LINDEN CARD(s) OF THE WEEK - Two More That I'll Never Own

The Toronto Spring Expo came and went last weekend with little fanfare in my household.  It was one year ago that I made the trek out to T.O. to take in the show (along with a friend's wedding) and it's something I look forward to doing again one day.

One of the highlights of the show has been the redemption card programs put on by various companies.  Incentive to purchase and rip product at the shows.  I've taken part in it a couple times and it can really add value to your overall purchases.

This year I was anticipating a few new redemption cards to chase with the recent releases of ITG Game Used and Lord Stanley's Mug.  Sure enough, some have already popped up on ebay.

But there were a couple cards that hit the open market yesterday that had me shaking my head.

First off....these Badge Of Honor cards look very nice.  Shield pieces are so rare in the world of Trevor Linden cards (only two shields have been produced previously).  Add to it an autograph (not quite hard signed) and we are in business.

But the cards were made available to those only in attendance of a VIP event put on by In The Game.  Fair enough.  I knew my chances of ever hitting one of those in a box were few and far between....with far between being a long ways.

What I found interesting is that the two shield cards are in the possession of the same individual.  What are the odds of the same guy hitting both beauties?

To make matters worse (for me) is that his asking prices on the items are way.....WAY above what I would be willing to pay (or any of the other Linden collectors I know).  I'm talking three to four times as much.  The unrealistic price tag just pours salt in the wound.

The same seller has had a number of show redemption 1/1 Linden cards up on ebay for over a year at massively inflated prices.  Sitting in my watched items list, knowing that it'll be a cold day in.......well, you know.

So I thought I'd show off these cards here and now since it will be the one and only time that they will hit any sort of collectors eye.  I believe they will sit for eternity with the BINs as is.  In the hands of not a collector, but a seller.  And a VIP I guess.

But hey, what a guy wants to do with a card once he gets it is up to him.  It's a shame that two of the best Linden cards to "hit the market" in a long time have essentially been put on permanent display (and they had to be fuzzy scans too.......dang).

And people wonder why I have become a little de-motivated towards the hobby.

ARTICLES - Million Dollar Mask

I love goalie masks.  There's just something about them that I am totally drawn to.  For years I have considered the mask the single most important innovation in the history of professional sports.  It literally changed the game back in the 60's and the rich history of this piece of equipment is celebrated to this day.

Goalie mask cards are a staple in the industry.  Once a fringe insert, they have become a yearly tradition for many collectors - including myself.  I enjoy seeing the new additions, cool looking photos and of course the killer lids.

I love masks so much that I would spend hours upon hours searching for close-up photos of goalie masks.  All eras, all players.  I loved learning more and more about the history of the mask.

With my profession in television, I was determined to create a documentary series on the subject (that's how much I wanted to celebrate it).  Of course, that's when I was pretty green in the industry and I ended up running around in circles as opposed to focused in one direction.

Think about it though.  A five-part series on the 50+ year history of the goalie mask.  From it's glorious (and crude) introduction back in 1959 all the way up to today's artistic masterpieces.  Who the key players were both on and off the ice.  What the most popular and recognizable masks are.  Who's careers were influenced by the mask.  And the stories....like folklore.  Mmmmmmmm.  Them's good eats.

But sadly it did not come to fruition.  And as the years have gone by so has the focus on the project.  I still think one day someone might carry the torch and put together one heck of a killer sports doc series.

One can dream.

So where am I going with all this?

Well, with my recent collection cleaning, I came across some neat articles on the goalie mask that I collected and kept.  Some have great photos, others some detailed information.

I found a couple single page items from magazines that I scanned and I just needed to share with you.


Jacques Plante - THE GUY when it comes to the start of the goalie mask story.  He was the first goaltender to regularly wear this protective equipment.  He had been using it in practice, but it wasn't until Andy Bathgate nearly took off his head with a slapshot that he put on the mask for good.

Teased for years after, he was pegged as a sissy, a wimp.  Can you believe it took years before a second goalie decided to regularly wear a mask.

