LINDEN CARD(S) OF THE WEEK - A Triple Play Mailday

Actually, it was a four card Linden mailday for me today. A fantastic bunch of additions to the growing collection.

Good story too (you knew I'd have one).

I recently saw an auction for a pretty rare Linden card on ebay. Old and low numbered.

1998/99 Upper Deck MVP
#131 Super Script /25

I didn't expect to see a card like this pop up on ebay...they never do. But what I was really intrigued by was the seller. I recognized his name from some great Linden battles years ago on ebay. Seeing him put this card up for grabs prompted me to immediately contact him.

I asked if he had other Linden cards that he was planning on putting up for bids. He said he was planning on it. I then asked if he would consider taking a look at my wantlist in hopes of landing a few more from him.

He had three. And nice ones too.

I ended up winning the auction on ebay and we struck a deal for the entire lot. Funny thing is....I don't need the super script. I didn't realize it until after the fact. If I'd have known I had it, I might not have been so aggressive in seeing if he had more.

So the package arrived today (just in time before what looks to be a postal strike in Canada this upcoming week). I was pretty excited to see the goods.

2001/02 BAP Memorabilia Update
#495 Emerald /10

These cards just don't show their faces. Well, almost never. I somehow fluked out and snagged a Brad Richards from this same set about a year ago for less than $5.

Sadly, this Linden cost a little more. But I'm still thrilled to add it to the collection.


Look at that serial number. Now that's a beautiful sight.

2003/04 Upper Deck MVP
#413 Canadian Red Script /25

Another one I never thought I'd find. Not as tough a parallel to track down (and can be fairly cheap too). That all changes when you're talking about an eight year old Linden card though.


Here's the back. Nothing special, but I thought I'd be consistent when presenting these cards today.

2005/06 Upper Deck Black Diamond
#125 Double Diamond Gold /10

Last, but certainly not least, this toughie (which scans terribly). I remember tracking down a copy years ago when this came out. The price tag was too high for me at the time (I was still new to the crazy card prices for Lindens). I let this one pass.

The guy put it up on ebay eventually (thinking he would get a real solid price)...he ended up losing money on the deal. I was kicking myself for not getting involved in the auction. It sold for less than the green copy I have /25.

I never saw another copy of the gold until today.


Again....a beautiful thing (if you can see it). Those low numbered parallels are a sight for sore eyes (unless you're talking about the large number of new low numbered product out these days (Panini Playoff Contenders....I'm looking at you).

So that's three to scratch off the wantlist and a real solid card to add to the traders pile. What a fantastic mailday (one of the all-time best).

LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - 2010/11 UD French Buyback

It's been a little slow in the Trevor Linden card department lately. Although that should change with the newest Panini release 'Contenders' as it appears he has a number of different cards, parallels and yes....another 1/1.

In the meantime, this mailday from last week should serve nicely as a show & tell.

2010/11 Upper Deck French
#256 20th Anniversary Buyback

When these were first released, I saw a couple pop on ebay. I wasn't sure of the print run so I held off.

Over the past couple months though, none showed their faces. I was getting a little worried that the next one that showed its face would carry with it a harsh price tag.

Thankfully, that was not the case. This one came up for grabs and I snagged it for well under what I thought it would go for.

Nothing special about the card other than the silver foil stamp. But, it's one more Linden card to add to the collection. Every card counts.

I remember when this Upper Deck series was originally released in 1990. It was one of the products responsible for getting me back into the hobby and the one set that was the 'must have'.

I guess some things never change.

ONE SHEET, ONE SET - 2005/06 Upper Deck Rookie Update

The huge sports collectibles show that passed through town last weekend garnered some great cards for my various collections.

While there were some bigger ticket items, there was a chance to pick up some cheap base and insert cards for my 'One Sheet, One Set' project.

I snagged a couple singles to finish off this sheet and it caught my eye today when deciding which one to focus on.

2005/06 Upper Deck
Rookie Update

OK.....stay with me while I explain this release.

This 277 card set starts off with 100 base cards of current players. The next 95 cards feature the rookies and the final 82 cards highlight multi-player rookie cards (but they have both a rookie and a veteran player on it). Cards 101-275 are all serial numbered (some to 1999, some to 999, some to 499 and a couple of them to 199).

Got it? Good.

Now you can forget all of it as I am only going to be focusing on the base cards from 1-100. :)

This is an eye catching set from a 'first look' standpoint. The colors definitely pop out at you.

Obviously the colors go in conjunction with the team colors and I really like the way this is incorporated into the entire design. They look good in the 9-page sheet.


The front of the card has got some good attention to detail and is more complex than it looks.

We touched on the team colored background, but there is also a slight marbled effect blended into it. It emanates from the center of the card and thus I will refer to it as the 'exploding marble effect'. For the record, I like it.

There is a silver foil Upper Deck logo in the top left and some more silver foil along the bottom highlighting the set name. A little bit of foil texture right at the bottom edge frames the team logo which is over black.

