MY COLLECTION - Finally Disposing Of This Piece Of Paper

Cleaning off my desk last night and I (once again) came across this faded, barely sticky Post-It note reminding me of some very valuable information about some of the cards in my Linden collection. I've had it on my desk for almost a decade.

I vowed at that moment that I would finally.....FINALLY dispose of this piece of paper.

I realized that I can just slap a pic of it on my blog and call it a day.

So here goes...

Ahhhhhhh.....that's the exhale of accomplishment. LOL

Seriously though, what is this? What do these colors and numbers mean?

Well, let's go back to the 2015/16 hockey card season. 

It was a time of change for one particular company. In The Game had been a staple of my Linden collecting for over 20 years. Many of my favourite cards were developed and manufactured by Dr. Brian Price and his team. My master checklist has been filled out considerably by his work. But the time had come for Dr. Price to call it a day with ITG. The brand was moved over to Leaf to continue using the ITG name, but there was no question that it was the end of an era.

Before he left though, the decision to part with many of the remaining stock of cards was made. And so, In The Game Vault was created. Cards that were in existence but not released were given a Vault stamp of a particular colour and thrust out into the collecting world.

Oh...and each card, due to these stamps, were deemed 1/1's.

Oh...and another oh...there was no checklist.

Good grief.

My initial thought was "Hard pass". I just could not get behind what resulted in inflated prices on "one-of-one" hockey cards. The secondary market was salivating in hopes people would jump at these "rare cards".

That's where this piece of paper comes into play. See, some of the cards had multiple copies. So what do you do to make each of them unique? Stamp it with a different colour. And thus began the struggles of trying to figure out what was actually out there.

I'm still finding new Vault cards on my searches. But I refuse to add anything to my master list until I have seen a physical copy of a card pop up online. To date, I've added 105 ITG Final Vault Trevor Linden cards to my master list. Each one given the "one-of-one" identifier. That's absurd.

And there are dozens more out there that have just never seen the light of day. I know it. Because it all goes back to the piece of paper.

See, if there were multiple copies of a card released, it would get stamped in a certain order...

• Red = at least 1 copy exists
• Blue = at least 2 copies exist (a red one and a blue one)
• Green = at least 3
• Silver = at least 4
• Gold = at least 5
• Black = at least 6
• Pink = at least 7
• Purple = at least 8
• Copper = at least 9
• Teal = at least 10

Sigh....it's ridiculous. And nearly impossible to track. Scans of these stamps often don't clearly show what colour the stamp is (because it's foil and scanners don't like shiny stuff). And asking a seller what colour the Vault stamp is can be challenging too (because they don't know or they don't care).

So yeah, this piece of paper is here...was here to remind me of the formula. Actually, it was more a reminder of the frustration of these Vault cards.

But now, the paper is gone...and for now so will my memories of the challenge that is ITG Vault.

That felt a little cathartic. :)

MY COLLECTION - Celebrating 15 Years Of A Blog Called "My Hockey Card Obsession"

It was 15 years ago to the day that I sat down in front of my computer to type the first blog post for My Hockey Card Obsession. I probably spent hours agonizing over the fine details - blog banner, colors, layout.....what the heck to say. That's just who I am, who I'll always be. But the idea of sharing my thoughts on a hobby I have loved for most of my life...just felt right. There were many reasons why I launched this blog back in 2009, and most are still pillars in what continues to be a wonderful hobby.

When I started this blog, it was a pre-social media world for me. I wasn't on Twitter, Instagram didn't exist (it was still a year away) and I never jumped on the Facebook bandwagon. My online world, hobby-wise, was eBay and chat forums (both of which are still a part of my current collecting environment). Blogging felt like an explosion of unique and personal hobby perspectives and stories. I was really drawn to it and felt I could do the same myself.

My Hockey Card Obsession was launched (as I stated in my very first post) because "I wanted there to be a place where I can share my thoughts on hockey cards and my collections" as well as "keeping me in check" on the numerous goals I wanted to achieve in this hobby. That second part was a big reason...I've always been a guy who starts a new project every other day it seems. :)

I've changed a lot...but many of those words I typed back in 2009 still ring true.

My main collection is and forever will be Trevor Linden. I have passionately chased his cards for close to 30 years. He is the staple of this blog and still a topic of conversation when I go to shows, stores and trade nights. To this day, I search eBay hourly for the latest Lindens to hit the open market. When I look back at my very first Trevor Linden post, it makes me realize just how much has happened over the past 15 years.

I've gone from about 900 Trevor Linden cards to just over 1,650 (as of a recent count). So 750 new additions over the past 15 years...that's 50 a year, or about one a week. Sounds about right when I look at how aggressive I was in chasing his cards for a while and how passive I currently am (just 5 Linden eBay purchases over the past 12 months). Trev has over 2,600 cards on my master player checklist, so I've got plenty to chase the rest of my lifetime.

Most of my new Linden card additions have a story attached to them...and I feel I've shared many on this blog. Memorable trips to shows or stores, fantastic trades or gifts from other Linden collectors, sometimes just a "right place, right time" moment that I was lucky to discover. I genuinely love the fact that I still find value and enjoyment out of tracking down a .25 cent common (or maybe it's a buck these days) that has eluded me. I hope that part of the hobby never changes for me...I don't think it will.

