design. Ironically, this set featured the final card of Maurice Richard, the player to whom he inherited his nickname.
Furthermore, you can stumble upon a promotion for an update set containing 25 cards in series two. Even though he was trailing 9 points behind, Bure captured the Calder, handed over to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National hockey league. This trophy pays tribute to Frank Calder. He was the first president of the NHL in 1937 and kept that job until his death in 1943.
According to Beckett, 15 000 cases of 1991-92 Parkhurst hit the market. Of them, 2500 cases were in French. They were essentially ship in Quebec, Canada. But don't try to find the update in French, it doesn't exist! It was only in the United States, and quite frankly, it took me a while before I was able to get one. It was the last one I bought to complete the year. There is also an auto version of the iconic #404 /1991, the year it was produced. It was made by the TSB company, or The Score Board, a major autograph/memorabilia entreprise in the early 90's.
Cards between 432 and 450 are for league leaders. With his 60 points, Bure ranked first among left-wing rookies. Tony Amonte was leading with 69, six more than Kevin Todd (63). For this brief subset, Parkhurst recreates its 1960-61 design. Ironically, this set featured the final card of Maurice Richard, the player to whom he inherited his nickname.
Furthermore, you can stumble upon a promotion for an update set containing 25 cards in series two. Even though he was trailing 9 points behind, Bure captured the Calder, handed over to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National hockey league. This trophy pays tribute to Frank Calder. He was the first president of the NHL in 1937 and kept that job until his death in 1943.
According to Beckett, 15 000 cases of 1991-92 Parkhurst hit the market. Of them, 2500 cases were in French. They were essentially ship in Quebec, Canada. But don't try to find the update in French, it doesn't exist! It was only in the United States, and quite frankly, it took me a while before I was able to get one. It was the last one I bought to complete the year. There is also an auto version of the iconic #404 /1991, the year it was produced. It was made by the TSB company, or The Score Board, a major autograph/memorabilia entreprise in the early 90's.
Pinnacle
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1991-92 Pinnacle #315
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1991-92 Pinnacle French #315
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Produced by Score, Pinnacle came to life in 1991-92. It was a set consisting of 420 cards. Two versions were available: English and French. Unlike the base, which has a different color on the front (orange for English and green for French), the rookies were the same.
The only interesting fact is that we learn that Bure joined the Canucks on October 31st, 1991. He played his first game 5 days later against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first NHL goal on November 12th against the Los Angeles Kings. Even though these two were easy to find (in fact, they are among the first I add in my collection), Pinnacle will be hard to find in the next years!
The only interesting fact is that we learn that Bure joined the Canucks on October 31st, 1991. He played his first game 5 days later against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first NHL goal on November 12th against the Los Angeles Kings. Even though these two were easy to find (in fact, they are among the first I add in my collection), Pinnacle will be hard to find in the next years!
Pro Set
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1991-92 Pro Set #564
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1991-92 Pro Set French #564
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For my 7th birthday, my godmother gave me three packs of 1991-92 Pro Set. She didn't know at the time, but this was my best gift ever and still today. Why? Simple: she gave me a passion. I still remember my reaction vividly when I opened them. I recalled my father buying boxes for 10 bucks each in Dollorama. They were cases on pallets nearby the cashiers.
With 615 cards, Bure appears nearly at the end of the set. Also produced in French, collectors could have the chance to grab a signed version of goaltender Patrick Roy, numbered to 1000. In the English version, it was Kirk McLean. They can also see the new Minnesota North Stars logo, because the French version came a little late. Furthermore, to commemorate the NHL's diamond anniversary, a 3D Hologram set was inserted in foil packs. Limited to 5000 copies, the Stanley Cup sold in today's market for between five and six hundred dollars!
With 615 cards, Bure appears nearly at the end of the set. Also produced in French, collectors could have the chance to grab a signed version of goaltender Patrick Roy, numbered to 1000. In the English version, it was Kirk McLean. They can also see the new Minnesota North Stars logo, because the French version came a little late. Furthermore, to commemorate the NHL's diamond anniversary, a 3D Hologram set was inserted in foil packs. Limited to 5000 copies, the Stanley Cup sold in today's market for between five and six hundred dollars!
