Countdown 133/138
96%
Be A Player
1996-97 Be A Player Biscuit In The Basket #15
|
1996-97 Be A Player Link 2 History #LTH4B
|
1996-97 Be A Player Link 2 History Refractor #LTH4B
|
1996-97 Be A Player Link 2 History Promo #LTH4B
|
1996-97 Be A Player Link 2 History Autograph #LTH4B
|
1996-97 Be A Player Link 2 History Autograph Silver #LTH4B
|
The main reason why the Be A Player is a cool set is because of the Link to History Autographs. But what distinguishes Be A Player from other brands with autos is Bure signed with his number 96, and therefore it's the only one on the market. The regular was a one per thirty packs hit, while the silver version has no odds.
Black Diamond
1996-97 Black Diamond #176
|
1996-97 Black Diamond Gold #176
|
1996-97 Black Diamond Run for the Cup #RC14
1996-97 marks also the first super high-end product: Black Diamond. Boxes of this product are very hard to find these days and can cost up to 250$! Bure was a triple diamond in the series, so a 1 per 30 packs chance to find one. The gold version is one of the most scarce inserts to find today, alongside the Run to the Cup, limited to 100 copies. Golds are only numbered to 50 copies. If you find one of these two, let me know!
Collector's Choice
1996-97 Collector's Choice #266
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice #333
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice MVP #UD22
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice MVP Gold #UD22
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice Stick'Ums #S16
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game vs NYR #C17A
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game vs Florida #C17B
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game vs Boston #C17C
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game Gold vs NYR #C17A
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game Gold vs Florida #C17B
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game Gold vs Boston #C17C
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game Prizes #CR17
|
1996-97 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game Prizes Gold #CR17
After the most expensive set of the year, here comes the least one: Upper Deck Collector's Choice with its 99 cents a pack. The most annoying inserts to collect is the You Crash the Game. With its three games (1 per 5 packs) and gold variation (1 per 44), you can redeem them to have a silver and a die-cut gold. As for inserts, the MVP is a one per pack deal, but the gold is one per 35 packs. Stick'Ums are 1 per 3 packs.
Donruss
1996-97 Donruss #65
|
1996-97 Donruss Press Proof #65
|
1996-97 Donruss Dominators #7
|
1996-97 Donruss Elite #1
|
1996-97 Donruss Elite Gold #1
The 240 cards Donruss set cost 1.89$ for a pack. Inside, you can find press proof variation of the base, which are the first 2000 cards coming off the presses. In terms of inserts, Bure appears on the Dominators (limited to 5000 copies), and the Elite (10 000 copies), which also has a gold parallel (2000 copies printed).
Donruss Canadian Ice
1996-97 Donruss Canadian Ice #59
|
1996-97 Donruss Canadian Ice Red #59
|
1996-97 Donruss Canadian Ice Gold #59
|
1996-97 Donruss Canadian Ice Promo #59
|
Donruss Canadian Ice is only a 150 cards set. It comes with two parallels: the Ice Red (limited to 750 copies), and the Ice Gold (limited to 150). There is also a promo version of the base card, which can be distinguished by the clipped upper-left corner.
Donruss Elite
1996-97 Donruss Elite #103
|
1996-97 Donruss Elite Die-Cuts #103
|
1996-97 Donruss Elite Status #1
|
1996-97 Donruss Elite Status Promo #1
|
Donruss Elite is also a 150 card series, with packs costs at the time 4$. Base has a die-cut parallel, while the Status insert, numbered to 750, has a promo version.
Flair
1996-97 Flair #93
|
1996-97 Flair Blue Ice #93
|
1996-97 Flair Center Ice Spotlight #1
Less voluminous than it's predecessors with 125 cards, Flair has also a Blue Ice parallel of the base cards (1 per 20 packs). The Center Ice Spotlight is a 1 per 30 packs insert.
Fleer
1996-97 Fleer #111
|
1996-97 Fleer Art Ross #1
|
1996-97 Fleer Pearson #1
This 150 cards set has inserts named after trophies. So the Art Ross was 1 per 6 packs and the Pearson was a pretty tough pull, with a rate of 1 per 144 packs.
