PARKIE PROJECT - I cracked a couple this past year

My absolute favourite slow burn project has grown by two over the past year.

The iconic 1951/52 Parkhurst build is a true beast. Arguably, this set is seen as the birth of the modern hockey card. 105 cards in total - with a whopping 98 of them recognized as rookie cards, and it's an all-time who's who of legends. Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Terry Sawchuk, Doug Harvey and Boom Boom Geoffrion to name just a few first cards.

This is a life build for me...something I don't plan on finishing for many, many years. My goal is to add a couple cards each year (if the price is right). In 2023, I did just that, but with a slight twist.

I'm building what is called a raw set - ungraded. Loose...like they would've been back in the day. This set has countless examples of graded cards. Understandable, as they are ripe for counterfitting. I do my best to buy from people and places that I feel comfortable with, but at the end of the day, I just can't say for sure. 

With the two new cards I picked up, I feel pretty sure. They were both graded copies. Low grades, but still authenticated. So I did what anybody needing consistency in their set would do - I cracked them out of their cases. Sadly, I took no photos of them in their casing (headshake). Oh well.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#84 Sid Smith RC

First up, Leafs rookie Sid Smith. I like the action shot of him skating (there are a lot of cards with guys just looking like they’re floating in a stationary pose). This card has the rounded corners that I’ve come to expect with the condition I’m looking for. It's got a few blemishes on the front and back, but overall - it's clean. And no creases...something that I really strive for. Fits in the set quite well.

Sid played 12 seasons in the NHL - all with Toronto, and was their captain in 1955 and 56. He amassed 601 career games (a pretty cool achievement considering this was the Original Six era) and scored 20 or more goals in 6 consecutive campaigns...one of just a handful of players ever to do that (at that time).

Sid Smith is a 3-time Stanley Cup champion, was an All-Star on 3 occasions and won the Lady Byng trophy twice. Quite the resume for a guy not commonly known in the hockey world. I certainly didn't know this much about him.

When he retied in the 57/58 season, only 3 active players had scored more goals...Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard and Ted Lindsay. Now that's good company.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#95 Paul Ronty RC

Another Parkie RC, this time of Rangers centre, Paul Ronty. This card was also graded (can't remember what it received), but was quickly removed from it's clear plastic casing. Another nice action shot of Paul skating behind the net (in my eyes anyways) and I love the fine details in the photo - even if it's far from a clear picture. The tie on the sweater, the seemingly lack of padding being worn, the gloves, the skates, the flat stick blade, and blonde locks. What a great photo.

Paul Ronty was born in Toronto in 1928 after his parents immigrated to Canada from Finland in 1920. He was never a top student (he didn't learn English until he entered elementary school), but excelled on the ice. Ronty cracked the Boston Bruins lineup as a 19-year-old and was a standout for 4 years before moving on to New York where he continued his success with the Rangers for 4 more campaigns.

Paul was a top scorer in the league (he finished sixth in league scoring 3 times during his decade in the league) and was known for his stick-handling and play-making abilities. He was also a 4-time NHL All-Star. Not bad for a kid who learned to skate on a pair of "hand-me-down" figure skates from his older sister.

What I really enjoy about this Parkie set is it's a wonderful capsule of an era of hockey that I am pretty unfamiliar with. Sure, we all know the big names (and I've listed them above), but it's the guys like Smith and Ronty that really make this a fun build. These guys were the top one percent of players in the world at the time. Six teams...not nearly the bolstered rosters you see today. To crack the lineup actually meant something.

I'll continue with my trek this year. Maybe I'll add another one, two, who knows. Maybe I'll pull the trigger on a bigger name. There's plenty of time to get them all...and I'm still not quite a third of the way there.

Current Collection: 31 cards

PARKIE PROJECT - More From COMC

More from my start-of-the-year COMC pickups. This time, I feature a card for a PC that has never seen a COMC addition. First time for everything.

I've been passively building my 51/52 Parkhurst set for a good decade or so. I tend to pick up cards when the spark to go hunting occurs - happens only a few times a year. This time, it was when I was on a buying binge at COMC during their Black Friday event.

I'd never picked up a vintage card like this via COMC, but felt quite comfortable in the quest. I've enjoyed my time on COMC and have never had any issues. The only real question would be...could I find a Parkie for a decent enough price?

Needless to say...I did.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#102 Ed Slowinski

For forward Ed Slowinski, the New York Rangers would be the only NHL sweater he would don. Playing nearly 300 games over 7 years, Slowinski was a solid player, but never found the same level of success as he had in the AHL. He was a first-team All-Star there and was nearly a point-a-game player over another 300 games in the junior circuit.

He played in one Stanley Cup final with the Rangers, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in 7 games in 1950 (he led all scorers in assists that postseason). The Rangers were awarded the O'Brien Cup for being the runners-up. The trophy had originally been the National Hockey Association's championship cup, but was being used as the 2nd place award in the NHL. The O'Brien Cup was retired from presentation after the 1950 season.

Slowinski retired from the game after the 57/58 season and  was selected to be an Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. Ed "Eddie" Slowinski passed away in 1999.

This card is in really nice shape. As with most of my Parkies, it has no residue or creases. The centering is decent and I'm more than happy with the quality of the corners. The only hiccup was the price paid. I normally have been chasing cards when they are sub-$20cdn. This one ended up being $33 after the currency conversion. Not the end of the world - I'm more happy to add to the collection.