Pro Set Platinum
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1991-92 Pro Set Platinum #272
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This will be the shortest post on the website, I think. There's nothing much to say about Pro Set Platinum, other than it's 300 cards set splitting into two 150 cards series.
Score
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1991-92 Score Rookie/Traded #49T
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I am grateful that Bure came late in the 1991-92 season because I don't have to deal with the painful Score. The reason is it came in three different colors; purple (American), red (Canadian bilingual), and blue (Canadian, but only in English). Also, star players have a ton of base cards in this set.
Anyways, Bure appears in the factory Rookie/Traded set. Because it's a factory set, I don't call this one an insert. It was the hardest one for me to get in good shape and for the right price. So I waited a few months, containing myself not to buy it immediately because I'm a compulsive buyer.
Anyways, Bure appears in the factory Rookie/Traded set. Because it's a factory set, I don't call this one an insert. It was the hardest one for me to get in good shape and for the right price. So I waited a few months, containing myself not to buy it immediately because I'm a compulsive buyer.
Stadium Club
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1991-92 Stadium Club Members Only #38
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Bure didn't appear in the 1991-92 Stadium Club main set consisting of 400 cards. But he did figure in a multisport set that was sent to members in the Topps Stadium Club.
The Members Only is a 50 cards set featuring star players from sports like baseball, football, and hockey. On his photo, Bure was standing behind the Calder trophy, gave to the best rookie of the year. I loved the "newspaper-style" back of the card. It adds emphasis to the accomplishment.
The Members Only is a 50 cards set featuring star players from sports like baseball, football, and hockey. On his photo, Bure was standing behind the Calder trophy, gave to the best rookie of the year. I loved the "newspaper-style" back of the card. It adds emphasis to the accomplishment.
Upper Deck
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1991-92 Upper Deck #54
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1991-92 Upper Deck logo Hologram #54
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1991-92 Upper Deck #555
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1991-92 Upper Deck #647
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1991-92 Upper Deck French #54
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1991-92 Upper Deck French logo Hologram #54
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1991-92 Upper Deck French #555
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1991-92 Upper Deck French #647
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The last entry of the year 1991-92 is Upper Deck. The set contains 700 cards, split into two series of 500 and 200 cards. Two versions exist: French and English. Two of these came in the infamous photoshoot he did before he became a Canuck. It took place on September 27th, 1991, in Manhattan Beach Los Angeles with his brother Valeri and father Vladimir.
According to Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun, Pavel didn't want to wear the Canucks jersey for the shooting. The photographer from Upper Deck have bought a jersey for the occasion from a local sporting goods shop, but he refused. His father slaps him in the face for his gesture, and he walked away in tears.
I've always loved these cards. It was different than the classic on ice photos. And I think it represents well all the hype around Bure at the time. Speaking of an article, there's a great piece signed by Ben Kuzma of The Province saying that 2000 persons jammed into the Britannia Arena to see his first practice. Talk about hype!
Edit 2022 : A fellow Bure collector told me that only the number 55 in the set, which occurs to be the Series 1, has an Upper Deck hologram logo variation. So I snagged them!
According to Mike Beamish of the Vancouver Sun, Pavel didn't want to wear the Canucks jersey for the shooting. The photographer from Upper Deck have bought a jersey for the occasion from a local sporting goods shop, but he refused. His father slaps him in the face for his gesture, and he walked away in tears.
I've always loved these cards. It was different than the classic on ice photos. And I think it represents well all the hype around Bure at the time. Speaking of an article, there's a great piece signed by Ben Kuzma of The Province saying that 2000 persons jammed into the Britannia Arena to see his first practice. Talk about hype!
Edit 2022 : A fellow Bure collector told me that only the number 55 in the set, which occurs to be the Series 1, has an Upper Deck hologram logo variation. So I snagged them!
