BURIED TREASURE

BY SAL BARRY

There was a time when Pro Set was gold. The first of the new licensees to hit the market during the hobby expansion year of 1990, their cards were an instant hit with collectors who bought the company’s goods by the case. But that success was short lived, a victim of Pro Set’s decision to run the presses around the clock. Soon, the market was flooded with product and the Pro Set name became synonymous with junk wax.

Today, unopened boxes of Pro Set hockey can be found for $10 or less, and collectors routinely ignore the company’s singles and sets.

But that’s not such a good idea. In fact, they might want to take a second look next time they run across a stash of Pro Set singles at a show, or stashed away in the basement. That’s because there are very tough Pro Set singles out there, which can sell for anywhere from $1 to $500 and sometimes more … but you’ve got to know exactly what to look for.

Here is a rundown of some of the rarest Pro Set hockey cards ever made to help guide your search.