The past 15 years has seen me continue to build on some side projects that I've always found interesting. I've added some new ones...and I've seen some come to completion. There are collections that I've completely abandoned for one reason or another...and a couple that I might choose to resurrect one day.

Without question, the collection that has really brought a huge smile to my face has been my Oscar Gamble PC...or as I like to call it, Wallet Card. What started in 2015 as a simple act of reminding myself about the fun this hobby should always be has turned into a full blown player collection. Complete with a master checklist and (still) daily searches for cards.

I'm now up to over 140 unique Oscar Gamble cards (out of about 200)...but I am ever so passive about what I buy. I don't need to rush to finish things off. When I find a card that might be a little tougher to track down, I seriously consider it. If it's an easier chase...I tend to wait. Shipping from the States costs an arm and a leg so it's just not worth it most times.

My Oscar Gamble collection needs to always be fun, inexpensive and never a burden. I'm really pleased that I've been able to check off all those boxes for all these years.

The other project that has taken up the most closet space has been my goalie mask PC. There was a time when I was obsessed with masks...spending hours on end looking for photos of all the different goalie masks that has ever existed in the NHL. Finding articles and interviews about anyone sharing stories of NHL masks. That love spun off into collecting many of the mask-themed sets that have been released over the years. 

Dedicated sets from Pinnacle, In The Game, Leaf and Upper Deck has allowed me to build a really enjoyable tribute to the coolest piece of sporting equipment. While there hasn't been much in dedicated mask sets in almost a decade, I decided to take the leap into some of the mask sets from other leagues (KHL, Swedish Elite League and come Czech sets) and that has really bolstered my collection and the enjoyment these mask cards bring.

One of the few "did you know" items from my blog that I'll share...it's a mask-related post that hold the distinction of being my most popular entry. A whopping 12,500 views! For some reason, April 30, 2013 was a special day for it as over 10,000 views alone were tallied. That's crazy!

To this day, I stop and smile when I see a close-up photo of a mask being used on a hockey card. I collect those too...but more in an unofficial capacity. 

I hope one day that a true, definitive, historical goalie mask set will be produced...but I don't hold my breath. I think the logistics involved are just too much of a hassle for companies to deal with. Some too for a once-and-for-all documentary series on the history of the mask. There's so many great stories and footage that exists. But it's a daunting endeavor.

In looking at some of my other early posts from my blog back in 2009, I couldn't help but notice my enjoyment for Custom Cards. Over the past 15 years, it's likely been one of the bigger rollercoaster rides I've had in my hobby world. It went from being a process of discovery to a leaping off point and now a aspect I enjoy from afar.

This Crosby was the first ever custom card I created (probably in the mid-2000's...it was for the ever-popular Beckett Boards' Custom Card Design contest). It was early in my online hobby life when I discovered custom card making. I use Photoshop in my professional world and so I decided to dabble. It was so fun to create all these designs that came from inside my brain. I started by making digital cards for myself, but graduated to printing and assembling customs for my own enjoyment. 

There have been a number of instances where I've had people reach out for my services and have always appreciated the gifts they have sent me in return. Heck, it's one of the reasons my Wallet Card exists. Some of my favourite custom creations include a stunning cut-auto golf set, a Beatles ticket stub from 1966, and an auto set from the 1954/55 Syracuse Nationals...

You'll have to forgive the (never before seen) photo...it's from a 2013 e-mail attachment that I was shocked I could still find.

I haven't touched customs in a number of years. I think part of the reason is the massive oversaturation of custom cards that have not only popped up online, but have found their way to eBay, Esty and wherever people looking to make a quick buck can slap their "work". I don't like that all of these custom card makers ignore trademarks, copyrights and just personal property of others in order to make (at times very considerable) monetary gain. Does that make me a hypocrite? I don't know. But I don't put price tags on my work and I don't pump out customs like I'm printing money.

I do have one custom build that I'd like to see the finish line to...it's a cut-auto Ken Dryden. I've had the signature for almost a decade - yikes. And I do have an idea of how I'd like to present it. So there's a chance that I might still come out of retirement. :)

After all I've blabbed about here in this post...and over the past 15 years, there's still plenty stashed in the closet. My Parkie Project (the lifetime build), HHOF autos, and some Cup Raisers all find some pockets of time and attention, but there also a few parts of my hobby that don't get much blog effort...

I'm still a real sucker for a great looking photo on a hockey card. Be it a unique angle or rarely seen spot on the ice (or off the ice). I always keep an eye out for something that has me do a double take. And I get a big jolt of adrenaline when I see an artifact from my collecting youth. This card locker still has me smile every single time I gaze at it. 

My One Sheet, One Set adventure was dismantled a few years back. It was taking up too much space for the level of appreciation that I had for the project. So too, the 1 vs 100 build. Sometimes...it's just time. Scribbles And Scribes was fun...and the Who Am I? posts. But they fell off quickly as I found less time (and enthusiasm) to post about cards that never really lived in my collection. I love cool and incredible stats or stories that come from the world of pro hockey and I think the Did You Know posts struck a positive chord with me. My fave includes Canuck legend Ron Sedlbauer. I really should do more of these...they're super fun.

At the end of the day, there really isn't a shortage of topics for me to blog about. When I go to hobby shops or shows or trade nights, I can blab about cards like the best of them. It's finding the time and importance (in my eyes) of what I am sharing. I've always said that this blog is for me first and foremost, I don't want to type stuff just for the sake of typing.

