LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - Diving Into Decades

With ITG's Decades product now out for over a month, I can confidently say that the initial wave is over.

A lot of Linden cards showed themselves on ebay and for the most part I sat back and watched.  High price jersey cards that will soon go for a fraction of the price, big ticket cards that soared over the price I was willing to pay and the few base cards (does anyone actually sell base on ebay anymore?) lingering around.

I did pick up some cards though.  It wasn't a complete drought.  And actually, I think I'm making out quite well right now with putting a dent into the wantlist while remaining sane on the final dollar amount.

This game used jersey card is the silver parallel.  It's the ignored middle brother in the product.  While the black version (the most readily available) gets a lot of interest from set builders and the likes and the gold parallel is the rarest, most highly sought after, the silver version doesn't get much love - except from player collectors.

I was lucky enough to find a person selling one who must have thought the same thing.  He had it priced to go.  In fact, he had it priced lower than what I would have paid for on the black version.

I noticed he had opened quite a bit of the product so I asked if he had any of the Mask cards.  I ended up making a deal to get 8 cards tucked in with the Linden.

Win-win.

This jersey/auto black card was one I had my eye on for a few weeks as it sat unwanted on ebay.  A high Buy-It-Now price will do that.

The card isn't overly exciting to look at (sticker auto and plain white jersey) but it is limited to just 3 copies so the scarcity factor was what I was looking at.

Earlier in the week, I found out that another Linden collector picked up one of the other two out there.....and for how much.  Knowing that there were now only two left, I sprung into action.

I made an offer on the card quoting the other price and the fact that this card had a white jersey piece (which usually brings down the price).  It worked out and I made the deal for the card.

A couple days after paying for the card, I noticed one of his other auctions.  I made a quick inquiry and surprisingly, I walked away with another card.

This game-used patch card is the gold 1/1.  It's a nice looking card with a healthy swatch.  The four-color piece is what I would expect with a 1/1 and I'm glad ITG didn't disappoint.

I got it for a healthy market price so I can't brag about a sweet deal on this one.  But I think when combining it with the other Linden cards I've received so far from Decades 90s, I've made out ok.

That said, I've got a long ways to go.....but I'm not in any rush.

1 vs. 100 - I Have A Trade To Announce

Recently I received an e-mail from a collector who noticed my 1 vs. 100 collection.  In it there were a couple cards that he's been trying to track down for a little while.  He asked me if I'd be willing to trade.

Now in the past, I have traded some of the cards from my project, but only for cards that fit equal criteria.  In all honestly, I could care less if I have a Colton Orr/Matt Carkner dual fight strap card /2 or a Kris Versteeg dual patch /2.  To me...it's all about the /2.

Before I could even explain my trading practices, the e-mailer laid it out plain and simple.  It's as if he had already done his homework.

All I had to do was wait.

The cards arrived late last week and here are the swip swaps.

Gone is this Tom Poti gem.  Remember when he was a decent player?  Me neither.

In it's place is this rookie patch auto card from The Cup.

I'll take that trade all day.  I don't even care if I have no clue who "Fishy" is.

Another card from the SPGU Auto Draft set is this /33 of Timofei Shishkanov (I think it took me over a minute to type his name).

Drafted in 2001, I'm pretty sure he didn't pan out.

Zdeno Chara on the other hand is a name I recognize.  The Bruins captain makes his way into the collection with this Authentic Fabrics card numbered to his jersey number.

So while there's no change to the number of cards I have left to finish the project (7 BTW), I can safely say that I've improved the overall look of the set.

I guess it's not always just about the numbers.

93 out of 100  (93%)

RATE MY MASK - Steve Mason

With a new NHL season comes many new goalie mask designs.  Tenders have been traded to new teams and need to sport the home colors (or go with the mid-90's fave....the all-white lid), goalies need to re-invent their mojo (clearly filtered through their mask) or they've just grown tired of the same ol'.

For a guy like Steve Mason....I think there's a bit of all three.

