LINDEN CARD OF THE WEEK - Seeing A Trend Develop

Over the past couple of months there has been an interesting trend developing.  One which I didn't think would ever arrive and one that I am oh so very thankful for.

Trevor Linden cards are coming down in price.

I don't know if it's the oversaturation of Linden cards on the market, the waning desire for some collectors to pull the trigger on some of his pieces or if the NHL lockout had something to do with it.

Whatever the reason is, it's helped me a great deal in landing some low numbered items for a fraction of what I was expecting to pay.

The most recent card to hit the mailbox was one that presented a first in the world of my Linden pc.

Only because there was some Beckett slab surgery to be had.

I am at a loss why someone would slab a low numbered card like this only to put it out on the open market afterwards.  I really believe the slabbing dropped the price a bit rather than enhance the value.

It was on the wantlist and I knew that if I won the auction, the first thing I would do is free the card from its plastic case.

2012/13 Upper Deck Artifacts

#93 Dual Jersey Auto  /12

As you can see.....I won said auction.

I've never had to free a card from a graded slab before.  I actually had to youtube it to see what the best way to go about it would be.  And while it helped immensely, I really should have done it outside.  I'm now destined to step on a plastic shard in my office at some point.  I can feel it coming.

This card, numbered to just 12, is about the 5th or 6th to arrive so far this year where the price tag has been more than reasonable.  Instead of coming up with a Linden Card Of The Year for 2013, I might just do a Linden STEAL Of The Year.  There are definitely a number of cards that could gun for the title.

Stay tuned, my next Linden card show will hopefully air a number of these great pickups.

12 in 12 - February Review

Well, my comment at the end of my January review was "a real strong start".  That had some double meaning referring both to the book I read and the year-long goal I've set for myself.

And if January's page turner wasn't enough, February's book might just go down as one of the best I've ever read.

If every sports bio I read is as good as the one I just finished tonight....then reading might just become my new passion.

February's book was Andre Agassi's story...

Open

Andre Agassi

386 pages

What looks like an unassuming read based on sheer size of the book (at least in paperback form) quickly became an in-depth look at the life of one of tennis' polarizing figures.

Before I knew it I was knee deep in a story that had so many layers and chapters that I just couldn't put it down.

From his early days (and I mean early) being coached by his strict and demanding father to his rebellious relationship with trainer Nick Bollettieri, we learn quickly just how much Andre truly hates tennis.  We hear of his attempts to be out of the limelight and yet finds himself in the company of Barbara Streisand and Brooke Shields.  It feels as though Agassi leaves no stone left unturned.

His computer-like recall of the dozens and dozens of matches shared in the book really adds depth and body to his career in tennis.  His early success, struggles to find his game and eventually his breakthroughs on the grand stages, Agassi shares it all.

He pulls no punches and asks for no apologies.  From family to tennis Andre truly does open up to what his life has given him - and in some instances taken away.

It's a book I found often I couldn't put down.  An easy read, it's got a lot of meat and potatos to it.  By the end I really felt like I got to know and understand the tennis pro, his team and the person away from the court trying to find who he is.

Highly, highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 (and yes, I feel it deserves it)


March's book...

The Card

Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson

STASHED IN THE CLOSET - More Than Just A Sports Illustrated Magazine

This past weekend I went to a local antique and collectibles show with my mom. It's one we regularly go to (and by regularly I mean "once a year"). It's a fun afternoon and I enjoy the window shopping.

I also go because there is one guy set up in the back corner who has some oddball sports items.  Be it team cards, photo slides, magazines, you name it.  He's also got a nice selection of vintage cards.  I spend a good chunk of my time at his table.

But in rounding the corner and walking up the aisle towards where he is normally set up, I noticed that he wasn't there.  Disappointed, but what can you do.  As I approached closer I realized that his place was taken up by another sports collector - and a long lost face in the hobby crowd in my books.

It was a collector who set up regularly at the monthly card show years ago.  But because he deals mainly in vintage and oddball items, he doesn't set up these days....no real demand for his stuff.

I recognize him immediately and he figures out who I am pretty quick as well.  He asks how my Linden collecting is going and I in turn ask how things are with him.  He tells me something that hit me pretty good - and I'm still thinking about it almost a week later.

He says that a lot of the things he is selling these days comes from a collection of a fellow hobbyist who passed away a little over a year ago.  This hobbyist is someone I knew fairly well in the hobby establishment.  He set up every month at the local show and always had some great vintage items on his tables, a smile and a handshake for me when I walked in and a willingness to share some hockey stories with me.