I've slowed down considerably from my 3-4 posts a week and am now happy if I get something out there each month. There are ebbs and flows, sparks of inspiration and times where I just need some quiet from the hobby. I know that this blog will continue to be here for me when I want it.

Lastly, goals. I talked about it in my very first post and in many ways, I've been very pleased with how my collecting evolution has occurred. I've grown as a hobbyist. I'm patient, I've learned from mistakes and I'm in no rush for anything. I don't envy people looking to get into card collecting these days with all of the "massive this" and "expensive that". It can be overwhelming. My goal is to keep things affordable and enjoyable. It really is as simple as that.

Specific goals?.....I don't have any that I attach to any projects. I think I'm past the point of trying to be aggressive with any pursuits in my collecting. But I do have some "bigger picture" things I'd still like to achieve. 

I'd still like to take a "family photo" of all my Linden cards. I can only imagine the day's worth of events to lay out the hundreds and hundreds of cards and then have to find the height to snap a pic. What a story that would be. 

I'd like to finish some of the custom cards that I've let slip for so many years. I get inspired by a lot of cool stuff out there only to turn and start feeling guilty for all the little projects I've let fall by the wayside. I know I can't do everything and I've come to accept that...but I do wish to put more time into some custom building again - it's a fun workout.

Maybe a website to truly catalog and share all of my Linden cards. That one would take a serious time commitment. I'd need to really make sure that the spark is strong when it hits.

I'd like to write a book. I don't know what about...but I love the idea of story and I feel like I could bring a topic floating in my brain to life in a more longform way.

I snicker a bit as I look at the above 3-4 "goals" that I'd still like to achieve. They're very much the same ones I've been imagining for years. Something else that 15 years of blogging has given me is a sense of time. In another 15 years from now...I'm in retirement. If I really want to achieve some of these dreams (because really...that's what they are), then I do need to start putting one foot in front of the other on them.

Finally, I want to keep doing good things. This hobby is filled with great people and they inspire me and motivate me. Positivity rubs off real easy and I want to continue to find it - in my hobby world and outside it. I am a big believer that if you do good things...good things will happen. 

Here's to 15 more years!! If you've read this to the end...much thanks. I appreciate your time.

LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - So Just How Long Have I Been Building This?

This upcoming week, my blog hits a pretty special milestone...it turns 15 years old. And while over the past 5-6 years my activity on this site has been minimal, I still take great pride in knowing that blogging has remained an important part of my hobby environment and enjoyment.

I'll chat more about this anniversary accomplishment later in the week. For now, I wanted to share some photos that made me laugh as I realized just how long I've been collecting my guy, Trevor Linden.

A couple years ago, I was sifting through my collection and noticed some pretty old cards. I gave them some TLC and a little tidy. Today, I started dealing with his Montreal Canadiens-era cards...

This......is how long I've been collecting Trev. :)

I had a good snicker when I noticed that his cards....toploaders from the early 2000's had deteriorated to the point where they needed a permanent shift change. It's incredible to see how much more appealing and vibrant a card is when it's got that shiny new suit.

I can remember buying cards from this time period. I had just discovered eBay and that opened the door to a flood of Linden cards that I never thought I'd own. Impossible to find parallels were now a click or two away. I was in player collecting heaven.

At that time, it was completely foreign to me seeing Linden in non-Canucks colors. First, in a stint with the New York Islanders, then the iconic Montreal Canadiens and finally a cup of coffee with the Washington Capitals. It never felt right and I was thrilled when he finally returned to Vancouver to finish out his career.

That said, I knew I'd never waiver from collecting his cards. I know of other hobbyists who have abandoned their pursuit once their favourite player moved on to another team. I've always been a "nameplate on the back" guy first over the "crest on the front" (make note...I say that as a big Canucks fan).

I've always kept my cards in the standard penny sleeve, toploader combo and have stored my Linden collection in the cardboard monster boxes that have dominated hobby collecting up until recently.

I never really subscribed to the binder and binder sheets combination for my Lindens...to this day, I never feel comfortable flipping through pages. I thought the safety of my Linden collection was more sound in those cardboard boxes.

I go to shows and trade nights these days and see big, beefy briefcases tailor made for sportscards. I don't know if I will ever see my Linden collection switch over to that. It lacks a sense of warmth and innocence that some of the older storage methods have created for me.

It might be a little less convenient (as opposed to binders) to enjoy my collection and look at my cards, but I do love the fact that when I go through the various years and admire them, it's one piece of cardboard at a time. Each card gets my complete attention when I look at it - it's not competing with 8 other friends on a page. 

And while I'm not taking the cards out of the toploaders, I feel more connected to my collction by the way I'm physically holding on to them. They aren't resting on a table as I just flip pages. The cards feel (literally) more tangible. Probably why some of these cases have yellowed (that...and they're just old).

This toploader swap process has also made me stop and smell some of the rare flowers that normally wouldn't get much of a look - they're not the "rare hits" or "flexes" that others might like to see and enjoy. But I cherish each card I've been able to add.

These near 25-year old base cards and parallels are such an important part of my Linden collection. They take me back to a time when I was growing and developing a player collection at a rate that gave me some real excitement in this hobby - a level I'd never reached previously. I knew I had found my real collecting passion.

And I had no idea of the rollercoaster ride I was about to go on. 

How do you store your player collection (or just general collection for that matter)? Have you ever done an upgrade to the storage of your cards?