Fleer Picks
1996-97 Fleer Picks Dream Lines #4
|
1996-97 Fleer Picks Fabulous 50 #5
|
Fleer Picks has two inserts. The Dream Lines is a one per 70 packs, so it's kinda a tough one to get. He was reunited with his old pals Alexander Mogilny and Sergei Fedorov. The Fabulous 50 allowed Fleer to include players they were unable to select in the draft, but it's a pretty straightforward set.
Leaf
1996-97 Leaf #15
|
1996-97 Leaf Press Proof #15
|
1996-97 Leaf Leather And Laces #9
|
1996-97 Leaf Leather And Laces Promo XXXX #9
|
1996-97 Leaf Leather and Laces Promo #9
|
1996-97 Leaf Sweaters Away Promo XXXX #13
|
1996-97 Leaf Leather Sweater Away #13
|
1996-97 Leaf Leather Sweater Home #13
|
1996-97 Leaf Sweater Home Promo XXXX #13
Leaf has one of the coolest inserts parallels from 1996-97. But first, the base has a die-cut press proof version limited to 1500 sets. The Leather and laces, printed at 5000 copies, has a promo version. The numbers are replaced with a "XXXX" mark. For me, the Sweaters Home/Away is such a cool concept! The Home version is a very tough pull with only 1000 copies, while the Away is serial-numbered to 5000.
Edit 2022 : I just stumbled upon a Leaf Leather and Laces with the PROMO inscribed instead of the XXXX I have, same with the two Sweater, those have the XXXX printed on it.
Edit 2022 : I just stumbled upon a Leaf Leather and Laces with the PROMO inscribed instead of the XXXX I have, same with the two Sweater, those have the XXXX printed on it.
Leaf Limited
1996-97 Leaf Limited #32
|
1996-97 Leaf Limited Gold #32
|
1996-97 Leaf Stubble #10
|
1996-97 Leaf Stubble Promo #10
|
Leaf Limited contains only 90 cards in its base set, with a gold variation. While writing this section, I just happened to learn that there is a promo version of the Stubble insert, which is numbered to 1500.
Leaf Preferred
1996-97 Leaf Preferred #94
|
1996-97 Leaf Preferred Gold #94
|
1996-97 Leaf Preferred Steel Power #3
|
1996-97 Leaf Preferred Steel Power Promo #3
|
1996-97 Leaf Preferred Vanity Plates #9
|
1996-97 Leaf Preferred Vanity Plates Gold #9
|
A Leaf Preferred pack costs 3,49$ and has 5 cards inside. A gold version of the base is randomly inserted. The Steel Power insert is numbered to 2500 copies, while Vanity Plates has also a gold parallel.
Metal
1996-97 Metal #155
|
1996-97 Metal Ice Carvings #2
|
1996-97 Metal Ice Carvings Super Power #2
|
1996-97 Metal Lethal Weapon #2
|
1996-97 Metal Lethal Weapon Super Power #2
Metal is one of my favorite sets of 1996-97 and comes with the super-tough Super Power parallel of the inserts Ice Carvings and Lethal Weapons. The first one (1 per 240) is ten times more scarce than the original (1 per 24), as well as the second one (1 per 120 for the Super Power, 1 per 12 for the original). The only difference between the two is that the Super Power is a refractor.
Pinnacle
1996-97 Pinnacle #175
|
1996-97 Pinnacle #248
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Foil #175
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Foil #248
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Premium Stock #175
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Premium Stock #248
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Rink Collection #175
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Rink Collection #248
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Artist's Proof #175
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Artist's Proof #248
|
1996-97 Pinnacle By The Numbers #15
|
1996-97 Pinnacle By The Numbers Premium Stock #15
|
1996-97 Pinnacle By The Numbers Promo #15
This 250 card set was a pain in the *** simply because Bure appeared two times in the series. Multiply that by four variations and you have 10 cards to chase! Alongside the base, you have a foil (inserted in retail packs), Premium Stock (which was a set by himself), Rink Collection (1 per 7 packs), and an Artist's Proof (1 per 47 packs). The only insert for him is the By the Number, found at a rate of 1 per 23 packs. Premium Stock parallel of this one is found at 1 per 8 premium packs. This one has also a promo version.