Pushed away from Columbus last season, Steve is now the "starter" in Philly.  Of course that's a very loose stature - especially seeing that their coach was recently canned.

Mason has always had some interesting designs (my fave being the one that included the Evil Dead skull).  So with a fresh palette to build on, a new design was created.

Zombie Ben Franklin, zombie George Washington and zombie Betsy Ross.  Why not.

With the un-dead being in fashion right now, I'm not surprised that Steve stayed with a theme that's he's gone with in the past.  And even though Washington is mostly associated with Virginia (?) the Philly theme is strong.

I picked this mask as the one to rate not just because it was an interesting choice, but because there were some pics of the painting process used in some of the news stories.

In fact, the NHL went one further and created a video on the designing of Steve's new lid.  Check it out...



Here are some more pics that show off some of the impressive detail in the mask.

Painted by Franny Drummond who runs PaintZoo, this mask is the first from PaintZoo that I've seen.  I really like the stitching effect on the cheeks and forehead.  The color is a little lacking...but then again it is a zombie mask.

The left side gives good symmetry with the right.  The business of the mask is a little more than my liking (especially with what I see as a bit of a blast from the past with more bold, solid color masks making an appearance...am I right?)

The Flyers logo on top and "Mase" on the chin looks crisp.  The name is similar to the way the players have their names on the backs of their jerseys.  Sadly, that shouldn't be the highlight of a new mask.

The backplate continues the trend with a little "We The People" action.

"Horror without the horror movie" is what Steve asked for and I think he got just that.  There's a great article at InGoalMag that has a few more killer pics of this new mask.

So at the end of the day, does the mask garner a good score?  Not quite.  While it is a nicely painted mask, the theme does feel a little redundant.  I would have liked to have seen a little more orange in it.  And the big one for me....from a distance you can't really appreciate the mask.  That's no good.

2.5 out of 5

Now it's your turn to RATE MY MASK!

12 in 12 - September Review

Hello everybody!

September has been one of the craziest months of the year.  Work went into overdrive with what annually is the biggest week of the year.  I've been trying to get in that last round of golf....but alas it never happened.  I (in a true spur of the moment) decided I needed to go to Chicago for a "bucket list-type" event.  My Linden collection took on a whole new dynamic with the inclusion of Trev in Decades 90s (and for some reason Enforcers II).

And while my blogging slowed down considerably (I hope to ramp that back up now that hockey is in full swing), I did manage to add some nice items to the collection and (as you will soon find out) stay on pace with my book reading.

In fact...September brought about a surplus of page flipping.

Crazy.  I know.

My month started off with one of the fastest reads I've ever had.  You've all heard the term "I couldn't put the book down".  Well this book is that and more.

No...it's not a sports book (although the person of focus did run in the Berlin Olympics...and the author did write Seabiscuit) but it was quite bluntly the best book I've ever read.

There are plenty of reviews and synopsis' (synopsi's? synopsyses?) so I won't go into it here, but if you want a story of resilience - this book is for you.

Never has a book brought me to tears.  Never has a book literally knocked the wind out of me.  Never has a book made me stay up REAL late page flipping.  This book did.

It took days - not a month.

And so what did I do after that?  I read a book my niece has been bugging me for over a year to read.  And I needed to read it before the movie is released.

The second book in the Hunger Games trilogy - Catching Fire - was my next quest.  It was an entertaining read (and I did finish it with time to spare for this month's sports pick).  You'd think I had tons of spare time or something.

Yes.  Crazy.

Anyways, I finished up the third book of September tonight and I hit a pretty solid trifecta.

September's book was a suggestion from fellow WHA nut Captain Canuck.

The Rebel League - The Short And Unruly Life Of The World Hockey Association

Ed Willes

265 pages

Back in June, I ventured to WHA Day at the Canada Sport Hall Of Fame.  It was the weekend of our terrible flood, but when I heard that they were still putting on the event I decided to go.  And while it was a little underwhelming, it got me in the mood for more things WHA.

