HHOF AUTOS - Two Beauties

There are cards that just scream "Yes!"  Cards that are the ideal....the pinnacle.  The single best example of a card that can be had.

Yesterday at the monthly trade night, I picked up a pair.

I'm always looking for cards to add to my HHOF Autos project.  But part of the process is the need to have adequate traders in my box.  A couple weeks ago I replenished my traders and was excited to see if I could land some new goodies.

One person in particular had a couple autos I really had my eye on.  They would be classified (in my eyes) as the top example of each player auto available.  But he's a Red Wings collector....and I didn't have any Detroit cards last month.  So I scooped up some new red & whites and proceeded to try again.

Success!!!

Johnny Bower

(Inducted in 1976)

This is easily the best Bower auto I've ever seen.  In recent years his signature has gotten a little smaller on cards and the hand isn't quite as steady as it once was (the guy is 89....and still going strong.  AWESOME!).

This autograph comes from the Upper Deck released set commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Leafs winning the 1967 Stanley Cup.  The sweeping penmanship is truly stunning.

Everything about this signature is perfect and when I compare it to other Bower autos available for sale....I can easily say that I have the best example.

And I love the retro look and feel of the card itself.  I need not say anymore.

Bernie Federko

(Inducted in 2002)

Yes!  I finally snagged a copy of this card.

When I traded for the 06/07 Parkhurst Federko currently in my collection, I knew that it was only going to be a matter of time before I upgraded to this card.  While the Parkhurst set is a beauty...this card takes the cake.

In my eyes there was only this copy that I wanted in my collection.  A great photo that oozes 70's hockey, a simple but eligant card design and a rock solid signature - big and bold.

I've been doing a lot of upgrading so far in my quest to obtain 100 hard signed Hall Of Fame autographs and I feel that each one has only grown and diversified my project.  I really like the looks of things as I close in on the halfway point.

I can't believe how things have moved so quickly on this venture.

Current Collection - 43 HOF Autos

OUTSIDE THE BOX - Bubba Lightning

I spent a bit of time last weekend watching The Masters golf tournament.  I enjoy breaking out the sticks myself and smacking the ball around and every once in a while I'll catch some golf on TV.  But The Masters tournament is something to really behold.  Everything is kicked up a notch.

From the manicured greens to the pristine fairways.  Cameras that are so hidden it makes it seem that you are out there with the competitors.  Gorgeous ambience and of course the green jacket.

It's an amazing event.  So much so that I've added it to my bucket list.  I'm going to go to Augusta one day to watch this spectacle in person.

So what does this have to do with cards?

Well, I dug this out of my trade box.....the only golf card I own.  And I thought it would be a fitting show.

2011 Goodwin Champions

Lightning Parallel

#29 Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson.  The lefty with one of the more unorthodox swings on tour.  But boy can he rip it.  Now a two-time Masters champion after besting the field last weekend.

He cracks the mold when it comes to what a golfer is.  He's creative in his swings, fiery with his emotions and cool when it counts.

I saw this card a while back and added it as a toss in to a trade I made.  I had (and still have) no clue what the card even is.  I know it's a lightning parallel of his base card.  No hard numbers given on scarcity...but it appears to pop up around one per case.

It's got a artist painting feel to it and Bubba almost looks like 70's science fiction robot alien......who golfs.  And the lightning in the background just adds to the drama.

I would think that now's the best time to move it as his popularity would be as good as it's ever been.  But I don't do ebay selling.....so this might be the only chance you have at it.

Not that I'm looking to shuffle it out of here.  I'm quite content keeping it too.

Bubba!!!!

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - Brought To You By The Letter "D"

I mentioned a couple days ago that there was a package waiting for me at the post office.  There was one card that was still in transit from my recent ebay binge and I was pretty sure that the card was waiting for me.

I was right.