Current Collection - 29 cards

PARKIE PROJECT - Two More From The Show

It was a big day today....card show day.

And it's been a big week this week....started a new job.

After 13 1/2 years at my previous workplace, I decided it was time to make a change. The workload had become too much for these shoulders to carry and a wonderful opportunity had presented itself. It's been an amazing week getting to learn new things and feeling like the weight of expectations and tasks just melted away. I'm very excited about what the next chapter of my working life will consist of.

Now, back to the card show. 

It was the city's big show which happens every six months. I always go with little expectation on finding Linden items (but you never know unless you dig), but I approach the day with great enthusiasm as it's a chance to just "be me" in a true hobby environment.

I did dig...but alas, no Lindens. That's ok...I did find a couple pieces of cardboard that cut down a checklist a little more.

My Parkie collection grew by two cards today.

It's been a good last 12 months for my 51/52 Parkhurst collection. I've managed to add a whopping five cards. FIVE! Ok, it's not that impressive...but it's definitely more than I would have guessed a year ago.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#45 Fred Hucul RC

Fred "Stoneface" Hucul holds the distinction of having the longest gap between NHL appearances in the history of the game (not counting goalies). He went 13 seasons without seeing NHL ice...wrapping up his Chicago stint in 1954 and making his St. Louis debut in 1967 after being picked in the expansion draft when the Blues entered the league.

Hucul played a total of 162 games in the NHL and actually spent the bulk of his career in my hometown of Calgary (with the Stampeders of the WHL).

This card fits my collection perfectly. Not terribly off-center, no creases or marks on the front or back, and yes, there are rounded corners...but not in a "wow, that's ugly" kind of way. I've always said that if I'm going to ever complete this set, it's going to be in this type of condition.

A fair price on the card, probably a little more than I've spent on average. But I've not bought a ton of cards this year and I just decided to strike when I had the chance. I also think that cards in general are getting a little more expensive - the past two years have seen a rise in prices. I need to get used to that.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#97 Nick Mickoski RC

I feel like every card from this set is a rookie card..ha ha. 

Nick's career lasted 13 seasons and he played for four of the six Original Six teams over 703 games. He was an All-Star in 1956 and is an honoured member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall Of Fame and was posthumously inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall Of Fame in 2004.

In the 2009 book '100 Ranger Greats', he was ranked #77 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who played in the team's first 82 seasons of existence.

What I like about this card is that it's a little more centered, the corners are a lot crisper (yes...still rounded) and so it cost me a little more $$$. 

It also cost a little more cash because of this...

Don't hate me because I cracked a 70-year-old card out of it's PSA case...especially when it graded 3.5.

It had to be done. There's just no way I would have wanted this card in my collection in its slab. I'm building an ungraded set...those are my rules.

Did I cringe as I cracked open the slab? Not really...it's not the first time I've done it for this set. 

I'm really pleased with the two that I snagged from the show today. Gets me just a little closer to the end goal.

One day.

Current Collection - 28 cards

PARKIE PROJECT - Pulled The Trigger

My Parkie Project has been slow...as expected. But I feel as though the past couple of years might have slowed me down too much.

Card prices have gone up...especially the vintage variety, and I was always hoping to build this collection on a budget.

Still, for an iconic set, there really is no downside to what these cards can bring.

The last time I added to my PC, it was a trip to BC late last year. I decided that the opportunity was there to snag a couple items and even though the price was a little higher than I had hoped, it was a good time to buy.

Same holds true for my most recent purchase.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#36 Clare "Rags" Raglan

Once again, this is his rookie card (most of the cards from this set are) and has a nice action shot of Raglan in his Chicago uni.  Take a moment to enjoy those gloves...skates...straight stick...empty boards...sweater.

Clare Raglan played just 100 games in the National Hockey League over 3 seasons (two with Chicago and one with Detroit). He was a depth defenceman and earned the nickname "Rags" when he found himself monitoring the same blueline as another teammate named Clarence. I guess it was a more common name back then. He also is the father of NHLer Herb Raglan (who played in the late-80s/early-90s).

The first thing you might notice (I know I did) was the off-centering that this card has. This set build isn't a high-ender...but I want aesthetically pleasing cards. Rounded corners...no problem. Clean backs are a must (no rips, tears or pen marks). Creases at a minimum (would prefer none). And a nicely centred card.

Eek.

So why did I snag this one?

I don't see these cards at shows or stores as often as I used to. The store I bought this from is one that I trust and want to support.

But honestly...I just wanted to buy a card.  Ha ha.

Maybe if I had purchased a few cards recently, or picked up a couple other Parkies in the past few months, I would have passed. But the excitement and enthusiasm for adding to the PC was strong.

So do I regret the pickup?

No...not a chance. These are hard cards to find and at the rate I'm going, I may never finish this set. To put me one closer to completion is always a good thing. Would I have liked to have picked up the card for slightly less (this is one of the top 3 most expensive cards in my Parkie collection to date)? Absolutely...who wouldn't. But again, to support my LCS made it worth it. If this card was on a table at a show...I'd have likely passed on it.

This card now proudly sits in my collection...and has story. Nothing wrong with that.

