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?

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.

VOICES OF THE GAME - Charlie Simmer

I like digging.  Digging through huge monster boxes of cards.  Not base cards but inserts.  Jersey cards and autos that have been sitting for far too long in a closet.....with blowout prices on them.

I like that.

The recent card show had me sifting through a couple tables worth of boxes and I managed to find a few diamonds in the rough.

I made the decision to not go overboard and buy stuff for my trade box.....but that didn't last long.  Some Masked Men I and II card for .50 cents each killed that goal.  I'm a sucker for a good deal.

Looking back I wonder if that was a good deal??  Ha ha.

Anyways, on to one of the cards I found through my hours of digging.

2010/11 Panini Crown Royale

Voices Of The Game

#1 Charlie Simmer

This is a very small collection I have passively been building.  Working in the world of television and media I thought it would be fun to go after these cards.  Especially when you start the collection off with a legend like Dick Irvin.  As my nephew would say....noice.

Charlie used to do color commentary for the local Flames games for a few seasons back before the huge Sportsnet NHL bid.  He wasn't too bad to listen to......but I'll admit I like his signature better.

Simmer has a real nice auto and it fills the card out well.  He seems to be sporting a Kings jersey in the photo...likely from a night honouring him - or a teammate.

For just a few bucks I'm happy to add it to the meek collection.

Oh.......and in case you were wondering......Bob Cole does have a signature card (or two).  It's officially on the radar.


Current Collection - 8 cards

VOICES OF THE GAME - Mike Lange And Company

One of the benefits of a massive loonie table at the card show is that you never know what you might find.  Case in point, I added three new cards to my 'Voices Of The Game' collection.

I work in the sports media industry and I've always enjoyed good broadcasting and good commentary.  My dream job would be to work for the NHL as an editor, building award-winning documentaries about anything and everything hockey.

So when Panini introduced the Voices Of The Game autographed cards a number of years ago, I thought they were pretty neat.  It took me a few years before I stumbled on the Dick Irvin sig that started it all, but better late than never.

Now I've seen a number of these inserts sitting on tables and posted online, but really, I'm just looking to land a card here and there when the price is stupidly low.  Just for fun.

I mentioned that loonie table right?

Well scratch my back with a hacksaw!

Mike Lange will be forever known for his "Lange-isms" as they're called on the back of this card with the all-time great "Beat him like a rented mule" leading the charge.

I've never really taken a close look at the checklists to any of these sets, but in my eyes, this Lange is one of the must-haves for any broadcasting signature product.

And at just a single (Canadian) dollar, it was yet another no-brainer.  In fact, I snagged both copies I found that day.

But that's not all.  This Randy Moller card is.....Mollery.

What can I say, I don't listen to Florida games and so I didn't even know he was a broadcaster.

But points to me for knowing that he did play in the NHL in the 80's (Quebec I believe).  So there's that.

But that's about it.

Joe Beninati.

I might have overpaid on this one.

Three more autos for the collection and I've almost doubled the size of this project in one short, inexpensive day.

Current Collection - 7 cards

VOICES OF THE GAME - Pete Weber

It's been a quiet long weekend for me.  I've turned the corner on a bit of a cold that has been floating around work.  A dose of television watching and fluids last night seems to have done the trick.  BTW....that SNL 40th Anniversary special was a little weak, say for Bill Murray who was outstanding.  I can still hear it in my head...... "JJJAAAAAAAWWWWWWSSSS".  Brilliant.

Anyways, Saturday's card show was not bad in terms of pickups.  I started my Oscar Gamble player collection in fine form, I snagged a few traders (which I'm hoping to parlay into some pc items at trade night this week) and I saw this add in the loonie box.

2010/11 Panini Crown Royale

Voices Of The Game

#4 Pete Weber

Originally stickered at $15, it's clear that this card just doesn't hold much desirability in the world of card collecting.  And a quick ebay search confirms that.  Heck, I might have overpaid for this auto.

In all honesty, I'm not turning down this card for a buck.  It fits right into the broadcasters collection I'm (very passively) building.  And it gives me a chance to learn a little bit more about one of the voices working in the NHL.

From the card back...

"The 'Voice of the Predators' entered his 13th season as the team's play-by-play announcer in 2010.  He blends knowledgable insight with a quirky sense of humor.  If a 'makeup call' is made during a game, Weber will quip that 'it's Mary Kay time here in Nashville'."

Alright then.  Not much more to say about that.

I'll show my age here a bit....when I first saw the name Pete Weber, this was the image that entered my brain.



His '96 mullet is legendary.

Good ol' Pete Weber.........bowling's badass.

VOICES OF THE GAME - It Never Stops

Over the past few months I have picked up a couple Hall Of Fame autos as "throw-ins" in a pair of trades.  By no means am I saying that these cards are worth nothing....in fact, I think they are huge adds to the pc.

So big in fact that I have decided to start a new project.  Yes....I know.  How many frickin' projects can a guy have???!!!  Answer - As many as I want.  Ha.

This Dick Irvin signature is so cool to have in my collection.  Irvin is one of the all-time great storytellers, color commentators and hockey historians - PERIOD.

His voice triggers a time in my life where hockey was new to me.  Collecting cards for the first time, discovering favorite players, rooting for top teams and listening to those who would shape not just my hockey knowledge going forward....but teaching what has occurred in the past.

A definite inspiration for me when it comes to hockey - and television.

Dick Irvin is such a key part of hockey history.

There has been only one voice of the Calgary Flames in the 35+ years of existence....Peter Maher.  His knowledge of Flames history is astounding and he makes every game a fun one to listen to.

Never a homer....he projects excitement and intensity regardless of the team that scores.  I like that.  Don't get me wrong...he likes to jam it up when the Flames win a big one, but he never downplays a visiting team's effort.

And while the time is drawing closer to the day when he won't be calling the Flames games anymore, I will continue to enjoy what he brings to the table.  He's not a Hall Of Fame Broadcaster for just his years of service.  He works hard and does it the right way.

I picked up this Bill Clement signature last night at the monthly trader night.  I'll be honest, the only reason why I traded for it is because I had the other two cards above.  When I saw the Clement, I thought for a bit about more than just the person on the front of the card.

For almost 20 years, I have been in the broadcast industry.  First as a volunteer at the local community station, then I worked in news as an editor (what a fast-paced world) and then the past decade-plus in post production houses.

Currently, I work as a producer/editor as at a world-class sports facility here in the city.  And to say that I enjoy the world of sports broadcasting would be an understatement.  I love watching high level people in the business hone their craft.

From cameramen to replay guys, color commentators to documentary producers.  Sports on television is where it's at for me.

So seeing some cards that celebrate these people is something that I'm drawing closer and closer to.  And last night I made the decision to pull the trigger.

I'm starting a collection of broadcaster cards - Voices Of The Game.

I know of a few insert sets that have been produced by Panini and inserted into their Crown Royale sets.  There's about 40 cards over three years to chase.  Some big names along with some unknowns (to me).

There are also some cards here and there in other releases - such as the infamous 06/07 Parkhurst autograph set.  And of course some killer cut autos (like Foster Hewitt....but I've got a bit of a trump card on him).

All in all, I think it will be a fun collection to build and it will remind me of the two worlds I love converging.  I'm looking forward to taking this project out for a spin.


Current Collection - 3 cards