The frame for the player is a simple, but unique shape and has a bit of an embossed border (always in silver). It's got a hint of metal texture to it and works with the foil to create a bit of dynamics.

On the right side is the player name and on the left is the position and player number. The font used for this is not bad (very simple and unobtrusive).

Now on to the photo. Some have decent action shots, but mostly it's the stock full body shot. The player is cutout from the background to allow for three things. The player can be placed on top of the frame (as shown by the head and the stick), the background can be hit with a hint of blur (creating even greater separation) and the background can be given a bit of color overlay (again in the team color).

All three of these elements work really well when combined and meshes the card front together quite nicely.


The back of the card utilizes a number of elements from the front, but is distinct enough to give it a unique feel.

Sadly, the same photo is used. There is no color on the background, but the exploding marble effect remains (it's tough to see on some cards). The card number sits almost awkwardly in the top left corner.

The stats board continues the embossed look, but introduces the team color in the top and bottom border. A nice switch up.

The name font is consistent with the front, but the position utilizes lower case letters. And all of the sudden, the team name makes an appearance...weird.

The simple logo on black remains (nothing special, but not ugly either). And then the stats.

Only 5 years of stats are shown - max. A bit of a waste if you ask me. Look at all of that empty space at the top of the card.

The stats in general are a little lacking. Nothing about where the player was born or when they were drafted. It's tough to find a happy medium between being too simple and cluttered, but I think a little more would have helped.

Lastly, the ever popular row of logos along the bottom. Meh.

Overall, it's a nice looking set. The 100 card base set would make a nice addition to any set builders collection and singles could be had pretty cheap. The most expensive card in the deck is Mario Lemieux (which books at $4.00) and Steve Yzerman and Martin Brodeur (which books at $2.50 each). But I can't see anyone slapping those prices on these cards. Most could be had for a quarter or less.

The card front gets the bulk of the points, while the card back kills a higher rating from me.

3.5 out of 5

RATE MY MASK - Pekke Rinne

The 'retro' themed mask has been done many times over. Steve Shields and Hannu Toivonen immediately come to mind for me.

Pekka Rinne's latest mask takes the retro look and amps it up another level.


A pretty simple concept if you ask me....the old style mask with a monster - a 'predator' - wearing it.

Dave Gunnarsson, the master mask designer at DaveArt, said that when he pitched the idea to Pekka - he loved it. He created the idea with much detail work and 3-D effects, making the mask look like it has been worn in many games and has received its share of beating, with cracks and plasters. A smoking hot design that frightens the opponents.




What I really like about the mask are the eyes. Man do they really pop out. And the placement of them create a really cool effect.

Really!


When taking a closer look at the detail of the mask, you can see the time and effort put into the intricacies of the design. Gunnarsson is a master of that.

Take a listen to Pekka talking about his masks (both his current lid and when he got his first painted mask). Like a kid in a candy store.



Overall, a really cool mask - great concept, great design.

4 out of 5.

Really!

Alright, it's your turn to Rate My Mask!

SHOW PICKUPS - Small Sampling

The recently past Bossa Card Show might go down as one of the most productive when it comes to some of my various collections. Over the next couple weeks, I hope to share in more detail some of my pickups.

You've already seen the four cards snagged for my 1 vs. 100 project, so I won't dwell on them anymore. Instead, I'll give you a quick preview of the rest of the haul.

First off, the swag. Gotta love free stuff. And the Panini bags handed out on the Sunday were a nice extra. My bag had a couple nice goodies in it.

Larry Robinson 8x10 autograph

They must have had some extra signed pics from the day before. This was a nice treat (although the photo is little to be desired). Great signature!


In the swag bag was 5 packs of Panini Adrenalyne XL. I've never seen this product before, but apparently it's built like a game (Pokemon, Bakugan, etc.). The Brodeur looks to be a tougher parallel to get. A nice bonus.


Some high end base cards were a bit of a surprise to pick up. Anytime I can get Cup base for a buck a piece - I'm in. I also snagged some Enshrined base and some sharp looking Topps from the late 80's. Will make for some fun 'One Sheet, One Set' show & tells.


One seller had blaster boxes of 05/06 MVP on for half price - you NEVER see this stuff on sale. I had the delusional thought of pulling the much needed Linden Prosign (only 1:480 packs for the Prosigns).

Didn't get one, but found a Crosby RC in the mix. A nice consolation.


I actually found a couple Linden cards at the show. None that I actually needed, but this beauty is a definite upgrade to my current copy. It's by far the best copy of this card I have seen.


BTP Masked Men III was on the top of the radar this weekend. I wanted to put a dent in the wantlist. By the end of the weekend - I did. And for a decent price too. These are some nice looking cards (and they scan nicely too).