Soon after I was handed this book as a suggestion for a monthly read.  I'm glad I took up that suggestion.

The Rebel League surprised me a bit.  I was concerned it would be more of a "surface" story.  Not really getting into details of the 7-year venture that was the WHA.  It turned out to be a very well-written, detailed story.

Sure, there are the must-haves like Gordie Howe and his kids, Bobby Hull, Wayne Gretzky, the Slap Shot inspiration, the goonery.  But this had more.

Details, details, details.  Lots of interviews - and from a very diverse bunch.  That was a big part of the enjoyment.  Recognizing names that I haven't heard since I was a kid.

By the way, I can see this book being a more enjoyable read to those who recognize names like Steve Durbano, Real Cloutier, Anders Hedberg and John Garrett.  Connecting those memories with their stories really made this a fun read.

Concise, but with good stories.  Well organized and expressively written.  The Rebel League is more than just a "history of".  It documents the real push the WHA had vs. the NHL.  It unveils the impact the league had on player salaries, overall game style innovations and the incredible merger that impacted the league for the next 20+ years (in fact, the impact is still resonating).

A great documentation of one of the most important 7-year sport ventures  in all of pro sports.  It left me wanting more.  Read it.

4 out of 5


October's book:

Inspired by a fantastic Boston Globe article that has me drooling for yet another autobiography.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Doug Keans

It was a few weeks ago that I received a quick query regarding a name I haven't heard since my days of card collecting in the 80's.

A simple question.....but it brought a smile to my face.

"Have you got any Doug Keans cards?"

Doug Keans.  One of the best backup goalies of the 80's (seriously).  He teamed up with Pete Peeters to post some eye-popping numbers as a number two goalie in the Bruins net.

If it weren't for Andy Moog coming into town...who knows what might have come from Keans.

Anyways, I said I'd take a look.  And while I didn't have any stashed away in my closet, I knew there would be someone out there who would.

Cue the local trade night.  Last night as a matter of fact.  I made an equally simple query to the store owner and after explaining the circumstances, he was off to dig up the treasures.

Oh yeah!  While not his rookie card, this Keans pic is a staple to his cardboard career.  Circling the ice during warmups ready for a solid night of benchwarming.

Remember goalies....pinkies up when carrying your gloves.

Another beauty.  The yellow towel gives the illusion of working up a sweat.  And is it playoff time or what?  Keans is sporting a mighty solid spring beard.

What's with the shifty eyes?

These cards just throw me back to the true fun days of collecting and watching hockey.  Check out that equipment.  I remember those helmets and I always tried to make my own blockers out of cardboard, foam and a spare glove (or not so spare sometimes).

This last of the trio actually shows Keans in some game action.  LOVE the leather pads.  That brown just reeks of 80's.

Doug Keans was drafted in 1978 (6th round, 94 overall) by the Los Angeles Kings but it wasn't until he hit Boston that he put up some respectable numbers.

19W-8L-3T....16W-6L-3T....18W-8L-4T.  Those are stats that'll keep you in the league.  Or so one would think.

Like I said, when Boston brought in Andy Moog, Doug Keans became the odd man out.  After the 1987/88 season, he never played in the NHL again.  He finished with 96 wins in 210 career NHL games.

Oh yeah...before I forget.  5'7" and only 175 lbs.  You'll never see that in an NHL goalie these days.  Boy times have changed.

So...this is a 'Did You Know' post.  So what don't most of you know about Doug Keans?

'DID YOU KNOW' - Doug Keans now coaches for the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning hockey club.  Pee Wee A White if I'm not mistaken.

So to Colin (and his dad) over at The Hockey Life, get ready to add some cards to the collection.  Hope you have a fantastic season and learn a ton.


Now to the bigger question.  Does Doug look more like David Arquette...

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or Luke Wilson?

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He's even got a bit of Dennis Lemieux in him too me thinks...



CLASSIC!!

And a big thanks to Darren over at Maple Leaf Sports for donating these cards.  Know that they will go to a great home and be put to good use.

LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - A Pair Of Tens

Not too many Linden cards making their way in lately.  Partially due to work, a golf trip and just overall summer distractions.  But partially due to a bit of a funk over the overwhelming mountain that has become Decades 90s.

Two cards made it to my doorstep this week.  The last two on the "incoming" list.  As of right now I have zero Linden cards on order.  One is from the massively strong Cup set (which I am almost don...except 1/1's) and the equally large Decades 90s (I guess there's no better time to start than the present).

Two big ones off the list to officially start the fall collecting season (the first local card show ramps up tomorrow.....and I'm passing on golf so I can go.  I'm golfing Sunday in case anyone was worried).

2011/12 Upper Deck The Cup

#CF-TL Cup Foundations  /10

I had seen a few copies appear on ebay...all with nice 3-4 color pieces covering each window.  This copy doesn't quite have the 'wow factor' as some of those, but the price was right.

It had been up for offering a few months back and I put in what I felt was a fair offer.  It was rejected at the time and I really couldn't blame the seller.  There was a decent chance he could get a little more for it.

Well....it didn't sell.  He put it up for grabs again and instead of making an offer, I decided to just keep an eye on it.

Weeks passed and I finally thought now's the time to bid.  I made the exact same offer as I did months back and sure enough it was accepted.

The seller said he wanted to see the card go to a diehard Linden collector.  I think he just realized that my price was the most he was going to get.  Either way, it's a nice one to scratch off the list.

That leaves me with just one more non-1/1 from The Cup remaining on my list.  The Cup Foundations quad patch/auto.  Same as above, but with a hard-signed signature.  Numbered to just 5, it'll be the tallest task (I've already seen 2 or 3 of them go to good homes).

2013/14 In The Game Decades 90s

#M-44 Game-Used Jersey Gold

And here's the first of what surely will be many Decades 90s card to hit the collection.  And quite frankly - what a way to start.

This gold parallel is limited to just 10 copies.  It had a nice BIN price when I saw it last week, but decided to throw a best offer on it anyways.  A little bartering never hurts and in the end we agreed on a price that I was pretty happy with (considering I've seen a couple other copies go for more in the days since).

Currewntly there are a number of other Decades 90s cards on the market.  Some common and some pretty rare.  But I'm not biting on any of them.  I think I'll wait for the show tomorrow to gauge the availability of these pieces locally and then slowly.....SLOWLY knock 'em off the list.

It's not a race.

And to all of you....a happy collecting season.  May you knock off some toughies this year.

BEHIND THE MASKS - A Couple Early Morning Shows

It's a day off for me today and I couldn't be happier.  After some non-stop work grind (coming off a nice golf vacation) my brain is in a bit of a haze.  Three days to hit the reset button is a nice treat this time of year.

So what will my day consist of today?  Well....I do have a lot of stuff that's been neglected here in the home.  I'll at least ponder the thought of doing something about it.

In the meantime, I'll do up a nice blog post about a couple cards I traded for at last month's trader night.

Mask cards are always an eye-catcher for me.  With mask sets seemingly everywhere today, you'd think that would be enough to keep me busy.  Well, I'm an uber-casual mask collector.  I basically won't snag cards on the wantlist unless somebody physically waves them in front of me.

So I add to the list.....but snagging cards that have a nice shot of the player's mask on the front.  Over the years I've picked up a couple hundred "mask" cards and one day I might catalogue them.

For now.....they'll just go in the monster box with all the others.

This Ilya Bryzgalov card comes from the recent ITG Heroes and Prospects Draft Update product.  The purple mask is the first thing that caught my eye.  For what I gave up.....it was a no-brainer.

This Grant Fuhr card is one that I thought looked really cool.  The area around Fuhr's photo is see-through which really makes the pic pop.

I like the design and concept of this set and really the only miss is that Fuhr's photo comes from a practice.  If only he was wearing an Oilers jersey.

Still, another great card to add to the box.

Now........what to do next today?