There are times when I get pretty excited to see a new Linden card hit the desk.  New concepts like the Captain C top and bottom half, tough finds like a quad patch /5 from a decade ago and even simple cards with a cool photo.  There's a lot out there that gets me pumped for the quest (and the conquer).

Recently, the frequency of exciting purchases has diminished.  I think part of that is the sheer number game when it comes to Linden cards.  The past four years have seen a virtual explosion of Linden cards come onto the market.  It's tough enough just keeping my list up to date.

Trevor Linden Cards Produced
2008/09 - 14 cards
2009/10 - 1 card
2010/11 - 85 cards (first year of Panini & ITG inclusion of Trevor as a retired player)
2011/12 - 103 cards
2012/13 - 167 cards
2013/14 - 58 cards (so far)

While the 10/11 season changed my collecting habits considerably, it was in a new and exciting way.  There had been a few years of little to none.  It was the 12/13 season that changed my attitude towards my player collection forever.  When there's too much stuff out there, the 'wow factor' goes down.  Even when you have low numbered cards.  Heck, even 1/1's aren't what they used to be.

I'm now a lot more patient when new products come out.  I'm a lot less pumped for the new waves of cards being thrust into the secondary market.  And I'm not going to pay high-end prices on cards that don't give me that 'wow factor' - even if it's a 1/1.

But today I can say is a day that I was excited for.

A few months back I landed my first Trevor Linden Nameplate.  Again, when it's the first of something in my collection - I get a big grin going.  Would I like to land all six letters?  Sure.  But realistically that's not going to happen.  I'm content with just the one letter from the set.

Today, I landed a second letter.

2013/14 In The Game Used

#NP-426 Nameplate "D"  1/1

This letter just happens to be from a different jersey.

I realize his days as a Hab were limited (about as much as most of his cards out there these days), but fact is - Trevor Linden wore one of the most iconic jersey in the history of pro sports.  And nothing will take that away from him.

To obtain a nameplate letter from a game used Montreal jersey....yeah, I'm excited.

Again, am I looking to get all the letters?  Sure.  Will that happen?  Not likely.

But I do think I'd like to build a "career" nameplate.  And so far I've got a "D" and an "N".  I'm a third of the way there.

BEHIND THE MASKS - Masked Men 4 Finished

Part of my big bulk ebay purchase a couple weeks ago included a number of Masked Men cards.  When I can pick them up for a buck a piece, I'll jump.

What I didn't realize at the time these came in were that they would finish off my Masked Men 4 set.  50 cards....and I've got them all now.

It's weird.  It's been a little while since I finished off a set.  Feels good.  Feels like I've accomplished something.

Shall we take a look at the final pieces of the puzzle?

Kirk McLean.  Can't go wrong here.  His simple skate logo mask was one of my favorites back in the 90's.  I'm sure my allegiance to the Canucks might have made my decision a little biased.

I've said it many times about these Masked Men cards....I love the die cut set.  I love that the regular (non-limited) set is the one that got the die cut treatment.  Not the silvers (which have become the "ignored middle brother" IMO) and not even the limited gold parallels were given the 10th anniversary cut.

Ok.....these Patrick Roy's were not a buck a piece.  But I didn't pay too much more to pick up this pair.

As for which mask is better....I'm going with the Montreal bleu, blanc et rouge.  It's just how I remember him from his playing days.

A trio of Toronto players with Reimer sitting at the bottom of the pile.  Sadly, much like his career has been going of late.

I don't see too much Eddie The Eagle cards with him as a Leaf.  Lots in Chicago (naturally), but many with Dallas and even some San Jose.  Nice to see him get some Toronto love.

The last on the list, and the card that finishes the set off, is this Scott Clemmensen beauty.

Scott has had a number of great masks in his career.  Forever a backup, I don't think he was ever really given a true shot at being a number one on a team.  It's a shame too because I think he could've done the job.

But that hasn't stopped him from donning some sweet masks.

