LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - Sigh.... I Had To Add A Messier

Oh boy...I can't believe I did it. But it was for the greater good of the Linden collection.

There are a few, fleeting moments in the career of Trevor Linden where his world collided with that of one Mark Messier.

Now, I'm not going to go on a long diatribe about how much I detest "The Moose", but let's just say that I think he is absolutely the most overrated player the league has ever seen. He does NOT epitomize leadership nor does he exude a winning mindset.

Yes, he has trophies...but he is no champion.

ANYWAYS...a card popped up on eBay a few weeks back that had me cringe as I bid on it. It showcases the epic Stanley Cup Finals between the Canucks and Rangers from the 93/94 season. It still goes down as one of the best finals I have ever seen.

So, me being a completist, I bid on said card...and won.

2013/14 In The Game Decades 90's

#CC-05 Cup Clashes Silver (w/ Richter, Messier & Bure)

With only 30 copies of this silver parallel printed, it's a card that has eluded me for a decade. Or maybe I was just avoiding it. Regardless, when I saw it surface, I thought that if I could land it cheap...I'd allow it into my collection.

They even had to use a smug photo of Messier...didn't they?

It's a great card to add to the PC and it's one less of "that guy" I've got to keep track of.

OK....enough of that. I've given him enough of the limelight.  Ha ha.

SWEET GOALIE SIGS - Tony Esposito

Sweet Goalie Sigs...yes, this is a project I have in my collecting world. You might not have heard of it because I've only posted about it once - to show the only two cards in my small PC.

But after 8+ years...I have finally added another piece to the puzzle.

So what is it about this project that has me excited? Well, I love the photography in it. Full-frame head-to-toe goalie pics are very cool. And I think highly of superior penmanship...and these goalies have it in spades.

I was at trade night  (yes, they're back) a week ago and pulled the trigger on this new add.

2013/14 Upper Deck Game Used

#78 Tony Esposito

A quick aside before I start gushing over the card. This September is the 50th Anniversary of the Summit Series and Team Canada's breathtaking win over the Soviets. There is a 4-part documentary series celebrating this historic time period in hockey and I absolutely can't wait for it. Many remember Ken Dryden in net, but Tony-O was a key piece of the roster that helped secure the stunning victory.

Now, to the card. This time period with Esposito (later in his career, when he adopted the partial cage on his mask) is what I remember when I think of Tony. It was the early 80's and he was an All-Star tender. This photo has it all - the slick leather pads, glove and blocker, that Northland stick, Original Six team, and of course...the mask. It's a beautiful pic.

Now, the autograph had me on the fence for a while. The other two cards in my small PC are hard-signed (and I am a sucker for on-card signatures). But this didn't feel like I was making an exception. Tony's script is legendary - easily recognizable. And with the recent passing of this goaltending great, I felt that this might be the best card of his to be a part of my collection.

It was an easy, confident purchase. I couldn't be happier.

Now, let's see if I can find a fourth card before the end of this decade.  :)

LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - Show Me Some Silvers

A little over a year ago, I tracked down a number of older show cards that have been on my Linden wantlist for decades. It really was one of the most enjoyable finds I've made in a long time. To secure these (and I hate to use the term) 'white whales' after all these years epitomized the long-game mindset I have placed on my collecting.

I don't chase cards like I did 10-15 years ago. My wallet has different priorities these days. But I don't go a day without searching online for Linden cards - most days it's a good dozen or so times, easily.

I find some cards I need...usually overpriced, some cards I'd like to have...but too steep for the bank account, and on rare occasions I find some cards that I pull the trigger on immediately. A couple weeks back I had one of those moments.

As I mentioned, show cards are a rare bird these days. They were never on my radar back in the late-90's. I was just discovering the online world of collecting and it opened my eyes to what my master checklist would become. 

But, better late than never to track these down.  A pair of fantastic cards that I have never seen in my 25+ years of collecting Trev.

1998/99 Be A Player

#234 Spring Expo  /25

I don't know what to say...I'm still stunned to see this card in my hands. It popped up on eBay early one morning (weekday) and for a fair price. I actually saw three show cards in succession. Having just woken up, my still tired eyes quickly searched my master list to see which ones I needed. Two out of the three were soon purchased. The third one I had already snagged a year ago.

1998/99 Be A Player

#234 Montreal Expo  /10

These are the cards that have me searching constantly. Heck, I've done 3 eBay searches in the time it has taken me to write this post. I absolutely love finding these cards that continue to fill out my collection.

And after the show card hauls I've had the past couple of years, I am very much looking forward to tracking down and picking up more of these pieces.

What was once only thought of as a longshot has now turned into an attainable chase.

I love player collecting.