Current Collection - 26 cards

PARKIE PROJECT - Edmonton Summit Pickups

A busy month on the work front and a slow collecting month changed drastically when I made the last minute decision to make the trek up to Edmonton for the Summit Card Show - the biggest sports card show in Western Canada.  I went last year (after a number of years away) and absolutely loved the environment.

I was unsure if I was going to go because.....y'know.....work.  But I ran into another collector on the Thursday prior and he really made the point that I should go.  Spending some time to unwind and enjoy the collecting world is an important part of the hobby.  After all, if you're not partaking in the hobby....it's not much of one.

So I jumped in the car early on Saturday to make the three hour drive.  It was actually a really nice trip.  Great weather, not too busy on the roads and some good tunes to keep me company.  I arrived just in time to get in line for the big auto snag of the trip (more on that in a bit).  But first, a pair of Parkie pickups.

1952/52 Parkhurst

#68 - Rene Marcel Pronovost

There were a few tables that had Parkies, many of them were either in really bad shape, overpriced or slabbed.  I'm looking for decent condition, nicely entered raw cards.  I finally found a dealer that had a number of them - and for a decent price.

This Pronovost was one I selected because of the name.  I really like the aesthetics of the cardboard and it has just a hint of a surface crease.  But I'm more than happy with it.

Again, it was all about the name.  Pronovost isn't the superstar that others in the set are but it's nice to cross off a name like this.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#12 - Floyd 'Busher' Curry

Another well centered offering that has really nice colour and pretty solid corners (all things considering).  I went with this one because he's Montreal.  I feel like those players just have an artificial premium on them (I could be totally out to lunch on this).

Clean backs on both (clean enough for me) make these a dynamite pair.  Like I said, I could've gone overboard and grabbed another 5-10 cards but I held off.  There was a beautiful Terry Sawchuk RC that was ungraded and I seriously considered it.  It was priced at $1200 but would've been 20% off.  Wasn't planning on a big purchase like that but I'll wonder if I left a good deal on the table in Edmonton.

This puts me at just over 20% of the set.  Of course there are a ton of big names on the wantlist.


Next up.....Joe Carter.

Who remembers where they were when THAT homer was smacked?  I do.  It's still one of the pinnacle sporting moments I've ever seen - and I bet Joe Carter has been asked about it every day since.  EVERY.  DAY.

I'm sure he doesn't mind though.

My co-worker, whom I've worked with for a decade, and I have taken sports many times and I remember a number of years ago him saying that he has a Toronto Blue Jays magazine with Joe Carter on the cover that he'd love to get signed one day.  He's not a collector or anything, but this would be the exception.

For some reason I kept that little nugget of info in my brain and was thrilled to see Carter's name on the signing list for the show.  I though briefly about seeing if I could snag the magazine without him knowing but it was too much of a logistical challenge.  So I did the next best thing.

I went to Edmonton and got a nice 11x14 signed by the man himself......and personalized to my co-worker.

It's a great going-away gift as he's moving in a month or so to BC.  I'm pretty thrilled for him as he pursues the next chapter of his life with his family.  But I can't help but be devastated at the same time as he's been one of the best co-workers a guy could ask for.

He's really opened my eyes with regards to non-profits, charity and the act of giving without expecting anything in return.  He's been a huge influence on me and it'll be one thing that will last long after he's moved.

Anyways.....enough of me blabbering.  On to the final - and I must say, stunning item I picked up from the trip.

It was at the same table that had the Parkie cards, just a few items in bins labelled "50% off".  I don't need much more of an invitation than that.

There were a lot of programs and some neat, older items.  It was one in particular that had me doing a double take.

It doesn't look like much upon first glance, but it was the covering that was protecting it that had me take a second look.

This is a book entitled Down The Ice, written by the iconic hockey broadcaster Foster Hewitt.

For those that might not know the name, Hewitt is THE MAN when it comes to play-by-play historically in the NHL.  He introduced Canada to the game first over the radio airwaves and then eventually on television.  He was the voice of hockey for a generation.

And I'm a sucker for broadcasting items.

This book is a first edition from 1934, so yeah....like 85 years old.  It's in pretty great shape for an item that old.

But what really got me going was on the page prior.....

One of the nicest signatures I have ever laid eyes on.  This is a beautiful fountain pen example that just flows across the page.  You don't see the guys these days with penmanship like this.

I was quick to snag this item and thrilled to show it off at the show - with more than one gawk and a few asking which table it came from.

Funny thing.....this wasn't my first encounter with Foster and his signature.  A number of years ago I found his autograph in a Hall Of Fame book that I picked up at a used book sale.  It's neat to see just how different the two signatures are.  Clearly one is from his earlier days and the other is from after retirement (that's my guess anyways).

Regardless, I'm over the moon at these pickups....and the fact that I made the trip to the show.  It's a great reminder to me that I need to take some time every once in a while to enjoy things and stop to smell the hobby roses.

PARKIE PROJECT - Ed Krysanowski

Usually when I make the trek down to the monthly local card show, it is done with the goal of catching up with some fellow hobbyists, mild window shopping and maybe a spur-of-the-moment pickup.  Occasionally I come home with an item or two that can help scratch off a couple wantlist lines.  This past weekend though, I got to check out some fun goodies.

New guy set up at the show and he had a whole bunch of 80's and 90's singles.  Monster box upon monster box.  It looked as if he took his childhood and plunked it on a table hoping to profit from a few sales.  He also had a showcase with a few higher-end items and that's where I saw a row of Parkies.