RAISE THE CUP - Detroit Celebration

Another one of my fun side projects that's been in hibernation of late has been my Raise The Cup collection. It probably is the most "loose" in terms of the rules I associate with it.

There's no checklist for something like this...it's all about the photos and the cost of the cards. And with that comes zero pressure. Zero pressure = Maximum fun.

A lot of my hobby friends know that I have this PC on the go and I appreciate when they keep an eye out for some new additions. The owner of one of the local card shops here in town pulled a few aside for me - cards that I'd never see before. Always exciting.

1998/99 Pacific

Trophy Winners

#7 Darren McCarty

What a photo! This might rank in the Top 10 of my cup raiser cards. It really epitomizes what the goal is with this build. The pinnacle moment of a player's hockey career - lifting the Stanley Cup. In the mid-90's, Detroit was a dangerous team each season. A guy like Darren McCarty was an impact player for team so deep in talent.

You can just see him soaking in the moment. It's as if the packed crowd isn't even there. And I love that the angle of the photo has no other players (or anyone else) on the ice around him. It makes for a more intimate moment. Really great pic.

1998/99 Pacific

Trophy Winners

#9 Brendan Shanahan

I'd never seen cards from this insert set before, so I did a little digging. It's a 10 card offering that was inserted into the Pacific flagship set in 98/99. Called the Trophy Winners set, not all 10 cards involve the Stanley Cup. Cards 1-4 are other trophy winners including Marty Brodeur and Sergei Samsonov. (remember him?)

1998/99 Pacific

Trophy Winners

#5 Sergei Fedorov

While the McCarty is a dynamite photo, The others in the set reveal a bit of a shortcoming in the photo quality department. Now I say that knowing full well this is such a one-shot moment. You only kiss the bride for the first time once. I don't envy the photogs on an assignment like covering a Stanley Cup clinching win.

But still, there has to be some better photo selection that Sergei getting sucked into a black void...no?

1998/99 Pacific

Trophy Winners

#6 Nicklas Lidstrom

Or Nick Lidstrom in the hallway posing directly for the camera.

This card might actually be dismissed from the collection as it really doesn't fulfill the true spirit of the cards I'm looking for. This is not nearly as dynamic and powerful as the moment he hoisted the Cup over his head on the ice for the first time. Not even close.

1998/99 Pacific

Trophy Winners

#8 Chris Osgood

And Chris isn't even lifting the Cup by himself. It's a half hoist. Ha.

Again, these photos just don't resonate with me in the same way as that McCarty. The great thing about this project is that I get to completely call the shots. I can choose to keep him...I can choose to let him go.

I don't I'll make that decision right now. I'll toss them into the binder and enjoy the new adds for a while instead.

There's one card left from this insert set that is now on my radar...card #10 is the Steve Yzerman. I'm kind of making it a must-have and so I guess I now officially have a wantlist. :)

Overall, these cards really reinforce just how much a person can enjoy the hobby without having to tear apart the wallet. As my fellow blogger The Chronicles of Fuji likes to say..."affordable treasures". Love that.

OK...let's have some fun. Just for pure enjoyment, you be the judge. Which of the above cards would you include (or decide not to include) into a project that is called 'Raise The Cup'? And why?

OPINION - Always Keep Learning

If there's one thing this summer of collecting has taught me, it's that even if you think you've seen it all...you haven't. Cards that you've not thought about for decades and have been nestled deep in your collection might actually have more of a story than you know.

I've had three instances of it over the past few months. The Provincial Series impossibility from Donruss Canadian Ice, the Hang Tag from the NHLPA and Roots, and most recently the unknown Day In The Life parallels from Leaf. I can say with strong certainty that there is always something new to learn peeking up over the horizon.

And so what happens just a few days ago?....I receive a message from a fellow player collector with another headscratcher for me to ponder...

For you hockey collectors who have been around for a while, you'll easily notice this In The Game offering from the early 2000's. Nothing out of the ordinary...looks like a simple base card. Right?

Of course not.

Hmmmmm. OK, what do we have here? Something I've never come across in all my years of collecting.

I know this card as the 2000/01 Be A Player Signature Series, but have zero information on a "Player" parallel. The closest card in similarity I have is an 01/02 Signature Series Beckett Promo that has a similar placement and font style used to stamp the back of the Turco card. But that's where my knowledge base ends.

Of course, I have a zillion questions about this new revelation...How rare is it? How was it released out to the collecting world? How many other players have one of these? Does Linden have one? :)

I've made no headway on answering any of those queries. The only information I received about the card when the photo was sent to me was...

"Not sure if it's the same concept, but these old ITG cards had "player" on the back that signified a copy that was given to the actual player. Not my card but a Turco collector showed me this. He said he got it from Turco's dad. Pretty cool."

I'd say so! That's pretty awesome. Now I'm even more curious to know if the Linden family has one in their possession. 

Do I put this on my master list? Not yet. I need more proof that a Linden copy exists before I do that. But make no mistake, when I see these BAP base cards in a penny box at shows, I'll do a little digging. 

Big thanks to Aaron (creasecollector on the hobby boards) who sent me the pics as I know I would appreciate them (and I do). I've known Aaron for a long time both as a fellow player collector (Jhonas Enroth anyone?) and as co-host of a fantastic podcast on hockey card collecting called the Center Ice Card Cast. Definitely worth checking out. Note: Their next episode will be Episode 100...congrats guys on the accomplishment.

