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1983-84 Esso
Hockey Stars TV Cash Game! Watch & Win!
By Sal J. Barry
Published October 5, 2007
Player selection
Good, if you are a Canadian-which was the targeted consumer for this set. Each of the seven Canadian-based teams has three player cards, usually featuring the best three players from that team. I say "usually" because Wayne Gretzky is absent from this set, as is Guy Lafluer. Perhaps it had to do with signing individual players' likenesses? It seems that anything involving Gretzky would sell, so why he is not in this set perplexes me. Maybe he had his hands full with the billion other endorsement deals he had during the 1980s? And Lafluer--his best days might have been behind him, but he's Guy Lafleur, man. But it is Gretzky's ommission from this set that makes it not very sought after. Despite this set's age, you can still find it in the $5 to $10 range.
Card design
Ugly as Dave Babych's gap toothed grin. The design is nothing to look at, really-just a close up shot of the player, their name and an obtrusive NHLPA logo, which teaches us an important lesson: if the NHLPA logo is that prominent, then the NHL had nothing to do with this. And notice--there is no NHL logo to be seen. Most all of the photos are studio-type portraits (from team yearbooks or press guides), with the exception of Larry Robinson and Rick Vaive. Those two cards use game-action photos (but are cropped in as close-ups).
Stats & info
The card backs feature the usual bio stuff we like: height, weight, shoots, 1st Pro Season, how acquired, birth date and birth place. We also get their lifetime stats, and their 1982-83 stats.
Final rating:
No Great One, and no Flower. We still get cards of Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Dale Hawerchuk, though.
BONUS: Fun Fact about this set!
More interesting than the player stats are the Instant Win instructions. If your card is a winner, then you must also answer a "Skills-testing question". Apparently, games of chance are not allowed in Canada-they must be games of skill. So, those who get a winning game card must also answer this equation: "Add 68 and 7; multiply by 2;/ subtract 30 and divide by 2".
Hockey Stars TV Cash Game! Watch & Win!
By Sal J. Barry
Published October 5, 2007
Quick Stats
1983-1984 Esso
Click images to enlarge
21 card set
Entire card (player card plus lottery card) measures 4 1/2" wide by 3" tall
Actual player card when removed measures 2" wide by 3" tall
Player selection - 4/5
Card design - 0/5
Stats & info - 3/5
Download printable checklist
The 1983-84 Esso hockey set features 21 player cards that were attached to instant win cards, as part of their "Hockey Stars TV Cash Game". These cards feature close-up photos-since they were not licensed by the NHL, no logos or action shots are depicted.
1983-1984 Esso
Click images to enlarge
21 card set
Entire card (player card plus lottery card) measures 4 1/2" wide by 3" tall
Actual player card when removed measures 2" wide by 3" tall
Player selection - 4/5
Card design - 0/5
Stats & info - 3/5
Download printable checklist
Player selection
Good, if you are a Canadian-which was the targeted consumer for this set. Each of the seven Canadian-based teams has three player cards, usually featuring the best three players from that team. I say "usually" because Wayne Gretzky is absent from this set, as is Guy Lafluer. Perhaps it had to do with signing individual players' likenesses? It seems that anything involving Gretzky would sell, so why he is not in this set perplexes me. Maybe he had his hands full with the billion other endorsement deals he had during the 1980s? And Lafluer--his best days might have been behind him, but he's Guy Lafleur, man. But it is Gretzky's ommission from this set that makes it not very sought after. Despite this set's age, you can still find it in the $5 to $10 range.
Card design
Ugly as Dave Babych's gap toothed grin. The design is nothing to look at, really-just a close up shot of the player, their name and an obtrusive NHLPA logo, which teaches us an important lesson: if the NHLPA logo is that prominent, then the NHL had nothing to do with this. And notice--there is no NHL logo to be seen. Most all of the photos are studio-type portraits (from team yearbooks or press guides), with the exception of Larry Robinson and Rick Vaive. Those two cards use game-action photos (but are cropped in as close-ups).
Stats & info
The card backs feature the usual bio stuff we like: height, weight, shoots, 1st Pro Season, how acquired, birth date and birth place. We also get their lifetime stats, and their 1982-83 stats.
Final rating:
No Great One, and no Flower. We still get cards of Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Dale Hawerchuk, though.
BONUS: Fun Fact about this set!
More interesting than the player stats are the Instant Win instructions. If your card is a winner, then you must also answer a "Skills-testing question". Apparently, games of chance are not allowed in Canada-they must be games of skill. So, those who get a winning game card must also answer this equation: "Add 68 and 7; multiply by 2;/ subtract 30 and divide by 2".