Ungraded......and just in the condition that I'm looking for.

They weren't marked so I inquired about the prices.  He made it sound like he didn't even really want to sell them.  Just a quick heads up....if you put it out on the table, prepare to sell it.

I asked to check them out.  At very least I could take a closer look at some of the pieces of cardboard.  There was a Meeker (got it), a Broda (got it) and a Boom Boom (need it) but the Geoffrion wasn't going to come home with me today.  I did notice that he had two copies of a card and so I took a stab at it.

A quick back and forth and it was a relatively easy sale.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#33 Ed Krysanowski

Yes, he's a common......but you need all the cards to complete the set.  I think this is a real solid addition to the collection.  Decent entering, nicer corners than a few of the others he's about to join and the back is real nice and clean.  No creases so I'm a happy camper.

So what do we know about Ed?

Nicknamed 'Sonny", he was a stay-at-home defenceman who never really made a huge impact on the ice (237 games played, 37 points) and was a year away from his final skate on NHL ice.  He was probably best known as the captain for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's team in 1946 and '47 and was referred to by his teammates as "the best player on the ice".  He was inducted to their Hall of Fame in 2006, shortly before he passed away.

It's a card like this that really shows just how cool a set like this is.  Krysanowski would likely be lost in the shuffle in today's hobby card world (heck, he might not even be high enough on the depth chart to garner a card) but in this iconic Parkie set.....he gets to sit alongside some of the absolute greats in the game.

Totally worth it.

It's a great start to the Parkie Project this year.  I have a good feeling I'll be adding another card sooner than later.  These pieces look great in person.


Current Collection - 20 cards

PARKIE PROJECT - I Busted Him Out

I was excited to spend some time during my holiday break tidying up my office desk, putting some cards in their proper spot, double checking the checklists (yes...I actually enjoy that) and just seeing where I'm at in my hobby journey - and what I'd like to accomplish (or focus on in the new year).

One of the things that caught my eye (and I had completely forgotten about it) was that I had picked up a Bill Gadsby for my 51/52 Parkhurst project - but it was slabbed (PSA 2).

I say "was".......

1951/52 Parkhurst

#37 Bill Gadsby

I know this might not be the popular thing to do, but I'm building an ungraded set.  Having 104 cards in toploaders and this Gadsby in the slab would just be.....well, wrong in my eyes.  So I cracked it from the case.

And I couldn't be happier.  I think the card looks even more stunning now that it is free from the protective glass.

This copy sits perfectly with what I'm trying to do.  A solid looking piece of cardboard with a pretty easy price tag.  That;s the name of the game.

So where does this place me on my journey to completion?  I'm now 19 cards in.  The total cost of said cards.....$340cdn.  That's less than twenty bucks card.  To be honest, I don't know if that's good or bad, I'm just happy that this venture has been fun to chase - and easy on the wallet.

Let's see how many more I track down this year.


Current Collection - 19 cards

PARKIE PROJECT - Well......Hello There!!!

Holy crap!!!  It's been a over half a year since I've posted.  Time has absolutely flown.

A little bit of catchup.  Work has been really busy - I was sent to France for a week to work on a documentary (an absolute once-in-a-lifetime trip), been working hard as we have launched a new soccer team in our city (and a new league for that matter) and at times feels like I now have two jobs (or maybe twice the work).

My niece and nephew are getting older, more independent, but I still try and keep them in the mix.  Was asked to be on the Board for a group that I volunteer with (amazing people and a great cause that I'm thrilled to give my time to).  And.....I'm trying to complete a documentary project of my own that I really am excited about.

Oh.....and I try to still be somewhat involved in the sports card hobby.

Been to fewer shows this year, and have definitely bought way less than usual (I think I've made 2 eBay purchases this calendar year so far) but I still search out Linden stuff everyday and am always excited to see what all is out there and what people are picking up.

Was at the big Summit Show in Edmonton a couple months back and snagged a couple cards.  I'll share one with you now (as I feel the need to post a photo).

1951/52 Parkhurst

#72 Howie Meeker

This Meeker rookie card is in pretty sweet shape.  Yeah there are a couple splotches on it....but for the price, it was a steal.

I'm excited to add another card to the Parkie Project as it's been a while.  Heck, everything has "been a while" lately.

Definitely not abandoning the blog.....just life getting in the way of things.  And I'll be honest, there just hasn't been as much for me to share at this time.  But like many things, there are ebbs and flows.  Things'll pick up.

Hope everyone has been enjoying their year!!

PARKIE PROJECT - Two From The Big Show

I'm still in recovery mode from watching one of the most exciting baseball games sporting events I think I have ever witnessed - ever.  I went into this game thinking it could be something special (obviously....since there was a very long streak that was going to end) but never did expect so many twists and turns and moments of joy and despair all tied up into one incredible evening.  I was pulling for the Cubs and I was on the edge of my seat right until the end.  It was incredible.

So how do I segue from that to some old hockey cards I picked up at the big show last weekend?

Well.....they're old.  Just like the streak.

One of the goals I had at the biggest card show of the year was to land at least one 51/52 Parkie for my vintage project.  I found a couple perfect fits but also had my eye on one other piece that had me flip-flopping all Sunday afternoon.

