List of O-Pee-Chee Sports Cards Sets

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In 1965, the O-Pee-Chee produced a licensed version of the American Topps set of that year, but it only issued cards 1- 283, instead of the full 598 card Topps set. They continued to produce smaller versions of the Topps sets for the rest of the decade. The primary difference with the O-Pee-Chee sets is the 'Printed in Canada' statement on the reverse. The copyright line shows T.C.G, and did so until 1972 when it changed to O.P.C. The 1969 O-Pee-Chee set included the company's logo on the reverse and used a dark red ink as opposed to the pink ink on the Topps cards.

In the 1970s, O-Pee-Chee produced a licensed version of the American Topps sets throughout the decade. The Canadian printed O-Pee-Chee cards tended to be printed on lighter grey cardstock and often included traded lines on the front of the cards. In 1970, due to Canadian law, the cards were modified to include both French and English text in which case T.C.G was replaced by O.P.C. in the copyright line. The first four series of the 1971 set(1-523) featured French and English card backs, while the 5th and 6th series reverted to the English-only back of their Topps counterpart. The 1971 set also had several cards unique to the Canadian issue, including cards with trade lines on the front, and extra Expo player cards that resulted in the O Pee Chee set substituting Ron Hunt for Topps' #161 Coin Checklist, Claude Raymond for Topps' #202 Reds Celebrate, and Rusty Staub for Topps' White Sox Team Card. In 1977 different photos were used on some of the cards. Other variations include yellow backs in 1971 and 1974 rather than green used by Topps. From 1973 until 1975, the number of cards in both the Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets were identical.

Baseball

Early issues

1937 OPC V300 40 cards Size: 2-5/8 X 2-15/16 The players in the set were all from the American League. The information on the back was in both English and French. The cards were foldable to create a stand-up of the black and white action photo which was in front of a ballpark setting.
1960 OPC Tattoos This set was just like its Topps relative and was identifiable by its wrapper.

1960s

YearSetTypeQuantitySize (in.)
1965O-Pee-CheeBase2832.5 × 3.5 
1966O-Pee-CheeBase1962.5 × 3.5 
1967O-Pee-CheeBase1962.5 × 3.5 
1968O-Pee-CheeBase1962.5 × 3.5 
PostersInsert322.5 × 3.5 
1969O-Pee-CheeBase2182.5 × 3.5 
Deckle EdgeInsert242.25 × 3.25 

1970s

YearSetTypeQuantitySize(in.)
1970OPCBase5462.5 × 3.5 
1971OPCBase7522.5 × 3.5 
1972OPCBase5252.5 × 3.5 
1973OPCBase6602.5 × 3.5 
Blue Team ChecklistsInsert242.5 × 3.5 
1974OPCBase6602.5 × 3.5 
Red Team ChecklistsInsert242.5 × 3.5 
1975OPCBase6602.5 × 3.5 
1976OPCBase6602.5 × 3.5 
1977OPCBase2642.5 × 3.5 
1978OPCBase2422.5 × 3.5 
1979OPCBase2642.5 × 3.5 

The 1973-1976 OPC and Topps sets all contained 660 cards and were nearly identical in 1973, 1975, and 1976. The 1974 OPC set included 9 Hank Aaron tribute cards (1-9) versus the 6 in the Topps set. Three cards were eliminated from the OPC set, including Jim Fregosi, to make room for the extra Aaron cards and Topps cards 7, 8, and 9 were moved to later in the set. Bilingual text was limited to the backs of the cards in these years.

In 1977, the OPC set was cut to 264 cards, versus 660 in Topps. OPC also started documenting offseason trades and free agent signings in a way Topps did not, a pattern that would continue from that point forward. In 1977, OPC replaced the cards of several players who switched teams with new photos in their new uniforms. This was possible because OPC cards were issued later than the Topps set.

The 1977 set also included several additional Blue Jays and Expos cards (including separate cards for the manager and the coaches). The Blue Jays were a new expansion team in 1977 and many of their players were depicted on Rookie cards (with 4 players per card) in the Topps set. Most of those players got their own cards in OPC. Notably, one of the Rookie cards cut from OPC to give a Blue Jay his own card was the first card for Andre Dawson of the Expos. His first OPC card would not come until 1978.

The 1978 and 1979 OPC sets were also smaller than those produced by Topps. Players who switched teams had the same (or similar) photo as in the Topps set, but the borders and banners were changed to their new team and a note was printed somewhere on the photo to record the date and type of transaction. In these cases, the player appeared in the uniform of his former team (with no additional airbrushing).