Jacques was so influential and innovative that he eventually designed his own masks.  He then started to market them to the masses.  Here's one of his famous advertisements.

If that doesn't catch your eye....I don't know what will.

A million bucks.  In 1971 that would be a ton of cash.  And check out how much he was selling those lids for.  Hindsight.

What's interesting is that while the masks would reduce the stitches one would take to the face, it created a new problem - blowout.  Rather than cut you open, it would absorb the puck's force in such a way that it would explode your cheekbone upon impact.  Yikes.

There's a reason why the fibreglass masks were phased out in the 80's.

What a great piece of hockey history.


The second item also comes from a magazine.  When I saw the photo I thought it would make a great addition to the Ed Giacomin story.

I love this pic.  I picture him sucking on a towel to ease the numbness in his mouth.  Or maybe he's got a couple missing chicklets.

In all actuality, it's probably just a little slobber wipe.  Still.....

And it does say that he took a slapper from the feared Hull (Dennis).  So maybe there's some legitimacy after all.

Regardless, this is a keeper.  Part of my goalie mask collection/research. Something that I'll have with me for many years to come.

MY COLLECTION - I Made A Trade

What a crazy week at work.  I'm ready for a weekend.

For the past couple of weeks I have been working little by little on organizing my cards.  Cleaning out my closet, adding a beefier shelf and seriously contemplating setting up at a card show (I gotta get rid of some of these cards).

Part of the sorting process involved some scanning, uploading and general updating of my Photobucket account.  It's hard to make trades when the other guy has no clue what you have.

And you know what.......it worked.

I have not only made a couple trades - I've sold some cards.  What an amazing concept.

Today came the first card from my most recent trades.

2013/14 Panini Dominion

Auto Patch

#AP-NH Ryan Nugent-Hopkins  /99

It's a nice patch and it has some nice colors.  Too bad the market has softened considerably on the guy.

But for what I gave up, I felt it was a win on my end.

So what am I going to do with the card?  Well I put it right back into my Photobucket and it's up for trade/sale.

And for those of you interested in doing some trading, here's some of what I have.

You all know what I'm looking for.

'30 in 30' LEGACY - From Harlem With Love

Well it has been a mighty long time since I have posted anything referencing my '30 in 30' project from a year and a half ago.  Remember that?  30 sports documentaries (that I have never seen before) in 30 days.  It was a lot of fun and I saw an wide range of topics, production styles and editing "looks" that really made me appreciate the sports documentary form even more.

If you're interested in checking out some of my past viewings, go to the Labels section on the right hand side of my blog.  Click on 30 in 30 and you're in business.

You won't see many ESPN 30 for 30 selections on my list mainly because I have seen them all.  I'm always looking for new episodes on TV and couldn't buy the first set of 30 fast enough on Blu-ray.  I'm patiently waiting for the second series to be complete (they have about 10 or so left) so I can purchase that one too.

What has caught my eye a bit recently is the spin-off '30 for 30 Short' series that can be viewed online.....for free.  Free is good.

Basically, it's a 30 for 30 documentary, but shorter.  They sit in the 12-15 minute range.  Many of the topics don't warrant a full hour of production, so this 'short' vehicle works perfectly.  There have been quite a few titles released so far.

My favorite without question is Holy Grail which focuses on one of the most iconic baseball cards of all time.  If you decide to watch it, keep note in the back of your head that there have been some recent developments.  Watch it....then do some research.  An incredible story.

I also really enjoyed Jake, The Irrelevant Giant, Cutthroat and Arthur and Johnnie.  But all of them are enjoyable.  Soon you can do your own mini '30 in 30'.  There are almost enough titles.

This past week was the premiere of the newest doc...From Harlem With Love.  It's subject is a little near and dear to my heart - The Harlem Globetrotters.  If you'd like to check out some of my past ramblings on The Trotters, do a quick blog search.  They are a true sports institution.