But first....the new additions.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#100 Wally Hergesheimer

I had come across a table - a pretty empty table...literally....like about 20 or 30 cards - that had a pile of Parkies all in tough shape.  Most were creased, bent or had crap on the backside.  There was a poorly handwritten note (using the hotel stationary) next to it that said "Parkies $40 each".  No way any of those cards were worthy of a pair of $20 bills.

But I started to bend after a while.

There was one card, Wally, that started to look like it could be a part of the collection.  It had a small crease in the bottom left, but the corners were nice, the back was clean and just from an aesthetic standpoint....I thought it looked good.  But I was still struggling with the price.

The keeper of the card came over to look at my stuff and noticed a baseball cut signature.  It was a card I had for a while and was kind of worried that it would be tough to get rid of.  So I cut him a deal on it if he would cut me a deal on the Parkie.

I still feel like I slightly overpaid, but I'm ok with it.  I didn't have any buyer's remorse that night or the next day (a sure sign that a bad purchase was made) and I'm looking at the card now thinking that I did the right thing.

There's some great color on the card and as I mentioned, the corners are pretty nice (for my set parameters anyways).  A great add.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#21 Walter "Gus" Kyle

This was a nice bonus that I stumbled upon after seeing Captain Canuck pick up some nice vintage Habs cards.  Seeing what he had picked up from a table on the far end of the room made me take another look at what they had in their vintage box.  I had taken a look earlier but didn't see any 51/52 Parkies.  Seems I missed them.

There was only one that worked for me (the others were just in too rough of shape to consider) and the price was a little more reasonable than the Wally.  While the corners weren't as solid, the entering was pretty good, the back was again clean and, well....it's a Parkie.  You just don't see them too often locally.

So I struck a second time.  Good enough for me.


Now on to the card that had me going back and forth.

It was a really nice Max Bentley card - PSA 6.  And the price was fair in my opinion (under $100 cdn). But where I struggled was in the slab.

My collection doesn't consist of graded cards.  I know a lot of people building this set go for the PSA versions as they really reinforce the quality level, authenticity and price maintenance.  But I just didn't want to go into that world as I felt I would eventually want to build them all graded.

And I really wouldn't want to break it free from the slab as it would just diminish the value of the card should I ever want to re-sell it.

It was nice and it was the right price, but it just didn't fit the parameters of my collection.  So I passed. OK, actually the guy packed up his cards early and left so the decision was pretty much made for me (must have taken him forever to pack up all 20 of his cards).

So I left feeling good about my vintage pickups but it did leave me thinking if I am on the right road with my collection.  I think I am.  And I'm sure once I start venturing into the bigger ticket cards I'll be glad I'm building a set that is of this condition.  I don't know if I could build a high grade set of this age.

Hopefully I can land a few more over the next 12 months.  It was a rush adding these two to the pc.

Parkie Progress - 17 out of 105  (16.2%)

PARKIE PROJECT - Vintage!!??...At Trade Night???

It was trade night tonight at one of the local card shops and that means a nice relaxing night of hockey on the television, a couple rounds of pack wars, the possibility of me caving (not tonight though) and a little bit of vintage.

What???  Vintage???  At trade night???

Yes, it is a very rare sight but it does happen on occasion.  And tonight I was lucky enough to add four new cards to the slowly growing 51/52 Parkhurst project.

I was staring down the boxes of cards on the shelf, trying to figure out what I wanted to try my hand at.  There was a good deal on last year's Black Diamond, but decided against it.  New baseball???  No, not really feeling it.  Then, out of the blue, fellow blogger Captain Canuck spots some singles in the hand of one of the shop staff and instantly knew where they needed to go.  He grabbed them and sent them my way.

Upon first glance I knew that they were exactly the right cards I was looking for.  Something for one of my projects and the condition was bang on (or close enough as it seems).

I'm not going for a high-grade quality set when it comes to this iconic card release.  Rounded corners and the odd crease or stain will do just fine.  At the end of the day it's the gut feeling to say "yes" or "no" and in this instance I said yes to all four.

So let's take a look at the goods....

1951/52 Parkhurst

#20 Victor Ivan Lynn

Out of the four cards I picked up, this would be the worst of them in terms of condition.  A couple creases and some fluffy edges.  And although the price was just a little more than I was thinking of going for, I thought "why not".  The odds of finding four Parkies at trade night is rare enough, being able to see the cards first hand and not have to pay for shipping or anything - you bet, and paying in Canadian funds...not a bad deal at the end of the day.

Now, for the longtime, uber-fans of my blog, you may remember that I have mentioned Vic Lynn in a past post.  And if you can remember why...well you have some pretty spectacular memory recall.

For those of you who don't know....you can check it out here.

Pretty cool eh?

1951/52 Parkhurst

#24 Robert "Dunc" Fisher

Dunc has the best corners out of the four cards I picked up and just a small crease on the back.  There's a little scratch/score in the bottom left corner - you can't even see it in the scan....so I'm not really concerned about it myself.

Not much more to say about Fisher...this is his rookie card (as is the Lynn and most of the cards in the set - in fact, I think the Turk Broda is the only non-rc in the 105 card set).

It was one of the two cards in this lot that I really had my eye on and the price was more than fair.

Dunc seemed to have a more prolific career in the minors with the Hershey Bears than he did with the three NHL teams he suited up for in his 275 games with three Original Six teams.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#26 Bill Quackenbush

This would be considered the top card in the lot.  It's the only one listed in the monthly Beckett guide and commands more than the other three cards I picked up.  It's no surprise that this piece of cardboard ended up being the most expensive of the lot....but (and I sound like a broken record) the price was fair.