1980s

Year/Set/Quantity/Size

1990s

Base set

In 1990 O-Pee-Chee printed a set virtually identical to the 792 card Topps set complete with the Topps logo. The only differences between the two are the bilingual reverse sides and the copyright line. The majority of the cards were printed on grey cardstock, similar to that used by Topps for its American issue. The less abundant variation are cards printed on a thinner white cardstock. The latter cards tend to command a premium, as they were distributed at about a 1:5 ratio compared to the former ones. Subsets include Nolan Ryan Salute, Record Breakers, Turn Back The Clock, All-Stars, First Draft Picks, Checklists, and Manager cards. Size: 2½ × 3½ in. [1] For the third straight year, O-Pee-Chee printed a 792 card set virtually identical to the year's Topps set. Unlike the previous two years, the Topps branding was not present and was replaced by an O-Pee-Chee logo on the cards. One significant difference was the Canadian set did not include All Star cards. In their stead were a Gary Carter tribute subset and cards of players who did not appear in the American set including a rookie card of Moisés Alou.The set was available for purchase in individual packages or as a complete factory set. It also marked the final year for the company producing a baseball set of the same basic design as the Topps set. Size: 2½ × 3½ in. Canadianized versions of the Topps Wax Box Cards were also produced. The cards were printed one per box on the bottom of the wax pack boxes. The four different box bottoms feature the four division winning teams and have highlights on the back in English and French. Size: 5 × 7 in. when individually cut out. The Premier set totals 198 cards and was issued in wax packs or factory sets. The cards feature English/French text and color player photos on front and back. Size: 2½ × 3½ in. The "Box Bottom" cards were featured 4 to a box on the bottom of the wax pack boxes of cards of which there were 4 different boxes for a total of 16 cards. They resemble the base cards except for having a career milestones on the back instead of full statistics. The set is lettered A-P rather than numbered. Size: 2½ × 3½ in. when individually cut out. [1]

1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier Gary Gaetti 1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier Gary Gaetti.jpg
1991 O-Pee-Chee Premier Gary Gaetti

In 1991 a similar base set was published. The major differences between the two sets, other than the white cardstock, similar to that used by the boxed Topps Traded sets, are the bilingual reverse sides and the copyright line. Several cards included traded lines which did not appear in the American set. Size: 2½ × 3½ in. Canadianized versions of the Topps Wax Box Cardsa and OPC Premier cards were also produced (as above).

In 1993, the base set totals 396 cards and was issued in wax packs. Subsets include traded players and Checklist cards. The cards bilingual English and French text. Size: 2½ × 3½ in.

World Champions

This set has 18 total cards and was issued as an insert in 1993 O-Pee-Chee wax packs. They feature the 1992 World Champion Toronto Blue Jays team. Size: 2½ × 3½

World Series Heroes

This set totals 4 cards and was issued as an insert in 1993 O-Pee-Chee wax packs. The cards feature key players and their World Series highlights are described on the back in English and French. Size: 2½ × 3½ in.

OPC Premier

The Premier set totals 132 cards and was issued in foil packs. The cards have a white border and color player photos on front and back. Size: 2½ × 3½ in.

Premier Star Performers

This set has 22 cards and were available as inserts in 1993 O-Pee-Chee Premier foil packs. They feature gold borders and bilingual player bios on the back. This set had a parallel foil version with gold stamped set logos. Size: 2½ × 3½ in.

Premier Top Draft Picks

This set has 4 cards that were available as inserts in 1993 O-Pee-Chee Premier foil packs. They feature two draft picks each from both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos. Size: 2½ × 3½ in.

Football (Canadian)

1960s

O-Pee-Chee began marketing CFL cards in 1958 with the Topps Company. While cards produced from 1958 to 1960 were printed by Topps in the United States, they were printed by O-Pee-Chee in Canada (with stops and starts) from 1961 to 1972.

1970s

Standard size is 2½ × 3½ in.