But the story presented in this latest video is one I did not know about.  There's some great footage that I had never seen before and a certain basketball player that many never even knew played for the team.

Worth the watch....





And if any of you have seen a sweet sports doc recently, drop me a comment.  I'd love to hunt down some new viewing material.

RAISE THE CUP - Four Beautiful Blackhawks & One Sweet Stevens

I finally took some time to get my Raise The Cup project organized.  It had gotten a little out of control (if you can call a 100-card pc "out of control").  There were cards strewn all over my desk, duplicates sitting in my binder and frankly....some cards that just needed to go.

Without going into a ton of detail.....I've streamlined.

No longer will the Panini Certified insert sets be a part of this project.  Instead, I will slowly build the sets on their own.  They will sit as an accompanying part of the collection, but not part of the project.

Cards in these binder sheets will now be full on cards that have the player on the front clearly celebrating with The Cup.  No more duplicate cards (french/english, US/Canada variations, etc.).  Sorry to the dozen or so cards that have been given the boot.  It's for the greater good.

In addition to the housecleaning, I decided to scan some cards.  So let's take a look at some of the new additions.

2013/14 Upper Deck Series I

#117 Jonathan Toews

Yeah...this one was a no brainer.  What a fantastic photo.

Sweat-drenched hair, championship cap, playoff beard, outburst of joy.  What more does one want in a card?

Oh yeah.....The Cup!

I love the angle of the shot in this photo.  The side view allows one to get a good look inside the bowl.  Very cool.

2013 Panini Black Friday

#18 Jonathan Toews (shiny version)

This card sucks when scanned....but looks fantastic in person.  Wavy, shiny, black and with a simple design.  It looks great.

This card was a part of Panini's Black Friday promotion last year, so I assume it was a giveaway card.  I was able to trade for it a number of months back.

It's been sitting on my desk ever since.  For shame.

2011/12 Panini Donruss Elite

#14 Dustin Byfuglien

I was told that this shiny offering comes from another Panini giveaway thingy.  Works for me.

Dustin is looking a little more chill than Toews and I love the crooked hat. Slick.  The "deer in headlights" facial expression is the icing on the cake.

But....he's hoisting that trophy.  It's in.

2013/14 Upper Deck Series I

UD Canvas

#C50 Patrick Kane

Speaking of chill.  Kane looks cool like Tom Cruise in 1983.

The ticker tape background gives this card a great looking effect and oddly makes Kane and the Cup pop out....and yet at the same time blend in.  Optical.

2000/01 Topps Stadium Club

#33 Scott Stevens

But the king of ticker tape cards might just go to this Scott Stevens offering.

The low angle shot makes Scott look like he's king of the world and the background just sits so abstractly.


So with that, I'm now up to date on the collection.  Let's see how long that lasts.


Current Collection 112 cards

MY COLLECTION - Billy Smith

Earlier this month I picked up a few cards for the trade box when I was at the final monthly card show of the season.  It was a great opportunity to do some replenishing and it also gave me a chance to check out some cards I normally wouldn't spend the time or money on.

There are a lot of cards I just turn my head away from and ignore.  Not because they aren't nice cards, but because I just can't focus on too many pieces of cardboard out there.  I've got enough on my plate as it is.

But when the goal is to hunt down some sweet deals....the eyes open up a little wider.

And when I saw this beauty sitting in a $5 box, I decided to strike.

2012/13 In The Game History Of Hockey

Great Moments In Hockey

#NN - First Goalie To Score Silver  /40

Nowhere on the front of this card does it say the name Billy Smith, but I knew exactly who this card showed when I laid eyes on it.  And yes, he was the first goalie ever to be credited with scoring a goal.

Now the photo has him in a shooting position....but make no mistake, he did not fire the puck down the ice like you've seen may times since.  More on that in a moment.

When I saw this card, I immediately thought of a card from my youth.  A card that really represented a lot in terms of my collecting life.

