Vintage Breaks Blog

In 1980 Topps decided to go against the grain with their hockey product. Every card front had a scratch-off area in the shape of a hockey puck. Underneath it was the player's name. For years, cards had scratch-off areas that would reveal the answer to a trivia question but were always on the backs of cards. Topps' decision to require you to scratch off the area to find out the player's name has sparked many conversations that continue to this day.

To Scratch, or Not to Scratch, That is the Question

There has been much debate over the years about whether one should scratch off to reveal a player's name or leave the card in its natural state. The majority of collectors would say to leave the card as is while others would rather take part in the fun of scratching it off. Let's take a look at it from a grading aspect.

Former PSA President Joe Orlando once said "Technically, PSA does not downgrade the card for having the box scratched off. What our graders will downgrade for is if the act of scratching has left any visible damage in the area." Coins would have most likely been used to scratch off the player area and that certainly will leave a mark. When it comes to the sales of a PSA graded 1980 Topps hockey cards, leaving the scratch-off area intact is your best bet. Just for fun, let's take a look at some sales of 1980 Topps Hockey cards in a PSA 10 (unscratched).

Wayne Gretzky's 2nd-year card is in the 1980 set and only one has been graded a PSA 10. In June 2019, that card sold on eBay for $9,099! His All-Star card in a PSA 10 was last sold in 2020 for the price of $1,200 while his Record Breaker card sold for $700 also in 2020.

The key rookie card in the set belongs to Ray Bourque and only 7 have been graded a 10 by PSA. One of them had a final sale price of $4,561 in December 2020. 

There is much potential for some big hits with the 1980 Topps Hockey and while it certainly feels good to have that Gretzky card return from PSA with a grade of 10, we must not forget that we can also enjoy our favorite hobby without the financial gain. Just open some packs of 1980 Topps Hockey and have some fun guessing the player's name.   

You can get in on the fun with Vintage Breaks. We currently have open spots in our 1980 Topps Hockey break. There are a total of 10 spots available for only $30 a spot. A chance for a 2nd-year Gretzky for only $30? Count me in!

You can purchase your spots below.