CARDBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY - Jacques Laperriere

There are a ton of vintage cards that have no business getting any face time when it comes to its photography.

Blue backgrounds, boring headshots and stoic (or is that sleepy) looks do not make for a good hockey card pic.

But in the mid-90's, amidst the boom of hockey card companies and products, Parkhurst put out a set that gets little recognition, and has some pretty cool looking cards that capture a time that's been all but forgotten in the hobby these days.

1994 Parkhurst
1964/65 Tallboy Set

#161 'Laperriere Wins Race'

Parkhurst released a couple of vintage-style sets in 1994.  The Missing Link set showcases what the cards might have looked like if a 56/57 set were actually released (apparently a set wasn't produced back in 56/57 because of 'market re-evaluation'.... interesting).

The 64/65 tallboy set (showcased above) is a product that emulates what would have been released that year.  Parkhurst decided to stop producing cards after the 63/64 season and it took nearly 30 years before the Parkhurst name was resurrected in the early 90's.

What I really like about this card (which would be sort of an 'In Action' card) is that you really get a sense of the environment and game action.  It truly takes you back to that era of the game.

The shadows dominating the ice surface clearly indicate that the rinks were not built for the benefit of photography (and video for that matter).  The lack of any advertising on the boards is something that looks so foreign nowadays, but boy does it ever look nice).  No helmets, straight sticks, brown leather gloves and tube skates are all something the vintage admirer drools over.

But how about that pretzel mask goaltender Charlie Hodge is wearing.  Now that's a thing of beauty.

Not to mention, you have one of the greatest players of the era (and of all time) in Gordie Howe  with his eye on the puck and looking for the chance to strike.

If this card photo were blown up (and the banner removed), you'd have a stunning picture that'd be more than worthy of framing and hanging.

If you're a vintage fan and get a chance to track down one of these sets, take a moment to look at some of the great photography on the cards.  It's well worth the trip down memory lane.

MY COLLECTION: More Good Things Happen

It's an understatement to say that I've had a pretty good week when it comes to the mailbox lottery.  A lot of bubble mailers and a lot of really top notch Linden cards to add to the pc.

But in addition to these cards, I received a package that had some pretty cool stuff in it.  And it comes on the heels of one of my favorite sayings...

Do Good Things....Good Things Happen.

A little over a month ago, I completed a Daniel Sedin tallboy custom for Michael over at Collecting For Kicks.  I was really happy with the way the card turned out (especially the back...which goes down as one of my faves).  As a thank you gift, Michael sent me the following...

A six-pack of Linden base cards.

Even though I have these cards already in my collection, I plan on replacing the current copies with these ones.  I really appreciate the gesture and thoughtfulness in sending me some cards of my favorite player.

A pair of in-person Legends autographs.

The Kirk Muller is really nice, but Steve Shutt.....are you kidding me.  That's awesome.  A great Montreal player, legend.....and massively underrated.  A fantastic addition.

This '16' Linden pin was a wonderful addition to the package.  And even though I already have 2 of these pins (one in my collection and one on my Canucks cap), this one fits perfectly into my "Do Good Things....Good Things Happen" shrine at work.

I love the fact that I can place this alongside some other great items and have it represent not only my favorite player, but the appreciation someone has for my custom work.

Thanks very much Michael.  I really like the gifts.

LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - No Joke......x2

I'm making this one short and sweet.

Last week, In The Game released its Captain-C product.  In it were a pair of Linden cards that had me do the ol' jaw drop.

I was stunned to see that less than 24 hours after the product hit the shelves, one of those cards hit ebay.  And I had the radar on - big time.

The next morning (for some reason, I woke up early on Saturday....weird), I saw the other one of these two cards on ebay.....with a Buy It Now that was reasonable enough for me to hit it (by 'reasonable' I mean....if I didn't snag it right then and there - it would be gone in a matter of minutes).

So now I'm sitting with one in my pocket and the other about to end the next night.  So I had my radar on even more.

So much so that I let all the other Linden collectors know that I was bidding  - and big - to complete the 'set'.

I was pretty nervous watching the end of the auction, and thankfully I got the card for a decent price.

Today, both copies were sitting at the post office ready for me to pick up.

How excited was I?  I was opening bubble envelopes on the post office's counter.

And then it was a quick trip directly home to scan the cards in and encase them in protective cases.

Without further ado.....here are the newest additions to the family.

2011/12 In The Game Captain-C

Captain's C

#CC-23 Top Half & Bottom Half  1/2 & 2/2

I........AM........PUMPED!!!!!!!!

These cards look absolutely stunning in person.  The big patch windows, the obvious design elements that make the pair just pop, but most importantly - this is the 'C' that comes from Linden's jersey.  The symbol of leadership on (and off) the ice.

