1984/85 O-Pee-Chee Wax Pack


I finally opened my pack of 1984/85 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards. I picked it up over a year ago for about 30 or 40 bucks, I can't remember. Of course the big cards in this set are the rookie issues of Steve Yzerman, Doug Gilmour, Chris Chelios, Pat LaFontaine and Cam Neely. Also there are no less than TEN Wayne Gretzky cards in this set from League Leaders, All-Star and Record Breaker cards. Let's see what we get.
First card, Brian Mullen second year card. After a 24 goal rookie season, Mullen produced his career-best season in 1984/85. Scoring 32 goals and 71 points in 69 games, it was his only season producing at least one point per game.
Gilles Meloche, one of the great under-rated goalies of the 1970's and 80's. In 1984/85 he was in his last season with Minnesota. He helped lead the North Stars to the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals, eventually losing to the Islanders. Meloche would be traded after the 84/85 season to Edmonton for Paul Houck (?). Before suiting up for the Oilers, he was sent to Pittsburgh for Marty McSorley and Craig Muni...a far better return indeed.
Dwight Schofield is next. Well, it's his rookie card.  I'm starting to not like the prospects of this wax pack.
Oh goody, Craig Laughlin. I mean, he scored 20 goals the year before...but so did a ridiculous 129 other players that year. Next card.
Finally, a star player. Pete Peeters was lights-out in 1982/83 winning the Vezina Trophy and finishing second in Hart Trophy voting with an insane 2.37 GAA, 8 shutouts and a record of 40-12-9. Among goalies that played at least 300 games in the 1980's, Peeters ranks by far the best with a GAA of 3.13 in 418 games.
Well here we go. Alan Bester rookie card baby! Bester finished 5th in Calder Trophy voting in 1983/84 receiving one 3rd place vote after going 11-16-4 with a 4.36 GAA with the up-and-coming Maple Leafs. 
A nice Ray Bourque All-Star card. Finally a Hall of Famer. Bourque was coming off his career high, 31 goal and 96 point season, yet still finished 3rd in Norris Trophy voting in 83/84 behind Paul Coffey and winner, Rod Langway. Bourque would wait two more years before finally winning his first of four Norris Trophy's in 1986/87.
Scott Arniel put up a career high 56 points in 83/84, would be traded to Buffalo two years later only to be re-aquired in 1990 as part of the deal in which Dale Hawerchuk went to the Sabres.
Dan Bouchard was an extremely under-rated goalie of the 1970's and 80's. He produced a record of 286-233-113 in his career and more impressively a Goals Against Average of 3.27. He finished Top-Five in Vezina voting twice with the Nordiques.
A Team Leader card, really wish it could have been the Oilers though.
 Kari Eloranta, a more than serviceable defender for a few seasons in Calgary. This 84/85 season would be his last full one in the NHL. He represented his home country Finland in three Olympics and a Canada Cup.
Ed Mio, Gretzky's best man at his wedding. He went to Edmonton from the Indy Racers along with Gretz and Peter Driscoll in 1978. Miro and his frosted-tips would retire after the 85/86 campaign.
Rookie Card! Of...Andy Schliebener. He played 11 games for the Nucks this season, and that was it for his NHL career. This is also his ONLY card in the NHL, so that's something.
 Another Team Leader card, again, not Gretzky and the Oilers. I swear back in 1984 it felt like I pulled a Gretzky card every pack I opened of this set. Starting to feel like I won't this time.
Last card, at least it's a Hall of Famer. Mark Howe. A three-time First-Team All-Star, he was runner-up for the Norris Trophy each of those seasons. In 1985/86 he produced a +/- rating of +87, the 7th highest single season mark ever. And finally, the gum, stuck to the contest card. Actually looks appetizing.


























 

Comments

Bilko said…
ouch rough pack sorry to see that
May 10, 2021 at 5:05 AM
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