I can hear him talking about his Montreal Canadiens right now and how they need this and should get that.  I can hear him plugging his new singles strewn out on his table - always changing things up. And I can see the signs he made showcasing some amazing deals....including a drop dead price to buy the whole table's worth.

I used to buy a lot of stuff from him back before my player collecting days.  I was working on sets from the 70's and he had a bunch of stuff.  It was nice looking and priced to sell.

A number of years ago he decided to quit doing the shows and I have missed his character there ever since.

One of the last items I ever purchased from him was this great looking magazine.

I found it in a Rubbermaid container right where I left it - price tag and all.  His writing and everything.

So what's the connection to this Sports Illustrated issue?  Well it was the edition that was on the racks the day I was born.  I thought it was a cool item to pick up for that reason.

I have since tracked down and purchased a copy of The Hockey News from the same time period.

This magazine had some significance before this past weekend but now it holds even more.  Every time I look at it from now on I will remember a part of my hobby collecting days that I hold near and dear to my heart.  I will be reminded of someone who saw the hobby as something to enjoy and share with others.  That's something I have been and will continue to carry with me forever.

Thanks Dale, and may you rest in peace.

'30 in 30' LEGACY - Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner

As many of you know, I'm a huge fan for sports docs - specifically the 30 for 30 series put out by ESPN.

They have recently started doing some "shorts" which appear on their website.  One of which was highly anticipated by yours truly.  Why?  Well, because the subject of the short was a baseball card.

For over 20 years now, the t206 Honus Wagner card once owned by Wayne Gretzky and (then) LA Kings owner Bruce McNall has been one of the most expensive, controversial, coveted and admired sportscards in the hobby.  It has developed a fairy tale-like story that just grows in stature with each passing year.

ESPN recognized this and recently posted a 15 minute documentary on the card.  Taking a look at the history of tobacco cards at the turn of the century, the rarity of this particular Wagner, the purchase by Gretzky and McNall and the subsequent explosion of interest and intrigue.

While it only scratches the surface of the story, it's a pretty interesting watch and I highly recommend it.



After watching this piece, I have made a pretty quick decision as to what my March book will be...

The Card

Michael O'Keeffe and Teri Thompson

Yeah....I own the book and have never read it.  So kill me.  :)

CONTEST RESULTS

Alright.  I have learned that my phone camera should not have been as close to the monitor as it was.  It's a tad blurry.  But I couldn't feel right doing a second Random.org as it would be unfair to the person who wound up being on the top of the list after the randomizer was clicked for the third time.

The winner of the contest......comes from Hobby Insider.....

shawnyboy24

Congratulations.

Here is the video which I posted on youtube.

Randomizer

If anybody has an issue with the blurriness of the video and feels in any way, shape or form that this contest was done unfairly, please let me know.  The last thing I want to do is have people feel in some way mislead or ripped off.

Thanks,
Brett


PS.  Running this contest was fun and I appreciate the comments.  I can say that this won't be the last contest I run.  Stay tuned.

CONTEST UPDATE

Wow.  There were a total of 100 comments on the nose (63 on Hobby Insider and 37 on my blog).

Thanks to all who commented and thanks to everyone for mentioning some great people in this hobby.

I will be doing the Random.org thing momentarily and will post the results soon.

Thanks,
Brett

MY FIRST EVER CONTEST!!!

Well.....that I'm holding.

To turn the preverbal frown upside down and because I was the recent recipient of some very generous gifts....and "just because", I am holding my first ever contest.

And it's a pretty simple contest to enter.  Just post a comment in this thread and TA-DAAAAA.....you've entered.

I'll also invite you to mention somebody who has made the hobby more fun for you.  Be it a great trader, good talker or kind person at a show.  Let's hear the good stories.

The contest will run until the final horn (or final shootout goal) of the late game on Hockey Night in Canada (Minnesota vs. Calgary) on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Now on to the prize....

There will be one winner (to be chosen via Random.org.......3rd time) and he/she will receive the following (it's tough to figure out what people like, so I'm going with a good mixed bag IMO).

One rookie card of a current star
One vintage rookie card of a Hall of Famer (and it's a nice looking one too)
One hard-signed autograph card of a current star
One hard-signed autograph of a Hall of Famer
One jersey card of a current star
One patch card numbered to 25
One parallel card numbered to 25
One stick card
One glove card
One Trevor Linden card (just cuz he's my guy)

So that's 10 cards altogether.

I'm posting this contest on my blog as well as Hobby Insider (the hobby board I belong to and most post on) and I would appreciate it if everybody only enters once.

I will do my best to record the Random.org thing (as I've never done it before) but if I can't, then I will make sure the random occurs in front of a reputable witness.

Good luck to all  and thanks very much for making the hobby a better place for me.

Cheers!