Pinnacle Mint
1996-97 Pinnacle Mint #7
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Mint Bronze #7
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Mint Silver #7
|
1996-97 Pinnacle Mint Gold #7
|
I don't collect the coins in the set, so if you want to check them, you'll have to search on the Internet to find all the variations. This card came in three parallels: bronze, silver ( 1 per 15 packs), and gold (1 per 48 packs).
Score
1996-97 Score #35
|
1996-97 Score Golden Blades #35
|
1996-97 Score Golden Blades Winners Punched #35
|
1996-97 Score Artist's Proof #35
|
1996-97 Score Special Artist's Proof #35
|
1996-97 Score Dealer's Choice Artist's Proof #35
|
1996-97 Score Dream Team #10
|
1996-97 Score Sudden Death #6
|
Oh boy, Score was such a puzzle! Bure appeared only one time, but the Golden Blades was so tricky! Inserted at a rate of 1 per 7 packs, the parallel has a bar code. To determine if you had a winner card or not, you need to have the Pinnacle device to decipher them. Try to find one these days, it's nearly IMPOSSIBLE! So I drop the search for the Golden Blades winner, which it's just the proof that you have a winning card.
But that's not all! This card can be redeemed for two special cards: the Special Artist Proof, which is ONLY thickier than the Artist's Proof and a Dealer's Choice Artist Proof for the hobby store owner. This one is a toughie to get! And that's not all; it has also a normal Artist's Proof! Finally, the Golden Winner card was returned with a Pinnacle logo punched in it. In terms of inserts, the Dream Team is found at a rate of 1 per 71 packs. The Sudden Death has an odd of 1 per 35.
But that's not all! This card can be redeemed for two special cards: the Special Artist Proof, which is ONLY thickier than the Artist's Proof and a Dealer's Choice Artist Proof for the hobby store owner. This one is a toughie to get! And that's not all; it has also a normal Artist's Proof! Finally, the Golden Winner card was returned with a Pinnacle logo punched in it. In terms of inserts, the Dream Team is found at a rate of 1 per 71 packs. The Sudden Death has an odd of 1 per 35.
Select Certified
1996-97 Select Certified #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Red #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Blue #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Artist's Proof #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Mirror Red #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Mirror Blue #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Mirror Gold #34
|
1996-97 Select Certified Cornerstone #7
|
Select Certified is another one of the tough set to pull together. The base card has five parallels. Red is a 1 per 8 packs insert, while blue is 1 per 50. Beckett says that of the 500 Artist's Proof (1 per 48) printed, only 150 were made. And then there's the three mirrors: Mirror Red (1 per 100), Mirror Blue (1 per 200), and Mirror Gold (1 per 300). Beckett says that only 72, 36, and 24 copies respectively were made for the trio. There is also the Cornerstone, which is a 1 per 38 packs insert.
SkyBox Impact
1996-97 SkyBox Impact #131
|
1996-97 SkyBox Impact Countdown To Impact #1
|
1996-97 SkyBox Impact Versa Team #1
Fun fact about the base card in the SkyBox Impact set: the picture was taken moments before he scored his beautiful goal while in the air. For the inserts, the Countdown to Impact has a 1 per 30 chance to pop, while the Versa Team is 4 times tougher to get with its odds of 1 per 120 packs.
SP
1996-97 SP #157
|
1996-97 SP Clearcut Winner #CW16
|
1996-97 SP SPx Force #SPX2
The highlight of SP is its inserts. I just love the Clearcut Winner (1 in 91 packs), and the SPx Force. This one is a tough pull with its 1 per 360 packs odd.
SPx
1996-97 Spx #46
|
1996-97 Spx Gold #46
|
SPx was the first to bring small series. The set is only 50 cards. Gold parallel is found at a rate of 1 per 7 packs.
