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Curtis “Cujo” Joseph (04/29/67) is a retired goaltender best known for the colorful helmets he wore for most of his career.
Inspiration was taken from the Stephen King novel of the same name, while the undrafted goalie showed bite as he became the first in NHL history to win 30 games in one season for five different teams.
Curtis Joseph Rookie Year Stats: 30 games – 16 wins – 3.12 goals against avg – .898 save percentage
Shop Curtis Joseph Rookie Cards on eBay
We’ve compiled a list containing three of the best Curtis Joseph rookie cards and investment advice for the next few years.
Released during the height of the junk wax era, Joseph has a range of rookie cards found in every popular set from the early 1990s. We’ve listed some of the best options below, although they have been diluted slightly by the huge print runs from the time.
1990 Curtis Joseph French Upper Deck RC #175
Here is the top CUJO rookie card in terms of long-term ROI. We love Upper Deck when it comes to hockey, and the French version makes it even more valuable.
Numbered #175, the card shows Joseph in the net waiting to stack some pillows if required. The only thing that could have made this card any better is if it was a Young Guns UD rookie card.
1990 Curtis Joseph O-Pee-Chee Premier RC #51
O-Pee-Chee is Topps’ Canadian counterpart and is often preferred when looking at older hockey cards. Many OPC cards (including this one) are bilingual, sharing French and English texts.
The Joseph RC is a ‘Premier’ release, so it’s wrapped with a gold border alongside a great action shot of the player.
OPC cards are some of the best in pure value, and the Joseph card is no different.
1990 Curtis Joseph Topps Tiffany RC #171
The next Curtis Joseph RC to make a list is from the 1990 Topps Tiffany set.
From 1984 to 1991, Topps decided to release upgraded versions of their sets under the Tiffany banner.
These cards were glossy compared to base editions, and you’ll also be able to tell the difference by checking out the stars (**) located on the reverse.
It notes that Joseph is a ‘Top Prospect,’ while the blue and yellow border blends well with his St. Louis jersey.
1990 Curtis Joseph Canadian Score RC #151
The 1990 Score Hockey set is one we’ve checked out recently, as junk wax-era hobby boxes continue to receive increased interest from collectors.
Joseph has some cards in the set, including the Young Superstars release (#15) and this base version (#151).
Although both are wrapped in the familiar red, white, and blue design, we’re looking at the latter, making the 1990 Score set instantly recognizable to anyone over 30.
Curtis Joseph Rookie Card Value
The most valuable Curtis Joseph rookie card is the 1990-91 Curtis Joseph French Upper Deck Rookie Card #175.
Checklist
- 1990 Score Curtis Joseph RC #151
- 1990 Score Canadian Curtis Joseph RC #151
- 1990 O-Pee-Chee Premier Curtis Joseph RC #51
- 1990 Topps Tiffany Curtis Joseph RC #171
- 1990 French Upper Deck Curtis Joseph RC #175
- 1990 Upper Deck Curtis Joseph RC #175
- 1990 Pro Set Curtis Joseph RC #638
- 1990 O-Pee-Chee Curtis Joseph RC #171
Buyers Rating and Investment Outlook
Despite amassing 454 career wins in the NHL, Joseph never got his team to the Stanley Cup Final or made an NHL postseason All-Star team.
- Curtis Joseph Rookie Card Investment Rating: Buy (3.8 out of 5)
- Ownership Disclosure: None
- Best Curtis Joseph RC: 1990 Upper Deck French Curtis Joseph RC #175
It’s seen as one of the main reasons he never made it into the Hall of Fame, which is a notoriously difficult task for players in his position.
Most enshrined goalies played the bulk of their career before World War II, so you have to go above and beyond to be considered for contention.
With no Stanley Cup or All-Star appearances, it’s an easy decision for the Selection Committee, even if his numbers are comparable with the best.
“Unless you’re looking at PSA 10 copies, most of his rookie cards are almost worthless today.”
It combines the massive print runs from the time and the lack of a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Altogether, it becomes an investment opportunity that we would probably avoid, as there are better opportunities for profit elsewhere.