1989-90 Topps Hockey box break: Update & final analysis

Well, David's pack #36 only turned up a Zarley Zalapski RC with a BV of .50. Kind of a let down considering the build-up I had for that last pack. My overall evaluation of the entire wax box however would have to be deemed a smashing success.

Most importantly I was able to pull all 13 cards that I needed to complete my original set. The overall Book Value on all 468 cards from this wax box came in at $198.40, quite nice considering my original investment of $31.00! As far as my predictions go, well, let's just say I'm not much of a prognosticator. I thought there would be a Lemieux or Sakic in that last pack. Uh, no. I also predicted that I had a good chance of completing an entire second set as well and if not, I would come close, needing 5 cards or less. As it turns out, 11 cards are needed to complete another set after all. So once again, wrong! It won't be the last time for sure.

Cards I pulled the most of: 5
#37 John Tucker
#45 Cliff Ronning
#53 Guy Carbonneau
#75 Lee Norwood
#79 Al Iafrate
#83 Steve Yzerman
#101 Shawn Burr
#129 Paul Maclean
#136 Brian Leetch
#154 Doug Bodger
#157 Steve Tuttle

Key cards pulled:
#1 Mario Lemieux (1) - gum stain on back
#17 Patrick Roy (2)
#45 Cliff Ronning RC (5)
#83 Steve Yzerman (5)
#89 Trevor Linden RC (3)
#111 Geoff Courtnall RC (2)
#113 Joe Sakic RC (2)
#136 Brian Leetch RC (5) - one badly off center
#156 Wayne Gretzky (3)
#186 Brett Hull (2)

Biggest surprise:
Finding out card #156 was Wayne Gretzky

Biggest disappointment:
Brian Leetch RC off center
Only 1 Lemieux card - gum stained at that
Not even 1 Randy Cunneyworth card #63

After some research I found out that the supposed Cunneyworth "error" card has him with the Penguins instead of the correct version which has him as a Winnipeg Jet. I have 2 of the correct cards but have yet to even see what the "error" card looks like. If anyone can help me out on this I'd appreciate it. I thought an error card might come my way opening an entire wax box but not even the correct version was to be found this time around!

An overall 9 out of 10 on this wax box. The only way this was getting a 10 was if I pulled another Lemieux or two, got the Cunneyworth "error" or completed a second set. Great experience though as well as a great value. Looking forward to trying this again at some point with another set and wax box.

1989-90 Topps Hockey box break: Mystery card #156 revealed

So I had to look on Beckett.com to find out who exactly graced card #156. The one card that I was missing to complete my set even after opening an entire wax box. Well it turns out that I only THOUGHT I was missing the card. The card actually turns out to be none other than the Great One himself, Mr. Wayne Gretzky. UNBELIEVABLE ! I pulled a Gretzky card in the VERY FIRST PACK that I opened from the 89-90 Topps Hockey wax box and didn't even realize I needed it as one of the cards to complete my set! I just saw that it was #99 wearing a black and silver L.A. Kings sweater, said "nice pull for the first pack, yeah me!" and assumed that I already had the card and didn't even think to look at the number on the back, which of course read 156. Just like it did on the back of the other two Gretzky's that I pulled from the box including the last pack! That's right, I pulled a Gretzky in the 1st pack and last pack and didn't even realize I needed it to complete this set! Well Pop, pop, fizz, fizz. I can now sleep well knowing that I definitely have this set finally complete in what I can only describe as a roller coaster experience. See boys and girls, card collecting CAN be fun! After opening the last pack (well, technically not the last pack) I thought that this experiment might be the last of its kind for my collection but I enjoyed it so much that I will definitely try this again. Now I can only hope that my buddy D.L. has as much luck as I had when he opens the REAL last pack of this wax box. Update to follow.