1980/81 O-Pee-Chee

Record Breaker

#5 Billy Smith

This was sitting on the front page of my collecting binder.  Center square.  The very first set I collected, the very first set I finished.  I was 8 years old at the time.

I didn't quite understand at that time how or why Billy Smith was credited with scoring a goal.  All I knew is that Billy Smith did something no other goalie had ever done.  That made him cool in my books.

The back of the card might lend more of an explanation...

Ah ha....Colorado Rockies.  Nuff said.

Here's the video evidence (it's short)...



It took me a few years to realize that Billy never really shot the puck.  And in fact, it wasn't until Ron Hextall did it right that I fully realized that it was nothing more than a bizarre set of circumstances that allowed Billy to receive credit.

Still.....pretty cool.

Which is why I decided to pick up the History Of Hockey art card celebrating this important moment.  It's a nice rendering and includes a piece of Smith's jersey.  But really, it was the price that did it for me.  I had seen this card at $40, then $30, even $10 and not a sniff from me.

For $5.....I'll do it.  I'm contemplating cracking it out of the slab.  It's a nice card.  And I might just hunt down the 80/81 offering to match it up with.

Ah.....memories.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Ron Tugnutt

Congrats to the Columbus Blue Jackets for winning their first ever playoff game last night. It was an exciting game and could make for an interesting series. I thought I'd share a CBJ flavored post to celebrate.


Most of the time when I see a card that fits into the 'Did You Know' subject it's because of an obscure bit of information virtually hidden on the back of a card.  Or maybe it's because the card itself has some meaning that might not be readily known to the masses out there.

But in this instance, the info it clear as day....right on the front of the card.

But I thought that with the regular season now over and the Stanley Cup playoffs in full effect, it would be an appropriate stat.

Take into account the fact that the Columbus Blue Jackets have returned to the dance for just the second time in team history (although they blew it in game one) and the fact that the card itself contains one heck of a sweet mask.

Yeah....what can I say. I like masks.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Ron Tugnutt holds the record for most wins by a goalie on an expansion team with 22?

Back in the 2000/01 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets entered the NHL and one of their first free agent signings was Tugnutt (who played for Ottawa and Pittsburgh the previous year).  He appeared in 53 games that season and won 22 times.

He tied the longstanding record on the final game of the season.  Who did he tie?  Minnesota North Stars tender Cesare Maniago (who had 22 wins with the first year team back in the 67/68 season).

I just had to throw this card in.  Love it.

Anyways, let's go back to Tugger's (or is that Nutt's) mask for a moment.  I love the splash look that covers the front of his lid.  It's something that he incorporated way back in his Montreal days.

"I was in Montreal and had to make a new mask so I decided a Molson (Canadian beer) splash would be cool.  That is what has given me ideas since.  If you look back to '94, all my masks have a splash effect on them."

Mask painter Frank Cipra has painted many of Ron's mask and has always incorporated this staple Ron Tugnutt look.

From his days after Montreal when he backstopped Ottawa for three seasons...

...to his brief cup of coffee with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The masks create an instant identity.  The team name along the chin and big splash on the front.

But Ron Tugnutt isn't just remembered for his mask...or his expansion team wins record...

On March 21, 1991 while playing for the Quebec Nordiques, Tugnutt stopped 70 of 73 shots to earn his team a 3-3 tie against the Boston Bruins, the second highest number of saves made in a regular season game in NHL history.  His performance evoked such respect that several Boston Bruins players came over to congratulate Ron after the game ended.



Or how about this one...

Ron Tugnutt was in net for the May 4, 2000 playoff game against the Philadelphis Flyers where he made 70 saves once again.  This time on 72 shots.  The 72nd shot just happened to be Keith Primeau's OT winner (in the fifth extra stanza).  The longest NHL game since the 1930's.



Tungnutt finished his NHL career with 186 wins in 537 games over 16 seasons.  He's more likely to be known for his moments in time as opposed to his overall career.

And his killer mask designs.


Did I just milk this post into a goalie mask love-in or what?