Summit
1996-97 Summit #42
|
1996-97 Summit #200
|
1996-97 Summit Premium Stock #42
|
1996-97 Summit Premium Stock #200
|
1996-97 Summit Metal #42
|
1996-97 Summit Metal #200
|
1996-97 Summit Ice #42
|
1996-97 Summit Ice #200
|
1996-97 Summit Artist's Proof #42
|
1996-97 Summit Artist's Proof #200
|
Bure featured two times in the 200 card set because he is one of the checklists. Premium Stock and Metal are pretty basic, but Ice (1 per 6 packs), and Artist's Proof (1 per 35 packs) are a bit tougher to come around, especially the Artist's Proof considering the number of cards in the base set.
Topps Picks
1996-97 Topps Picks #15
|
1996-97 Topps OPC Picks #15
|
1996-97 Topps Fantasy Team #FT13
One of the good things about all this scanning is, sometimes, I thought that I have a card, and while digging into the boxes, I realize that I don't have it! This happened with the O-Pee-Chee variation of the Topps Picks, a 1 per 4 packs insert with a foil front. The Fantasy Team finds at a rate of 1 per 24 packs.
Ultra
1996-97 Ultra #167
|
1996-97 Ultra Gold Medaillon #167
|
1996-97 Ultra Mr. Momentum #167
Ultra is a basic set, with the one-per-pack Gold Medaillon parallel. Mr. Momemtum is a 1 per 36 packs insert.
Upper Deck
1996-97 Upper Deck #347
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Game Jersey #GJ10
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Hart Hopefuls Bronze #HH14
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Hart Hopefuls Silver #HH14
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Hart Hopefuls Gold #HH14
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Lord Stanley's Heroes Quaterfinals#LS18
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Lord Stanley's Heroes Semifinals #LS18
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Lord Stanley's Heroes Finals #LS18
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Superstars Showdown #SS1A
I think 1996-97 was the year of Upper Deck. The inserts are the most sought cards even 24 years later, like the groundbreaking Game Jersey set. It was the first in the history of the hockey cards hobby that a company put a piece of a game-used jersey on cardboard. They were also a case hit with a chance to grab one per 2500 packs! I remember the first time I saw one on the shelves of my local store. He demanded 300 bucks for it, a two colors black and yellow piece. I said to myself: "I'll never be able to get this card one day." When I finally got one three years ago, it was one of the best moments of my collecting days.
Hart Hopefuls and Lord Stanley's Heroes are also quite tough to get in their gold parallels. The first one, bronze (1 per 30) is numbered to 5000, silver (1 per 150) to 1000, and gold (1 per 1500) has only 100 copies. Due to the mass-produced product, gold is now very tough to grab as you can see! Same thing for the Lord Stanley's Heroes. Bronze (1 per 37) is numbered to 5000, silver (1 per 185) is numbered to 1000, and gold (1 per 1850) has only 100 printed copies. The Superstars Showdown is a 1 per 4 packs insert card.
Hart Hopefuls and Lord Stanley's Heroes are also quite tough to get in their gold parallels. The first one, bronze (1 per 30) is numbered to 5000, silver (1 per 150) to 1000, and gold (1 per 1500) has only 100 copies. Due to the mass-produced product, gold is now very tough to grab as you can see! Same thing for the Lord Stanley's Heroes. Bronze (1 per 37) is numbered to 5000, silver (1 per 185) is numbered to 1000, and gold (1 per 1850) has only 100 printed copies. The Superstars Showdown is a 1 per 4 packs insert card.
Upper Deck Ice
1996-97 Upper Deck Ice #105
|
1996-97 Upper Deck Ice Acetate Parallel #105
|
Ice is a 115 card set. The Acetate parallel is a 1 per 325 packs insert.
Zenith
1996-97 Zenith #3
|
1996-97 Zenith Artist's Proof #3
|
1996-97 Zenith Z-Team #8
Zenith is a 150 card set with an Artist's Proof parallel, a 1 per 48 packs insert. The Z-Team is a 1 per 71 packs.