For me, I'm excited to find out what's underneath the next rock I turn over.

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - A Striking Custom Triple

Here's the final card I received in the 4-for-1 trade I made last weekend at the local monthly card show. It might be the last piece in the show & tell...but it definitely was the first one that caught my eye when checking out the showcases on the table.

I've got a real love-hate relationship with custom cards. I think they are amazing to look at, build and share. The creativity and personal expression that a custom card can bring really elevates the hobby in my opinion. There is so much talent out there and it's great to see all of the unique creations.

I absolutely hate when a price tag is associated with a custom. Especially when it's not an original piece of art. I've seen countless times where a photo, logo and even a card design is just blatantly ripped off, slapped on a new template and printed out like it's nothing. Then it's given a price tag (of any amount) and shoved out on eBay in the hopes that a sucker sees value in it. All the while, the "creator" of said custom completely ignores things like copyrights, trademarks or just common respect for other people's work. In this day and age, it's even more challenging to find true custom artists that do things "the right way".

This new Linden addition did have a price tag on it...which made me a little uncomfortable, but I knew the custom card designer and that softened the blow. It also helped that the guy trading with me obtained it via trade. In my mind, I could live with that.

For scale, this is about the size of a wood matchstick slide case and is actually a regular sized card folded up inside. The matchstick idea for presentation is really cool and it's a nice, creative step beyond your average booklet card.

Starting to unfold, you can tell that this is a triple patch piece that includes Linden. If you know your numbers, you'll guess the other two guys pretty easily.

Again, I really like the idea and execution of this particular card concept. It's hard for me to deny that it's a slick looking piece. Dare I say...striking. 

Here are the three players complete with their patch pieces. Of course, these are not authentic patches of any of the guys, they were likely taken from just a crest or an old jersey of sorts. Regardless, it provides the card a serious pop when looking at it.

I'm on the fence if I would've preferred a photo of Linden in his black jersey to match Bure and Mogilny. I do like the white...gives him a bit of a standout feel.

It was an easy addition to the trade and I am happy to have this card. Again, it is a stunner.

But I won't be officially adding this to my master checklist. I've got a couple other customs in the collection and they're more a reminder of a time period or creative custom builder. 

Still trying to conclude whether or not I'm a bit of a hypocrite. Ha ha.

At the end of the day...my collection, my rules.

Do you have any custom cards in your collection? Have you ever paid for a custom card? What are your thoughts on custom card work?

OPINION - Trevor Linden Digital Cards (Part 4)

A few years ago, I was made aware of a new type of hockey card collecting - digital trading cards. At the time it didn't overly sway me one way or another. I just thought it was cool that there was another avenue available for collectors to enjoy the hobby.

Then, Linden got his first digital card...and so I jumped in the pool. And to be perfectly honest, it was fun. I kept a very firm mindset that I wouldn't spend any money on these digital pieces (I'm not the biggest fan of buying something you can't physically hold on to) and I actually ended up with some very cool designs and "rare" chases.

As each year passed, there would be a handful of Linden cards that would be released. I had a grin when I saw his first autograph card as well as his first relic piece. And while I snickered a bit, I will admit, I did enjoy the process of trading for all the different Linden cards I could.

At the end of the last hockey season, as Topps usually does, they go into a mini-hibernation before launching into the new season. But the delay kept going...week after week. I don't follow the app on social media and such, but I finally figured out why they weren't introducing a new season.

Kinda bummed to be honest. That's it, that's all. And once again a solid reminder that nothing is a sure thing to last forever. So my digital card collecting is over for now. That is until I see some new Linden's pop up in the oasis.

Thankfully, Topps did announce that they would be transferring all the Skate assets to their online archive so at least I can enjoy the cards that I did collect over the years.

So, I thought I'd share my entire Linden digital card collection...

The Uncommon cards were the lowest tier of card that Trev had. The easiest to pull from packs and a breeze to trade for, these two really did nothing but fill the spots on my master list.

Some of the designs...I don't know. Ha ha.

The Rare cards. Sounds challenging, but really weren't. Many of the earlier years were given the rare designation even though they were easy to find or trade for. I do remember when I got the dual auto with Bo Horvat. I think it was around that time when I really felt like these digital cards were a legit outlet and additions to my collection.

I love many of the Topps designs and often would say "If only they had a license to make physical hockey cards again." I don't know if that will ever be a possibility in my lifetime.

The Super Rare cards. That's bigger than rare....wow. You can see that Topps really embraced the parallel world. A lot of the same designs but with a color shift and a lesser card rare ratio.

You'll also see that we venture into the world of digital relic cards. That jersey card in the bottom middle was a pillar moment in my digital card collecting, but it was the Alumni patch that had me think anything could be possible.

The free packs would reward you if you kept at it. I got the traders I needed to land the Linden patch and was blown away.

We're not even in rare air anymore...it's the Iconic class of cards. Tougher than rare. 

If you'd have asked me when I first started collecting digital cards if getting any of these Lindens would be possible...I would have given you a hard "No!"

A lot of these cards are limited to 100 "copies" or less...the gold dual, just 25 were released.

Not a single one of these were "pack pulled" by me and I think that goes to show just how opening some of the trading was on the platform. If you comparable traders (in terms of the class of card and print run), you could find a suitor.

