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The 1988-89 Esso All-Stars set is pure Canadian hockey nostalgia—stickers doled out at gas pumps, destined for albums and bedroom walls, immortalizing the NHL's elite. Darryl Sittler's card from this 48-piece collection captures the Toronto Maple Leafs icon in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, just before his 1985 retirement. Graded KSA 9.5 Near Gem Mint, this slabbed sticker transcends its promo roots, offering pristine preservation of a player whose single-game explosion still echoes. For Leafs loyalists, '80s completists, or collectors chasing affordable Hall autos (wait, no—legends under $50), this is a low-key essential: story over speculation, with subtle upside in vintage demand. Here's the full scoop.

Card Description

• Player & Design: Features Darryl Sittler, the 6'0" Ontario-born center and lifelong scoring machine, in a classic action pose—mid-stride, stick on puck, exuding that gritty Leafs tenacity. The borderless color front (with blue facsimile autograph) measures 2-1/8" x 3-1/4" as an adhesive-backed sticker, perfect for Esso's album-peel vibe. This is card #DASI (or unnumbered in some checklists), from a set honoring all-stars like Gretzky and Lemieux. The back? A straightforward full-set checklist, no stats overload—just a nod to Sittler's era-defining presence. 
• Condition & Grading: Sealed in a KSA 9.5 NGM holder by KSA Grading (a sharp, budget-savvy PSA alternative emphasizing centering and gloss). This near-elite grade means flawless 60/40 centering, untouched corners (no peel risks from album use), pristine edges, and a sticker surface free of yellowing or adhesive residue—gem mint vibes in a fragile format. KSA's slab protects what raw Esso stickers often lose to time, making it display-ready without the era's common wear.
• Rarity & Parallels: From a massive gas-station distribution (six stickers per Esso pack in Canada), the set's print run was huge for promo, but high-grade survivors are tough—KSA 9.5 pops under 100 for Sittler. No parallels here, but it slots into Esso album builds or pairs with his 1970-71 rookie for a career rainbow.

Why Buy This Card for Your Collection?

• Player Legacy on Ice: Sittler is Toronto's heartbreak hero—drafted 8th overall in 1970, he became the franchise's all-time points king (still holds at 916 with the Leafs) over 844 games, retiring in 1985 with NHL totals of 484 goals and 1,121 points. His crowning jewel? February 7, 1976: 6 goals and 4 assists (10 points) vs. Boston, shattering Maurice Richard's record—a mark untouched 49 years later. Four-time All-Star, first Leaf to hit 100 points (1975-76), and 18 career hat tricks—he's Hall of Fame (1989), Ontario Sports HOF (2003), and Canadian Walk of Fame (2016). At 75 in 2025, Sittler's a Leafs ambassador, his #27 etched in Legends Row since 2014, symbolizing grit amid the Punch Imlach drama. This card freezes his late-career poise—a bridge from dynasties to rebuilds.
• Investment Upside: '80s Esso cards are steady climbers in the nostalgia wave, up 10-15% YOY for Hall players. Low entry (no rookie premium) with 1.5-2x potential by 2027 as Leafs fever peaks (post-2024 Cup buzz).
• Market Snapshot: October 2025 eBay/COMC comps: No spikes, just reliable holds amid vintage thaw.

Pick up this KSA 9.5 NGM Sittler Esso and you will be claiming a piece of Leafs lore—a record-shattering night in sticker form, with endless replay value. Toronto tough forever! 🍁