And with that.....we have a completed set.  Woo hoo!!  And just in time too as the latest Between The Pipes product is coming up quick and it'll have Masked Men 6 ready to roll.

I'll be waiting - literally.

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - Striking The Patch

A big package arrived in the mail yesterday.  Massive bubbler.  Overkill if you ask me.....and a recipe for disaster.

A handful of toploaders just jingling around inside.  Thankfully none of the cards were damaged as the toploaders were taped at the top.  But still....dicey.

I won a Linden card on ebay a few weeks back and I knew that the seller had a number of other cards up for auction.  I started picking off auction after auction - many of the cards were $1 Masked Men (I'll pay that price all day long).

I even picked up a second Linden (not worthy of scanning), a Decades 90s jersey card....again for a buck.

But the main card was absolutely not a dollar pickup.  I wish it were.  But it's worth the few extra bucks I paid.

2012/13 In The Game Decades 90s

#M-44 Game-Used Patch Black

Limited to just 6 copies, this patch card was the second or third copy I've seen pop up.  I was calm and cautious on the outside but inside I really wanted this item.  Like I said, it was sitting at a pretty fair price and I knew that this might be my best shot at landing this piece.

It's a great three color patch, matching the jersey shown in the photo.  It's small things like that which really make a card complete.

And while I still have a number of cards left on the Decades 90s wantlist, it's nice to strike off one of the tougher items.


On a side note, there are a couple new Trevor Linden cards going on the wantlist.  Panini's latest offering - Playbook - has included Trev in just one insert set.  AUTObiography is a signature card (out of 99) so it should be a fairly easy snag.  There's also a gold 1/1.....meh.

Now I'm off to the post office.  Me thinks there's a very big Linden card waiting for me.  Stay tuned.

RAISE THE CUP - I Think I Need To Trademark My Project

I was taking a peek at ITG's newest release - Lord Stanley's Mug - and couldn't help but notice a sweet little insert set that reminded me of something.....oh I don't know.

Hoisting The Cup looks like a pretty cool concept (I'll take a small fee for that thank you).   :)

In all honesty, I love the idea of players hoisting the Cup over their head.  Capturing that lifetime dream moment on cardboard forever.

But this latest take on the concept is not the first we have seen of this.

Panini Contenders had a subset called Contenders Legacies which shows (or almost shows) players raising the Cup in celebration.

I would have loved to have seen a more comprehensive checklist on this one.

But there is one release that really had me thinking that I was on to something.

The very first hockey product put out by Panini back in 2010/11 had an insert set called Certified Champions.  In it, a nice selection of players past and present celebrating the pinnacle of hockey excellence.

At first I decided to chase the set, but didn't pursue it with a whole lot of gusto.  I think I even need a couple cards still.  Things multiplied when the following season another round of Champions were released.

I'm still on the fence as to how to approach these cards.  Part of me likes what I've built because (for the most part) the cards are unique to the product.  They aren't parts of sets or anything.....they just fit together nicely when in my binder.

These purposeful product releases would mean that I have a checklist to babysit.  I don't know if I want that.

Don't get me wrong.....they're nice cards and all, but are they what I want for my collection?

That's the question.


By the way, this is the one time I think I'll ever say this.....

I'm really happy that my guy didn't win a Cup.  It's one less bit of checklist adding I have to do.  That Lord Stanley's Mug product looks really nice.  The auto set looks amazing.

CUSTOM CREATIONS - By Request

I love talking about hockey cards.  I love remembering the things that make the hobby fun.  I love hearing from those who are an influence and inspiration to my collections.  I love discovering new ways to do things, new sets, new cards, new debates, new friends.

A response to my post by the man himself got me a little nostalgic this afternoon.  I went back and did some digging in my custom card archives.  I found this little gem.

A set that I hope will finish one day.  Sixteen cards - commemorating Linden's career.  From Draft Day all the way to the final game.

This one's my favorite though.  What a great photo.

Thanks again Eugene.  Stay in touch.