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?