Again, that Alumni patch card was a pretty big moment for me when I traded for that one. I was sure I'd never land it...but I was fortunate to find the right trade partner.

Here we go. Some ghosted out cards (ones that never made it to my collection). No coincidence that they live in the toughest area of town...the Legendary cards.

These were the cream of the crop, the rarest of the bunch and pretty much impossible to pull or trade for. A couple of these are 1/1's...but I take enjoyment that I can just snap a photo and feel like they're my own. Ha ha.

For me, this section wraps it all up in a bow. I am more than happy to keep these digital cards listed on my master list, cross them off when I get one and enjoy the designs and variety of all of them (whether I have a copy or not) whenever I want. Nothing wrong there.

I hope that one day there will be a similar digital hockey card vehicle that can I explore and enjoy. It really was fun while it lasted.

Total Trevor Linden digital card stats...

# of unique cards = 27
# of cards I obtained = 22
rarest card I own = limited to 25 copies
most common card I own = 3281 copies

LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - This Linden Discovery Has Me Completely Shook

My evening has been completely overtaken by an unlikely and shocking Linden discovery. It's something I literally tripped on while sorting cards and can't really believe I even found myself in a situation to notice it.

I have spent easily the past 2 hours trying to figure out what is going on...and all I can about what I uncovered.

But, as with most things from me...let's start the story from the beginning.

A couple months ago, I was invited to be a guest on the Sports Card Live podcast. I was asked to share my hobby story and show off some of the items in my collection. So of course, I went to the boxes of Trevor Linden cards in my closet and pulled some of my faves.

It wasn't just the expensive cards (the "flex cards" as they say) that I wanted to feature. I found a few cards that I thought would really help tell the story of my Linden collecting passion. One of the cards came from a very cool subset inserted into a Leaf product in the mid-90's.

1997/98 Leaf Day In The Life #194

This lovely shot of Trev swinging the golf club is one card in the 10-card Day In The Life set that featured my guy, Trevor Linden. The photo selection on the cards show everything from home life to practice, extra-ciricular activities to gameday prep. I was on cloud nine when I learned of this subset. Ten whole cards from one product!

There really wasn't anything else out there at the time quite like this. I was quite surprised that Donruss (the company that produced Leaf cards back in the 90's) chose Linden to be the guy they featured. It was early on in my Linden collecting and I felt I'd hit the jackpot. It's still a favourite talking point of my Linden collection to this day.

In addition to the regular base card, Leaf also produced some parallels. This was the Fractal Matrix version and had a cool foil-type surface. Limited to just 1400 sets, this was a fun, but fairly easy chase - even for the mid-90's.

You can see they added the words "Fractal" and "Matrix" on the card and I know it's very faint, but you might be able to catch a glimpse of the border built into the background and going around the photo (you can notice it most up by the crown of his head).

You'll see it better once you check out the other cards.

This is the Fractal Matrix X-Axis Die-Cut parallel and (obviously) it's got a die-cut punch to the card. The top and bottom are clipped to follow the background border I mentioned in the photo before.

You can also notice the words "X-Axis Die-Cut" curved around the logo at the bottom. Another foil offering and limited to just 400 sets, this card was the "tougher" chase, but I was able to land the full set with little trouble.

This is where things started revealing themselves to me today.

I keep all of my Linden cards in toploaders or one touches and store them in the two-lane card boxes (what is it...1500-count or something?). I've got about 9 or 10 of them now. I was going through the cards from the 90's, enjoying the trip down memory lane, as I was returning the Lindens I had pulled for the podcast. 

I got to this subset and decided to take a closer look at the 10-card set and all the parallels. After a few minutes, I decided to put the cards back in the specific order I have listed on my master list. Makes sense...right?

Well, I found I was having issues figuring things out. I was getting confused by the Fractal Matrix and the X-Axis Die-Cut variations. It shouldn't be overly difficult. But this is when I discovered something that I have never noticed in the decades that I've owned these cards.

I immediately went online to get confirmation of what I was seeing.

I was shook. Dumbfounded by this alternate version of the X-Axis Die-Cut I discovered. As you can clearly see, the words "X-Axis Die-Cut" do not exist on this card, even though it clearly is the die-cut version.

Was it a one-off? Nope. I found this anomally throughout the 10-card set I owned. Half of them have the words....half don't - and I never, ever noticed. NOT ONCE. Until today.

Do all 10 cards have both die-cut versions? I still haven't been able to confirm that. But you can be sure I'm going to be eagle-eyed about it until I solve this mystery.

If it weren't for me pulling this one card out to share on the podcast, I likely would never have noticed this. Incredible.

But...there's more.

As I was doing my detective work online, searching for the variations, I found this...

What??!!! A fifth version of the card. You can clearly see that it is not a die-cut and yet, it has the "X-Axis Die-Cut" words plastered around the logo. This has completely exploded my brain. Are these printing mistakes? Did they pump these variations out for fun to see if people would notice? How many versions are actually out there?

I had to stop or I'm sure I'd be at it all night trying to figure things out.

So, I decided to blog about it. :)

The great thing about this is that I don't think anybody has a clue this exists...so the cards that are out there are cheap as cheap. I should be able to pick up a lot of the now missing gaps in my collection for only a few bucks (I like the sounds of that).

The challenge will be trying to find definitive confirmation (and physical copies) of all the Lindens I'm missing. Not going to lie...it's a fun problem to have. I look forward to it.

