Have A Coke And A Card!

At a time when Topps offered the only mainstream hockey series, e soft-drink giant filled a niche with a series that stands the test of time.

- Garen Humphreys

The mid-60s were a tough time to be a hockey card collector.

After starting out with four straight years of two manufacturers pumping cards into the marketplace, Parkhurst dropped out of the picture after their epic 1963-64 release, leaving Topps as the only game in town. The New York-based confectioner came on strong with the 1964-65 Tall Boys set, one of the most iconic, and valuable, of the decade but a one-set season meant hockey card collecting had just a short window... and was over far too soon.

Fortunately, the following season offered another series to pursue. While not a classic “cards in pack with stick of gum” product, it was wildly popular with collectors while offering its own unique challenges. And all it took to build was a willingness to down a lot of specially marked bottles of Coca-Cola or Sprite.