1972-73 O-Pee-Chee NHL Awards Vezina Trophy #338
Tony Esposito / Gary Smith (Mentioned on Reverse) · O-Pee-Chee (Licensed by Topps) · Insert/subset: NHL Trophy/Award Card
Player
Tony Esposito / Gary Smith (Mentioned on Reverse)
Set
1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Base
Year
1972
Card #
338
Condition Grade
PSA 3 (VG) - Centering is significantly off-top toward the left. Corners show rounding and whitening. Surface possesses a visible scratch on the right red field and general edge wear. Typical vintage O-Pee-Chee rough cut.
Category
Insert/subset: NHL Trophy/Award Card
Manufacturer
O-Pee-Chee (Licensed by Topps)
Demand Level
Moderate. Collector demand is driven by set builders looking to complete the 1972-73 high-number series.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$3.00 - $8.00
Graded Value
PSA 3: $12-18, PSA 4: $20-25, PSA 5: $35-45
Comparable Sales
Recent sales of raw copies in similar VG condition range from $4.00 to $10.00. Graded PSA 7 and 8 copies can fetch $60-$100+, but this specific specimen would not reach those grades.
Description
A classic 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee hockey card featuring the prestigious Vezina Trophy. Set against a vibrant red background with a bold yellow name banner, this card celebrates the NHL's top goaltenders from the previous season. The reverse side (not shown) traditionally lists the winners, Tony Esposito and Gary Smith.
Key Features
High-number subset card from a popular vintage set. Features iconic trophy imagery rather than player photography. Part of the larger 'NHL Awards' subset.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence. The cardboard stock shows the correct brownish-grey vintage pulp characteristic of O-Pee-Chee. The printing of the yellow banner shows the correct ink saturation and 'rough cut' edges typical of 1970s Canadian production.
Flaws to Note
Heavy left-leaning centering issues. Significant rounding on the bottom-right and top-right corners. Edge chipping and a distinct surface scratch near the center-right of the trophy image.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay is the most effective platform for this specific card level. COMC is also a good option for bulk vintage consignments.
Selling Tips
Due to the low value and high centering/condition issues, this card is likely not a candidate for grading. List it as 'Raw Vintage' with clear photos of the back to verify it is the OPC version vs. the Topps version. Use a bubble mailer for protection even if the value is low.