This summer has been just so unexpected with all of these cards from the 90's revealing themselves to me. I've never experienced anything like it. A good reminder to always be paying attention and to take the time to enjoy the cards you have.

Thirty years of Linden collecting...still learning.

MY COLLECTION - Meeker And Some Tenders

Sharing a couple more items I picked up in a trade at last weekend's card show. Both of these cards caught my eye immediately...even if I have to shoehorn them into a specific PC project.

What is it that appeals to me when I see a card? Years ago, I would say things like card design, quality of the signature (from an aesthetic view...not necessarily from a superstar standpoint), and honestly... is it something that is on one of my wantlists (the majority of stuff I chase lives on a wantlist).

But these days, a card can certainly click when it harkens back to a memory of my childhood or early days of watching hockey on TV.

This card did exactly that...

2015/16 In The Game Final Vault

04/05 ITG Franchises Canadian Edition Autograph

#A-HM Howie Meeker  (vault stamped)

When I saw this card, it brought a huge grin to my face. For some reason, Howie Meeker is a guy that I'm just drawn to when I see stuff of his - be it cards, books, photos, you name it. Definitely a childhood memory thing for me.

I discovered hockey in the early 80's, card collecting, watching games in my room on my small, black & white TV (I was so pumped when I bought that television...saved up for quite a while to get it). All of 3 or 4 channels, but it got CBC. And on Saturday nights...that meant Hockey Night In Canada.

By the 80's, Meeker was out of the game as a player and did some youth coaching and such before really finding his calling as a color commentator for HNIC. He introduced us hockey fans to the telestrator which allowed Meeker to "draw" on the screen to emphasize his points and better share his hockey knowledge.

His calling card lines of "Stop it right there" and "Back it up, back it up" harken directly to those color commentating days where he would literally be barking live on air to the team in the control room to shuttle the videotape as he needed. As a kid, I thought it was the coolest thing.

I loved his book and was thrilled to find a copy of his rookie card at a show in Edmonton a few years back. He's a guy that just fills the room with positivity. This autographed card is one I couldn't pass up. 

I love how he tried his best not to encroach on the Maple Leafs logo...that's old school - and equally awesome. It's one of just a handful of hard signed signatures you'll find of the man. I'm going to add him to my Voices Of The Game project (I'm actually making an exception with this card as all the others come from insert sets called...Voices Of The Game). He belongs there, no question.

One other card to share today from that same trade...equally as smile-inducing...

2017/18 In The Game Used

Vintage Memorabilia

#VM3-08 Sawchuk/Plante/Hall  /6

Nothing makes me stop in my tracks more than seeng a picture of Jacques Plante wearing his fibreglass mask - nothing. It was such a pivotal moment in the game of hockey when he donned his crude, handmade mask in a game for the first time and revolutionized the sport. He's on my Mount Rushmore of goalies without question.

Seeing this card with a beautiful piece of Plante's game-used Montreal Canadiens memorabilia...and then to be pocketed alongside the likes of Sawchuk and Hall - both legends themselves - incredible.

All three of these players have super-interesting stories and back in the day, were without question the top tier best of the best.

Plante, like Meeker, has a special spot in my hockey world. Back in the mid-90's, I was obsessed with the subject of goalie masks. I would spend hours saving articles and photos that I found online pertaining to mask history. I had dreams of a beefy goalie mask documentary that would share the dozens and dozens of awesome mask stories from all of these special, unique goalies. I still think about that.

This card doesn't really fit in with any specific collecting project I'm currently working on, but I could easily justify starting a small Jacques Plante PC. I've picked up a number of Plante/mask items through the years, so this triple-mem piece isn't too far out of place.

I've got one last card from my 4-for-1 trade and it could just be my favourite of all of them. I'll share that one in a few days.

Do you have any cards in your collection that really hit you with some core childhood memories of the game? Are there any cards you'd like to add because of that nostalgia?

HHOF AUTOS - Sundin Upgrade

Wow! Five full years since I've made an update to my hard-signed Hall Of Fame autograph project. Out of all my side projects, this one has fallen furthest from the wayside. 

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. :)

In all honesty, the situation hasn't popped up where I've seen new autos to trade for (one of the rules of this project). No trading...no new cards.

However, that changed this past weekend.

I've always enjoyed this Mats Sundin signature card that sits in my HOF auto collection. I don't think he has a ton of signed cards (in comparison to other stars of his stature) and I do like seeing him as captain of the Leafs...it's how most will remember him.

When I went to the local monthly show on Sunday, I happened to chat it up with a longtme hobby friend (and host of a certain Sports Cards Live podcast) and the conversation hit upon many topics. I had brought a few card to send off for consignment and he noticed one that he said he'd like to trade for.

Trade? I like to trade.

I quickly found a few cards that caught my eye and we worked out a fantastic deal. I'm so super pumped with the new additions.

First one I'll share is the new upgrade for my Mats Sundin auto...

Mats Sundin

(inducted in 2012)

I said most will remember Mats as a Leaf...I remember him very well when he came into the league with the Nordiques.

I love everything about this card. Great horizontal layout, simple design, wonderful photograph from the time period, the Nordiques vibrant uniform, how about that helmet, and of course, the hard signed autograph (in gold pen).

I knew the moment I saw it that it would fit very nicely into the collection.

And now, I have a new Sundin auto for the trade box. That's cool too.