A very nice condition card (in comparison to most of the others in my small, but growing, set) and it's even fairly centered - bonus.

Bill was the first defenceman ever to win the Lady Byng trophy, played in eight straight All-Star games beginning in 1947 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976 (no, I do not have his autograph yet).

A great pickup if I do say so myself.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#88 Bob Solinger

Last but not least (well, maybe least) is the only non-Bruins card in my pickup.

Bob was on the fence coming home with me.  He's got a bit of a stain on both the front and back and a little creasing, but if I'm gonna grab three of the four, I might as well bring the whole gang home.

Solinger played just 99 games in the NHL but nearly 1000 in the AHL and WHL with teams like the Pittsburgh Hornets, Edmonton Flyers, San Francisco Seals and the ever popular Los Angeles Blades.  He won the Calder Cup a record five times and was the first person to win the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as Rookie of the Year in the American Hockey League.

So while some of these names (or all of them) might not be familiar in the history of hockey, they all have their own unique story.

And the fact that I was able to snag all of their rookie cards tonight at the monthly trade night was indeed rare.

Parkie Progress - 15 out of 105  (14.3%)

PARKIE PROJECT - Hy Buller

Geez.....I can't believe it's been a year since my last Parkie Project pickup.  Then again, I did tell myself that this particular project would be a marathon and not a sprint.

That said, a little kick in the behind is always nice to get wheels rollin'.

I'm sure you've heard now that I received a pretty cool bubble mailer from a fellow Linden collector recently.  In it were some gorgeous Oscar Gamble adds to my slowly growing player collection.  Those were cards I knew were coming.  He also decided to add a few extras.  One of them happened to be from my 1951/52 Parkhurst project.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#91 Hy Buller

This was without question one heck of a surprise.  When I pulled the cards out I could see a toploader that didn't quite belong in the mix.  But the card inside kept me gazing at it for a while.

And while it might not be in tip top shape (looks good for a 65 year old piece of cardboard) this card will not only sit proudly in the collection, but be a constant reminder of all of the things I love about this hobby.

Thoughtfulness.  Selflessness.  "Just because".

The collecting world is a better place when you can harness those powers.  And to be the recipient of an act of kindness like this just really made my day - heck, my month.  Thanks again Kev.

Now I'll admit, I've never heard of Hy Buller.  So a little Wiki-Googling was in order.

First thing I learned.....he had a tremendous nickname.  You're on your own to search it out.

He was one of only two Jewish professional hockey players in the 40s and 50s.

A 2nd Team All-Star during the 1952 season, this rugged defenceman was greatly admired by the likes of superstars Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard for both his solid play and good sportsmanship.

He played just 5 NHL seasons, first for Detroit and then the Rangers before retiring in 1954.

He finished his career having played in 188 NHL contests with 22 career goals, 80 points and 215 PIMs.

Here's a link to a fine article written by Joe Pelletier over at Greatest Hockey Legends.  Check out the comments section too....it is a small sampling, but reveals just how much Hy Buller was admired and respected.

Taking a look now at my latest Parkie to be added, the vibrant blue color really pops out of the card.  The contrasting red in the Rangers uniform really makes this copy a winner.

The corners are not what they once used to be - but I could care less.

There's a bit of a crease across the upper portion of the card - but I could care less.

The centering.....is pretty good in my books - but I could care less.

This card is all about kindness, thoughtfulness and selflessness.

I've got the juices flowing now for a little giveaway or two myself.

Just because.


Parkie Progress - 11 out of 105  (10.4%)

PARKIE PROJECT - The Card Show... Round Two

I was back for more today at The Card Show.  What a weekend!!  I found even more HOF autos, a handful of Masked Men 6 cards (finally), yet another huge Linden for the pc and I couldn't resist going back for a double dip of Parkies.

When I saw the gorgeous batch of 51/52 Parkhurst cards sitting in a showcase yesterday, I knew that I wouldn't be leaving the show with just the three I picked up Saturday.  I knew I'd be going back.  The only question was - how many am I gonna get?

Well...the answer is three.  Not because I ran out of cash, but because I decided to go in a little different direction (stay tuned - I'll leave the best for last).

1951/52 Parkhurst

#23 John "Moe" Henderson

Henderson played his entire NHL career with the Boston Bruins and lasted eight years in the big show.  His numbers didn't astound, but he did  produce quite well as a player/coach for Hershey at the end of his career.

It's amazing to think that he was 6ft tall yet weighed only 180lbs.  He'd have no chance in today's game.

He does have a link to the Hockey Hall of Fame...he is the nephew of the Conacher brothers (Roy, Lionel and Charlie), all of whom have been inducted.

The card itself is a little soft on the corners, but mighty fine for the price I paid.  Good centering and quality detail....for a bland photo.  I like it.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#32 Ray Barry

This card is interesting.  Ray Barry played all of 18 games in the NHL.  Yet Parkhurst decided that he was worthy of being included in the 105-card set.  I can only imagine some of the players who got snubbed only to see that Barry got his due.

After his quick cup of coffee in the pros, he played five seasons for the Calgary Stampeders of the WHL (not that WHL).  Neat.