If these are the only two cards I get from this product....I'd be happy.

(But we all know that's not going to happen).

PACK RIPPING: 2011/12 Upper Deck Series II

In addition to 'winning the lottery' on Sunday, I made my way over to one of the local card stores in my area.  It's one that I don't get out to as much (as I see them at the monthly card shows).

I went to check out if they had opened any of In The Game's new 'Captain C' product (they did....and had no Lindens).  I did get to take a look at the one box they opened and it's not too bad a product.  I'm excited to start chasing some singles (but my wallet is making me wait....the Dominion quad auto was just the first card in a mini-plethora of Linden awesomeness - definitely stay tuned).

I didn't want to leave empty handed so I grabbed 3 packs of UD Series II and the results were not bad.

With 8 cards to a pack and a ton of insert and update sets, this is a product where you're almost sure to get a 'hit' in every pack.  It's kind of fun to see if that one special card is indeed....special.

The base cards are exactly what I've come to expect from Upper Deck.  Full bleed photos with top notch photography.

It almost seems too simple when it comes to delivering a card that fans will enjoy.

The horizontal base cards that I pulled really show off the stellar pics.  Fantastic angles, great action and proper framing.  Again, a simple mindset creating a simple product.  But when it's done right - it's effective.

This Jack Skille card leaped out at me (pardon the pun) when I pulled it from its pack.  It looks like he's about to get five and a game (and maybe a visit from Shanahan) for leveling the linesman.

Sadly, I think he's just hopping the boards.

The first of my 'hits' was this Ryan Clowe Canvas card.

And wouldn't you know it, I pulled the card literally an hour after I mailed off a package to one certain Ryan Clowe collector.

Not to worry Brad, this card is sitting in my 'to be sent' case for the next time (so don't go out of your way to land one).

A pair of Victory inserts were also in my 3 packs.  I don't know what it is about this year's Victory design, but I'm a fan of it.  It's a great low-end product that just looks like a lot of fun.

Notice the border on the Bryzgalov.  Yup, it's a black parallel.  Now before you Victory buffs get all excited, this year's Black parallel isn't nearly as rare as the cards /5 a few years back (but it's still a nice pull).

Last but not least, this Rookie Jersey card of Jonathon Blum.  While I'm not too excited that it's Blum, I can't complain that I hit a Rookie Jersey in one of my 3 packs.

White swatch....meh.

Overall, this was a fun pack rip.  If you're itching for busting one or two packs when you go out to the LCS, give it a try.  There's a lot of goodies that can be pulled from these wrappers.

I just need to stop opening stuff for a bit though.  I've got enough 'ripping' to do with the bubble envelopes that will be soon arriving.

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - No Joke

Well, I was able to get a few of you to bite on my April Fools post.  I even had a couple of family members convinced of the story as well.

But within the post sits a bit of truth.  And I couldn't be happier about it.

It all goes back to that Dominion Quad auto featuring Lemieux, Sakic, Yzerman and my guy Trev.

There are only 5 copies in existence, and when Panini released an image of it to promote their product back in August, I was both thrilled and disappointed.  For the first time since starting my Linden collection, I really felt that there was a card outside the range of possibility for me to snag.

After all, with only 5 copies (and 4 highly desirable and collectible players on the front) I thought the bidding would be ruthless once they hit the open market.  And sure enough, I was right.

Over $1,100 for the first copy, and close to $1,000 on each of the next two.

So 3 out of the 5 copies were in the hands of collectors who (in all probability) would never look to let go of it.

I had a chance to make a cash+trade deal for one in November, but I took too long to make up my mind and the seller opted out of the deal.  At the time I saw it as my missed opportunity.  But now, I see it as a fortunate bounce.

A couple of weeks ago, the fourth copy of the card hit ebay.  It had a Buy It Now price that was lower than any of the other cards had sold for and it also had a Best Offer option.

I was kind of dumbfounded and trying to figure out what to do.  I could snag the card right then and there and be thrilled to get it at a decent price.  Instead, I sent him an offer - not a lowball offer, but an offer that I surely thought he would counter.  I wanted to see where he sat on his price.

A couple of days went by and I heard nothing.  I thought for sure that I had insulted the seller with my low offer.  Then, on the third day, I saw an e-mail from ebay saying "Congratulations....you have won....".

I couldn't believe it!  He accepted my offer.

The card arrived on Friday, and I picked it up on Saturday.