I'll share some of my other pickups from the trade in the coming posts. Needless to say, it's got my hockey (and hobby) motor running as we head into a new season.

Thanks very much Jeremy for the trade and for your words, approach and attitude towards this great hobby. I'm very grateful.

Current Collection - 82 HOF Autos

OPINION - Yeah...I'd Do It

A couple days ago, I caught a story on Instagram that made me stop and think...for more than just a few moments. I actually stopped scrolling - ha!

It got me pondering just how far I'd go to justify adding an item to my player collection. 

The item I saw was super unique to consider adding - and a very fun conversation starter.

Seems harmless enough. It's just a Marc Andre Fleury figurine depicting a pretty massive diving save.

To an MAF collector, I'd think this would be a no-brainer to add to the wantlist. It would be a very cool display item or (like me) keep it in the box in pristine conditon...and then find another to crack out of the case later on. :)

And if you want to see the actual save...check it out...

Tremendous! Definite save of the year candidate. Fleury just is cementing himself as one of the all-time great goalies. It's hard to deny that. He's a lock to be a Hall of Famer.

Now, take a closer look at the original IG post. It's not a Marc Andre Fleury collector who posted it.

Watch the highlight again. See where I'm going with this?

Would you, as a Nic Petan collector want to add this MAF piece to your collection? It's obvious that Petan is inextricably linked to this save. How many times do we see an unworldly dive at the last moment and immediately think of the sniper who got robbed? Players screaming to the rafters and rolling their eyes in disbelief. 

I bet Petan was doing his fair share of it on that night.

So the question remains...would you want that reminder in your collection?

Initially, I think it would bring some snickers...a humourous thought for sure. But there's some definite validity and a strong argument for as well.

I think it's a pretty darn cool item - definitely unique. I feel like I'd add it in an unofficial capacity. Chase it, but only if the price is right. And I don't think it'd get a mention on my master checklist...but it would likely be front of mind when I'd go to shows or card shops. I'd be looking for it.

I saw this as I was doing my search for the figurine. Official signed photos...I'm sure there are posters and all that too. Maybe not everything needs to be on the radar. :)

There are limits, no question. I can say pretty confidently that if it was a certain New York Ranger goalie making that save in game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup series, I'd likely pass on his bobblehead. And let's not dare mention the other Ranger (that we will never talk about).

A cool figurine for sure and a fantastic debate on how much we as collectors will morph our boundaraies to justify and add an item.

What's the biggest stretch you've put on convincing yourself to add an item to your collection? Do you still think it belongs? Any regrets?

CARDBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY - This Photo Theme Is Worthy Of The Bike Spokes

Let's start the week with some Cardboard Photography. It's been a while.

There was a time in the 70's and 80's where hockey card pics would be a "what you see is what you get" situation. There weren't a ton of photo opportunities (maybe a couple games in some instances) for some of the shutterbugs to capture all the players, so the options and varieties would be quite limited. It's why we saw a lot of backup goalies doing warmup laps with towels around their necks.

These days, I feel like there are countless photos to choose from when putting a player's card together - and it's gotta be infinitely easier for everyone. Photos are digitally stored, accessible at anytime and anywhere. The quantity of pics to choose from must be overwhelming at times...you aren't thinking about the costs of film or having to develop your rolls before submitting. It's just "here...dig through this pile".

So the ability to get the best of the best is there...right?

Not always.

This stunning snap comes from the 2023/24 Upper Deck Series 2 set. This is the flagship offering for UD and has been a staple for set collectors since the early 90's.

Now, I know Mike Matheson can often be the buttend of some jokes...but this card feels like there's a bit of a dirt kick going on. 

He's gone sliding into the net, back to the netting and seemingly focused on......something. It is one of the more unflattering photos I've seen on a card in some time.

But as I was sifting through other singles from the set, I couldn't help but notice a trend.

Fabian looks like he's just flat out falling down. And his face shows more panic or concern than it does grit and determination.

Did someone give him a little hipcheck just moments before?

Is Palmieri stretching before the game? Is he diving for a puck? Did he fall?

What is happening here?

Marner looks like he hit the boards awkwardly...all by himself. The scorpion look on a forward isn't flattering.

This is not the kind of superstar photography I'd like to have on my cards.

Sure, it's "low angle"...but there are better ways to do it.

Exhibit A....now this is a stunner of a photo! Beautifully framed, wonderful depth. So many great details to check out.

Why can't more hockey cards be like this? Is the selection just not there? Doubt it.

Just because somebody is following the puck, doesn't make it a captivating photo.

And switching to a landscape layout does not help.

Toffoli looks like he's scrambling.

Geez...this is not the "up close and personal" vibe I'm looking for.

Nope.

OK...this was a planned shot...right? Jake posed for this.

Even Matthews can't escape the wrath of the "I've fallen and I can't get up" theme.

Man, sucks to be a Leafs team collector with this product.

It's shocking to see how many photos from this set just fall completely flat in my eyes. This is a first for a flagship product. I can't think of another example where this many shots just don't cut it.

Am I wrong here? Do these pics do anything for you? Sure, it's a bit "outside the box"...but it's too much of a reach for me. Give me slick looking action shots, closeups of faces that show some emotion, unique moments that grab a viewer, or even a reflective moment...a posed shot with a smile. Something less messy.

If anything though, these cards made me stop...look, and even post about. So there's that.  :)