The card again has some decent corners and centering (considering the price I paid) and really the only thing that sticks out for me is the "off" print.  You can really see the ghosting of the image layers on his skates.  Not sure if that is consistent on all his 51/52 Parkies, but I'm happy with it.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#75 Turk Broda

Alright, a name many of you older folk will recognize - FINALLY!!

I decided to go with this Broda as my final Parkie pickup as opposed to spending the money on three or four lesser known players.  The price was excellent and the card is equal to that (if not more).  I'd say this is the pinnacle card in the small collection so far.

Walter "Turk" Broda is a Hall of Fame goalie who played his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  He won five Stanley Cups, two Vezina trophies and is ranked #60 on The Hockey News' list of Top 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

He was in net for one of the greatest comebacks in Stanley Cup Finals history when his Leafs team were down 3 games to none to Detroit in 1942 and came back to win the Cup in 7 games.

A 300-game winner, he is without a doubt a huge name to add to this pc.

The card itself is very solid in my opinion.  Good corners (yes... a little soft, but more than acceptable for me).  Good color.  Good detail (although I don't know what's up with Turk's face...he looks a little cartoonish).  The back of the card is slightly dirty but again...it's all relative.

Three more fantastic additions to the Parkhurst project.  A little weekend splurge, but definitely worth it.

Parkie Progress - 10 of 105  (9.5%)

PARKIE PROJECT - Pickups From The Card Show

The weekend of The Card Show is here.  It's debut last November was a huge success and the weeks leading up to this spring's offering was even greater.  More tables, more dealers and more cards.

I had a fantastic first day at the event.  Some solid Linden pickups (which will be shown off soon), some excellent adds to the HOF auto pc (I love trading) and I even had some change left in the wallet for some Parkies.

My 51/52 Parkhurst project is something of a "career quest".  I by no means am aggressively pursuing cards for this side collection but when they present themselves at a show for the right price...I'll pick up a few.

And I felt that the stars were aligned to do just that.  So let's see who I picked up.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#30 Adam Brown

He plays for Boston.

NEXT!!!

Ok...just kidding.  But the name Adam Brown does not bring back vintage memories.

Nicknamed "The Flying Scotsman", Adam had a 10-year career in the NHL playing with three different teams.  A Stanley Cup winner in 1943 with the Red Wings, it was only his final season in which he suited up for the Bruins.

He ended up with 217 points (104G 113A) in 391 career games.  He may be better known as the dad of goalie Andy Brown (who was the last goalie to play in an NHL game with no mask).

I wonder how many players back in the 50's were born outside of North America.  It's neat seeing a birthplace of Scotland.  I'd guess it to be a rarity.

The card itself has some beautiful centering.  And the corners are very strong - one of the best in my small but growing collection.  It's a little miscut in the sense that it isn't square, but I think that's just the way it was back then.  Remember....these cards are old.

The bold B on the front of the jersey is definitely old school and the colors (albeit two tone) look bold.  A very nice add for the price.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#38 Al Dewsbury

Chicago.

NEXT!!!

Yes, it's another name that does not ring a bell.  But I'm all about doing a little interwebs searching.

An All-Star in 1951, Al "Dews" Dewsbury was an imposing d-man for his time.  6'2" and 202lbs (that was big back then).  He had a 10-year career in the big leagues as well playing with Detroit and Chicago (he actually won a Cup with the Red Wings in 1950).

Imagine for a second....he played (and won a Cup) with Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, the list goes on.  That would be an incredible story in itself.

He was always a reliable and durable defenceman.  I wonder why his NHL career was so short (or what I would consider to be short).  Did players in that era have long 20-year careers back then?

The card is a little weaker on the corners (but way more than acceptable for me) and the colors don't seem as impressive.  In fact, his pants look a little red.  What up with that?

Very nice centering round out this great addition to the collection.  And again, the price was right.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#87 Tod Sloan

Leafs represent!!!

Aloysius Martin "Tod" Sloan had a slightly longer NHL career (14 years) mostly with the Toronto squad.  He was a member of three Stanley Cup winners ('49 and '51 with Toronto and '61 with Chicago) and played in three All-Star games.

An interesting note about the 1949 season for Sloan, he appeared in 29 regular season games but did not make an appearance in the playoffs.  As a result, his name was not etched into the Stanley Cup.  He was included though on the 1949 Maple Leaf team picture (nice booby prize).

He was a speedy center (5'10" and 171lbs) with some hands apparently.  He hit the 20 goal mark 5 times and finished his NHL career with 220 goals and 482 points.  He liked to agitate as well racking up 100+ pims on three separate occasions.

This card has the best action shot of the three with an actual rink in the background.  Much like the Dewsbury, the corners are a little soft but the centering is there (which is huge for me).  Some good blue tones and impressive detail on the jersey make this a keeper.

Overall, these three cards are perfect for the set I am building.  I'm not looking for the highest of high-end, I just want some cards that I can enjoy looking at and appreciate for their age and condition.

And of course, the prices are right.

Parkie Progress - 7 out of 105 cards  (6.7%)

PARKIE PROJECT - Meatball Added

(HUGE EXHALE)

Today is the first day of my holiday time off from work.  After a number of long, busy, stressful weeks, it was all about sleeping in and lounging this morning.  And boy did I love it.

Now to spend the afternoon finishing my Christmas shopping.