Ice Hockey

Early Issues

1933-34 OPC V304A (48) B/W player photo on colored field of stars. The player's name was in a rectangle on the bottom of the front. The star fields were in either red, blue, orange, or green. The biography on the backs are in English and French. Size: 2-5/16 X 3-9/16 inches.
1933-34 OPC V304B The remaining 24 cards continued in numbering from series A.
1935-36 OPC V304C (24) This series continues its numbering from series B but measure 2-3/8 X 2-7/8 inches. The front design also differed from the previous two series in that it had cartoon style hockey players on either side of the B/W player photo. The different color fields of the background were either green, orange, maroon, or yellow.
1936-37 OPC V304D (36) The D series continued the numbering from the C series but measure 2-3/8 X 2-15/16 inches. This set had no colored background but were foldable in order to make a stand-up.
1937-38 OPC V304E (48) This set is the fifth in the numerical series. The cards featured a serrated border which came in blue or purple. The player photo is B/W and partnered with a facsimile autograph and a small cartoon style silhouette of a hockey player. The player biography on the back is English and French. Size: 2-3/8 X 2-7/8 inches.
1939-40 OPC V301-1 (100) Issued one per cello pack these blank backed cards were numbered on the front in the lower right corner. The player photo was B/W below which was the player's name, team, and position. Size: 5 X 7 inches.
1940-41 OPC V301-2 (50) This set continued in numbering from series 1 and was nearly the same except for being sepia in color.

1960s

O-Pee-Chee formally began marketing NHL cards in 1958 with the Topps Company. While cards produced from 1957-58 to 1960-61 were printed by Topps in the United States, they were printed by O-Pee-Chee in Canada 1961-62 onwards.

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

Baseball card

A baseball card is a type of trading card relating to baseball, usually printed on cardboard, silk, or plastic. In the 1950's they came with a stick of gum and a limited number of cards. These cards feature one or more baseball players, teams, stadiums, or celebrities. Baseball cards are most often found in the U.S. mainland but are also common in Puerto Rico or countries such as Canada, Cuba and Japan, where top-level leagues are present with a substantial fan base to support them. Some notable baseball card producing companies include Topps, Upper Deck Company, and Panini Group. Previous manufacturers include Fleer, Bowman, and Donruss. Baseball card production peaked in the late 1980s and many collectors left the hobby disenchanted after the 1994-95 MLB strike. However, baseball cards are still one of the most influential collectibles of all time. A T206 Honus Wagner was sold for $2.8 million in 2007.

O-Pee-Chee

The O-Pee-Chee Company, Ltd. was a Canadian confectionery company founded in 1911 that produced candy until the mid-1990s. Based in London, Ontario, the company produced its first trading card sets in the 1930s, releasing several collections of baseball, gridiron football and ice hockey cards until the company was sold to Nestlé in 1996.

Topps baseball card products

The Topps Company has created a number of different baseball card products during its existence. They originally started as a chewing gum company, using the baseball cards as a sales gimmick to make the gum more popular, but today it is primarily a baseball card company.

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1980. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1981 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1981. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1982 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1982. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1983 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1983. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1984 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1984. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1985 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1985. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1986 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1986. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1987 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1987. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1988 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1988. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1989 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1989. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1990 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1990. All sets listed are standard size unless noted.

1991 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1991. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

1960s Topps

Despite a brief attempt by Fleer to sign baseball players in 1963, Topps continued its reign as the only major baseball card manufacturer in the United States. On the other hand, Football had more than one professional league in operation, allowing for competing companies to co-exist by producing a major national set for each league. Topps was able to produce National Football League sets from 1960 to 1963 while Fleer issued American Football League sets. Topps then began producing AFL sets from 1964 to 1967 while Philadelphia Gum issued NFL sets. Before the end of the decade Topps revived their basketball issue after a ten-year hiatus. The following is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for the 1960s. All cards listed are standard size(2½ × 3½ inches). Exceptions are noted.

1970s Topps

The 1970s saw Topps go largely uncontested in the sports card market. The decade featured full runs of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Aside from issues like Kellogg's cereal premiums which ran throughout the 70s there was not much in the way of major national card manufacturers to compete with. Topps maintained its license agreement with O-Pee-Chee in baseball and hockey. The company would have significantly more ground to cover given the growth of the professional sports leagues during the decade. Major League Baseball added four new teams in 1969 and two in 1977; the National Football League added two teams in 1976; the National Basketball Association gained three in 1970, one in 1974, and the American Basketball Association picked up one in 1972; the National Hockey League acquired two teams in each of 1970, 1972, and 1974. Soccer also made the Topps roster in the 70s, producing English and Scottish 'Footballers' for distribution in the United Kingdom. Domestic soccer was not to be forgotten with a North American Soccer League sticker set in 1979. The following are trading card sets issued by Topps in the 1970s. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

1992 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1992. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for 1993. All cards listed are standard size. Exceptions are noted.

This is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1975.

References

  1. 1 2 Beckett, Dr. James et al. (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN   1-930692-17-X
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