1991-92 Pro Set French Hockey Forum

Just busted open a box of 1990-91 Pro Set (French, Series 1) putting together nearly a full set - only missing #271 - plus a stack of dupes.  In that stack of dupes is the #340 Bill Barilko card.  Why is this (still) so highly priced?

Even back in the '90s, I remember seeing the card listed as $10 "high" in the Beckett monthly hockey price guide.  Was this just a misplaced decimal typo that Beckett never bothered to correct, causing a pricing anomoly, or was there some kind of Honus Wagner-esque card-pulling from later production runs?

Oh, and in case you might be wondering, I did NOT get a Patrick Roy AU, but I DID get a mis-cut #125 Patrick Roy!  About 5mm off the left & 1mm off the bottom - almost as special :)

The only reason I can think of is because The Tragically Hip used the info on the back of the card in one of their songs. Other than that, I never really understood that either, but am curious to find out also

It is 100% because of Tragically Hip fans, and the song Fifty Mission Cap. 

The Tragically Hip used the back text nearly word for word on a song that only went to #40 on the Canadian charts.

That's really the only reason.

Well, there is this

"Over time, a certain hobby publication decided that the NHL history subset card of Bill Barilko would be tagged as his rookie. This controversial decision is a bit perplexing, but that card is the one which the late Gord Downie of Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip based their song Fifty Mission Cap on. The debate over what Barilko’s rookie card actually is has multiple answers and perspectives, but this card is easily one of the most culturally significant of the era."

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/1991-92-rookie-card-recap-prospects-go-wild/

https://puckjunk.com/2016/05/25/tragically-hip-stole-this-from-a-hockey-card/

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/the-buzzer-tragically-hip-bill-barilko-1.5652598

Broad cultural appeal in Canada. Two (sad/moving/dead-too-soon) stories in Barilko and Downie, the iconic status of The Hip (in Canada), plus you have the Leafs (Canada's most popular team) and The Cup (the greatest trophy in sports). Lots of different reasons and kinds of people who would want to own the card.

What a complete non-sequitur!  Please somebody write this nugget up and put it in the Comments section for the card or the Trivia section for the set.

-Tom