But first, I thought I'd share the newest addition to my newest project.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#65 - Metro "Meatball" Prystai RC

This card came as part of a package from a fellow Linden collector.  He had sent some Linden cards (which I'll show off in a post later this week) that he picked up on my behalf and added this Parkie as a little holiday gift.

Thanks Kevin!  It's a perfect fit to my project.

Out of the four cards I know have, this one has the nicest corners for sure.  The centering is nice (which is part of the aesthetic bar I'm setting) and the color is still strong.

A slight surface crease in the upper right (which is near impossible to see unless you tilt it to the light) is really the only blemish other than the tape residue.  The tape residue is not overwhelming and it adds some character to this card.

A very memorable card in the collection.  Now, and for the duration of my set progress.

I decided to do a google search on Prystai since I knew nothing of the player.  I was surprised to see that he has his own webpage.  Seems there's a book being done on his life.

Dmytro "Metro" Prystai started his career with Chicago, had three All-Star appearances and won two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings.  He scored the Cup-winning goal in the '52 series which he called "the best team he ever played for".

The name "meatball" also appears as a nickname on the card.  Would it be because of his Ukrainian heritage or his interactions with the Chicago mafia?  Whatever it might be, I don't think a nickname like that would end up on a card these days.

Although his NHL career only lasted 10 years, it looks like he had an impact during his time in the league.  Some regard him as the nicest guy to play the game.

He just recently passed away at the age of 85.

BV $40-60


Thanks again Kevin for the great add.  I really appreciate it.

I'm going to try to add one more card to this set during the holiday season, but nothing is written in stone.  I want to go at a reasonable pace and definitely price (the right price) comes into play on all pickups for this project.

Parkie Progress - 4 out of 105  (3.8%)

PARKIE PROJECT - The Start Of A New Collection

A number of months back a question was thrown out to the members of one of the hobby boards I belong to.  It was a simple question in its succinctness...but could be seen as much more complex if one allows.

"What are your bucket list goals/projects/wishes in this hobby?"

I have a few listed in the back of my brain.  But there was one that has been giving me the itch to start for quite some time.  And this past weekend at the card show...I decided to start it.

I would like to build and complete a set of 1951/52 Parkhurst Hockey.

Yes, it's a tall task I know.  But I've always been mesmerized by the simple beauty these cards possess.  I've always wanted to buy one but have always been intimidated by the potential "big ticket" aspect these cards can command.  But I finally went for it.

To many, this set is an iconic set in all of trading cards.  It was the first post-WWII set of hockey cards to be put out and has a truly rich checklist.

Measuring 1 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches, this 105-card set was the first set printed in more than a decade at the time and thus has an almost exclusive list of rookie cards.  The three biggest names - Terry Sawchuk, Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe.

Yeah, this is a mountain.

The book value of this set well exceeds $10,000 and high-graded copies of the cards easily garner thousands of dollars.  Thankfully, I will not be pursuing the top end stuff.

Instead, I will be finding that fine line.  Cards that make me happy both in the aesthetics of the cardboard and the price tag associated with it.  I have no expectations on the final price I'd like to pay for a built set (because this will take a looooooong time).  Instead, I'm looking for those diamonds in the rough....or a kick ass sale.

I got the latter last weekend.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#47 - Harry Lumley RC

Let's start with a goalie shall we?  This is a great action shot (a rarity in this set) featuring Hawks netminder Harry Lumley.  This card will give you a good indication of the condition I am looking for in this set.

It is not terribly off-centre, has good color, a pretty unblemished surface (this card has a bit of a crease in the lower left corner...but you wouldn't see it unless reflecting it off the light) and "not horrible" corners.

I don't know what it would be graded if I sent it to PSA, but I'm guessing it would garner more than a 1 or 2.

Now, I'm pondering whether or not to divulge the prices I pay on each card.  For now, I'm keeping that info documented privately.  Maybe down the road I will share some of those stats with you.  What I will do is share the book value (according to my somewhat outdated Beckett magazine)

BV $90-150

A great start to the set.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#85 Cal Gardner RC

Oh.....there's more.  This Gardiner is another rookie card and its traits are very similar to the Lumley.  A lot of the pictures have this kind of pose - simple, straightforward, bland.  But hey, it was over 60 years ago...they had no idea we'd want high quality action shots.

There are a couple of small ink marks on the back of the card which do not concern me in the least.  Another great add to the set.

BV $50-80

I'm saving the best for last.

1951/52 Parkhurst

#105 Jim Conacher RC

This was the card that started it all.  I just love the rich color in this card.  Amazing since there's only red and blue  There's some great detail in the jersey, gloves and laces as well.

What I didn't know at the time that I bought this card is that it's the last in the set....and thus is very condition sensitive.  Think about it, many copies of this card would be hugging elastic bands or coffee stained tables.

This is the best centered card out of the three and the corners almost have a uniform look.  I heard that Parkhurst would use a cement mixer as a tumbler to mix up the cards before distributing them into the packs.  How any copies managed to keep its sharp corners is beyond me.

Here's the back so you can take a look at the condition bar that I'm putting up.

BV $100-200


And with that - the start of the Parkie Project.  If you are looking forward to seeing the finished job, sit back and enjoy the ride...it'll be a long one.  I'm easily giving myself 15-20 years - if not more.

Parkie Progress - 3 out of 105  (2.9%)