These do not scan well. Panini's attempt at a mask set. This one looks to be a colossal flop. Out of the 19 cards in the checklist, it appears 6 were not produced - LAME. I will give points for using a photo of Tim Thomas in his new mask (ahem ITG!) as well as using Jonathan Quick's Retro mask (the Vachon tribute).


I also had the opportunity to find a couple cards for other collectors. This Bourque has already been spoken for and is on its way out of the city. Glad to see a rare parallel find its proper home.


This one was a 'must have'. I love the design of this set - completely set up for autographs. The hard signed sig of Wensink just adds to the coolness of the card.

Not sure if I'll try to build the set. Right now, I'm just trying to get a 9-page sheet filled (sans autos). Maybe this card will be used as a trader instead. :)

Overall, a great time was had at the card show. Thus ending a season of shows. If you have a chance to go to a show in your area - do so! Supporting local card shows ensures that they will continue in the future. While they are dwindling in quantity over a season, they can still attain quality.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I cringe the day that card shows become extinct. As much as I love ebay and online trading, local card shows offer so much more than one would think.

1 vs. 100 - Bossa Show Pickups

This weekend was the Bossa Spring Sports Collectibles Show here in Calgary and I have had these past two days marked on my calendar for months.

It's a great chance to pickup some new pieces for my various collections. With dealers coming in from out of town, there's some fresh cardboard out on the tables and a number of locals bring out just a little more than normal.

To top it off, in-person signings from hockey greats. This year it was Larry Robinson on the Saturday and Jean Beliveau today. Was it ever cool to see those two guys. With all the health problems Beliveau has had over the past few years, I gotta say - he looks great. And is without a doubt one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

They say he's the classiest.....that's an understatement.

Now on to some pickups.

One of the projects that has been slowly progressing has been my 1 vs. 100 set. This show may have produced one of the single biggest hauls towards completion. Some great additions if I do say so myself.

2009/10 The Cup
Honorable Numbers
#HN-MG Mike Green /52

I paid a little more than I wanted to for this card, but ever since seeing these cards - I've wanted one for my project. The patches are really nice and I like Green's autograph. Hard signed - you can't beat that.

2005/06 SP Game Used
Significant Numbers
#SN-HO Marian Hossa /18

Another card that I hummed and hawed at. It was priced quite high for what I was looking to pay, and we almost made a trade, but it was early Sunday when my look of disinterest turned into a sudden drop in price. I jumped at it and was glad I did.

2005/06 The Cup
Rookie Gold
#182 Jay McClement /9

This was a late purchase on the Saturday. The guy had TWO of these cards. Having never purchased a Gold Rookie from this year, I wasn't sure what the going rate on them were. He had it priced at $125. I knew I wasn't going to pay that price, but after talking to him for a bit realized that this guy was bang on when it comes to bartering. He basically said that he wanted a fair price. I can respect that.

I told him that I had no clue what a card like this might barter down to so rather than make an offer that might come off as insulting, I'd pass. He then said that this card would normally go cheap. He fired off a number that was within a few bucks of what I had in mind.

And with that, I was the new owner of a nice rare card for the project. I'm really excited to have landed this one.

2010/11 SP Game Used
Career Legacy
#CL4P-CD Chris Drury /4

Last, but not least is this gorgeous piece. This card fits perfectly into what I'm looking for with this project. Drury is not a big name, the card is unique to anything else I own and the price was right.

This card was just recently pulled bu the dealer and he was not looking for a ton of dough. He asked what a fair price would be and we quickly came to a deal. Again, really happy to add this one.

So that's 4 more cards to the collection. And a pair of them numbered to under 10. Just a small portion of the pickups I made at this fantastic show.

Only 12 more months to go before the next one.

78 out of 100 (78%)

WHO AM I? - A Trio Of Chokers

Time to reveal the names behind these sloppy signatures. Out of the four guesses I received, only one person got all three players right.

Congrats to Jess for guessing the names, and yes they all have a last name starting with 'B', but the main connection is that they all had pitiful playoff performances.

NOTE: Thanks for your guess Dave. Next time I'll forward you the answers. It'll give you a better shot at getting them right. :)

Ilya Bryzgalov

"Don't send me to Winnipeg"! Don't worry, they wouldn't want you anyways now.

And I actually had Phoenix knocking off the Wings in the first round.

Nicklas Backstrom

Hoo boy. This guy disappeared in the post season. As much as you can place some blame on Ovechkin, it was the sudden dissapearance of Backstrom (and Semin) that led to the Caps demise.

Brian Boucher

In one of the most 'ugly-to-watch' train wrecks in post season goaltending history, Boucher was the guy who crapped the bed the most.

If his 'performance' doesn't get him kicked off that team for next season, then nothing will.

Give Bobrovsky the ball and let him run with it. There may be growing pains, but it would pale in comparison the comedy show the Flyers put on in the playoffs.

Who else would be in the running for 'Choker of the Year' when it comes to the 2011 playoffs?