2011/12 Panini Dominion

Pen Pals Quad Auto

#3 Lemieux/Sakic/Yzerman/Linden  /5

Yeah.  To say that this is a huge pickup would be an understatement.  This card reinforces my thoughts that I had back in the fall.  I may not get every Linden, but I want to pursue them.  Hold off if the price isn't right and when the time comes - go for it.  If it isn't meant to be....then so be it.  Have fun and don't let the market dictate what this collection becomes to me.

This card definitely ranks right up there as one of the top pickups in my collection.  4 hard-signed autos of 4 of the greatest captains of my generation.  That means all 4 of these guys held this card in their hands at some point.

Very, very cool.

Here's the back.  Just to show that side of the card off.

And just to eliminate any doubt that this is legit, I thought I'd share this card with one of my new favorites...

Paul Stanley gives this card a "Whoa whoa whoa whoaooooooooooouhhh!" (pew pew)

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK: I Feel Like I've Won The Lottery

Literally!

I was awoken by the phone early Sunday morning (and I mean early!!!) and a good friend of mine who lives out in New York was on the other end.....dude - you gotta remember a thing called time zones.

Anyways, even in my 'eyes half open' state, I could tell he was pretty pumped up about something. 

He starts blabbering on about the Mega Millions lottery that was held on Friday (you know the one.....like $500 million or something) and right away I could smell something fishy.  But I let him continue.

He starts talking about how he had won one of the 'smaller' prizes....yeah, right.  I called BS on him right away.

He said he was fully on the level.  He had won $275,000.

I'll admit, from the sound of his voice (and the length of his story) I was starting to wonder if it was actually real.

Well it was.  How do I know?

While he was on the phone, he sent my a paypal payment of $10,000!

And he thanked me for being the person I've been to him all these years.

Stunned!  I was absolutely stunned.  I couldn't even move.

Still thinking something was up, I called his sister (who lives in town here) and she confirmed the story.  I e-mailed my buddy (thanked him profusely) and said that if it was a joke, it was a pretty good one.  But if it was a joke, then the joke would be on him.....because I immediately began spending some cash.

I ordered a box of ITG's newest product 'Captain C'.  I'll be picking it up this afternoon.  Having never done a case break, I'm pumped to see what it feels like.  I'm thinking of even holding my first ever contest on MHCO to thank all of you readers.  Stay tuned.

I also splurged on one other item.  An item that helped define my collecting when I saw it last September.

Some of you might remember last year when Panini released it's high-end product Dominion that there was a card they used to promote it.  A card that I was stunned to see.

Remember this?

Well, I do.....big time.  And I was crushed to see that it had sold for over $1,100.  There was no way I was going to have this card in my collection (unless I pulled the card myself).

I saw a second copy go, then a third......then a fourth.  All of them till in the high $800-900 area.

One copy left.  And about a couple weeks ago, I found out who pulled it.

This morning I e-mailed the seller and worked out a deal.
 

This bad-boy is now property of - ME!

It's incredible that this card (one that I really had my doubts I would be able to land) will soon be added.  Thinking about it as I type this makes me realize that if I want to continue on picking up cards like these (and I'm sure companies will keep making them) that I'll have to really focus on wanting them....or pretending that they just don't exist.  That's what I had done with this card until the most unlikely of situations occurred.

It'll be in the mail Monday and I should be showing it off sometime next week. I'm going on record right now and calling this one the 'Linden Card of the Year'.  I don't think anything will top this.

Now to go back to bed.  I feel like I've had a full and busy day already.
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And if you lasted this long.......APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!!!!!!

BEHIND THE MASKS: Custom Vintage

Not to be outdone, my nephew and I finished off some awesome vintage-style goalie masks this weekend.  It was our first attempt at something like this and I really like the way these turned out.

Last weekend, we did the paper mache forms by drawing our basic shape on cardboard, cutting out the eyes and mouth and then bending them into shape.  We taped some newspaper to build up the thickness and add dimension to the front.

Then it was time to get the hands messy.  I don't care what anyone says....paper mache is just flat out fun - like awesome fun.

We mixed the paper mache mix by doing 5 parts water to 1 part flour, boiling it (yup, cook it up) for a few minutes, add a couple tablespoons of salt to help keep the mixture from going moldy and voila.  Four layers of newspaper and we had some pretty sweet looking masks (even before painting).

Speaking of....I only wish I would have taken a couple pictures before we got the brushes out.  Anyways, here are the finished products.
 

He went with more of a 'slasher film' feel while I went with more of a Jacques Plante style with (what I thought was) a John Davidson Rangers paintjob.....not quite.

I still am really impressed that this is nothing more than cardboard, newspaper, flour and water and a few hours of time.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to kill a rainy day afternoon with a fun, inexpensive project.  I only wish I'd have thought of this sooner.

One last pic of the gruesome twosome.  Nice job buddy.