HHOF AUTOS - Another Upgrade

Trade nights always allow me the chance to rummage through other people's stuff.  I like that.  Especially when I find something that might fit better in my collection than their trade box.

One of the projects I most hope to add to is my HHOF Autos since I am only allowed to trade for these cards.

Last spring I hauled in a huge lot which included a Luc Robitaille card that I was a little wishy-washy on.  The headshot photo was alright.....but that's about it - alright.

Well, I can now put that card in my trade box since I have found a much more suitable replacement.

Luc Robitaille

(Inducted in 2009)

The Prime Signatures sets put out by Panini in numerous years are some solid, hard-signed autograph cards.  Simple, which allows the signature to be the star.

And boy did Luc ever take advantage of that.

He's taken up the full lower half of the card with his autograph.  There's good "inkage" as the sharpie seems to have held up (I always get worried about bubbling or streaking (things that make a for a less-than-solid signature).

A quick and easy trade has now brought this card into my collection where it will sit with 59 others.  I took a look through those as well today and I'm really happy with the progress I have made on this set.

All hard signed, all Hall Of Famers, all acquired via trade.

Now that's just plain fun.

Current Collection - 60 HOF Autos

OPINION - Airbrushing

I have been anticipating Leaf/ITG's latest release for a number of months now.  Ultimate Memorabilia 13 is a high-end product oozing with gorgeous memorabilia cards of the game's greats.  And for the past couple of years, my guy has been piledriven into the product.

UM12 - 24 cards - 16 numbered to 10 or less
UM11 - 28 cards - 22 numbered to 10 or less

So you can guess my excitement level as I was waiting for the checklist to be released in advance of this latest onslaught.

None.  Ziltch.  Zero.  Nothing.

Not a single card of Linden is in the entire product.

Maybe it has to do with the merger effort of ITG and Leaf?  Maybe it has to do with the ultra-limited production run of just 4000 packs (or 800 5-pack boxes)?  Maybe they ran out of memorabilia?  OK....I doubt that last one.

But whatever it is, I gotta say that I'm pretty happy he's been passed over in this product.  For more than one reason.

It eases my wantlist considerably.  With Panini's Prime and National Treasures along with Upper Deck's The Cup, I've gone through the "high-end" hills with little damage to the list of cards I need.  Sure there are a few that will be pricey....but nothing compared to year's past.

It helps me ease back into the current hobby season.  I'm still getting comfortable with how I want to approach the collecting season this year, so having fewer big ticket cards to think about surely helps.

Last, and most importantly, I don't like what Leaf/ITG has done with the cards.

This is an example of one of the beautiful memorabilia pieces that will be in Ultimate Memorabilia 13.  A sick piece of game-used skate from Habs legend George Vezina.  But what do you think I see sticking out at me?

No logo.

Airbrushed out of the shot.

Now I realize that ITG for years has not had an NHL license so they are not able to use logos.  Leaf obviously is in the same ship.  But I didn't mind what ITG did in the past with headshots.  It made the photo seem more authentic (albeit limiting).

To not the the Montreal logo on the front of this jersey just ruins my enjoyment of the photo.

Now this isn't the first time airbrushing has been used on hockey cards.

The 70's and 80's were riddled with cards of players who were traded or moved to new teams.  So guys highly skilled in Pencil Crayon 101 were hired to fix the problem.

Some of my favourite cards from that era are smattered with these "corrections".

Upper Deck for a couple of years released a Be A Player product that couldn't use logos.

Awkward player contortions, lame side shots and the odd logo airbrush made for some less than desirable photo selections.

Or worse, have guys hangin' out away from the rink.  Ugh....those cards bring back bad memories.

But these photos put out by Leaf during the packing process for UM13 has left me completely turned off of the product.

And relieved that Linden is not among the bunch.

Funny thing with this Richter card is that part of the Rangers logo makes up this sweet patch.

Is that ironic or what.

Overall, I get WHY they need to airbrush.  I just don't like that they have chosen to go this direction.  I would have thought they would have tried going this direction with more of a mid-range release (as opposed to one of their bigger ticket items).  I'm curious to see what the reaction will be when the product comes out next weekend.


What are your thoughts on airbrushing?  And what Leaf/ITG has done with UM13?

RAISE THE CUP - A Pair From Trade Night

A busy work week left me struggling to get home at a decent hour let alone take care of important stuff....like post to my blog.  I've had a lot of stuff I wanted to share.

Oh well, it should be a calmer weekend.......should.

Tonight I'll share a pair of cards that I picked up from trade night a week and a half ago.  One I snagged in an actual trade, the other I landed as part of my Pack Wars win.

Both are very nice additions to the ever-growing set.

This Panini Certified Path To The Cup card is now the third from this very cool looking insert set that I have in my 'Raise The Cup' project.

I enjoy the horizontal layout of the card because it allows me to see more of the background and atmosphere of the moment captured.

The bold graphics at the bottom just add punch to the card.  And as a bonus, it's serial numbered to just 99 (almost impossible to see in the upper left corner).

Too bad Panini is now out of the hockey card making business....this would have been a sweet set to bring back year after year.

I never get bored of seeing Ray Bourque lifting the Cup.  Beautiful timing on this photo too....I can feel the emotion coming from the cardboard.

This card comes from the 2013/14 SP Authentic product and I gotta say that the Authentic Moments set really impressed me - especially the photos from the 80's.  Stay tuned as I plan to share a couple beauts.

But back to this card.  As much as I love the horizontal design on the Willie Mitchell, I really like the vertical design for the Bourque.  Odd.  I think in this instance, the taller layout allows me to focus a little more on Bourque first, then the rest of the arena.  The Cup in more in frame as well (which would be tougher to do with a different orientation).

Overall, a pair fit for the binder.  Ever growing.

Current Collection - 116 cards

K4K - The Final Tally

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'd know that my nephew recently participated in the Extra Life video game marathon yesterday, raising money for the Alberta Children's Hospital.

For any of you who are interested, I made a Final Tally post on the K4K blog to give everyone a sense of what he (and the Extra Life community) accomplished.

Thanks!

K4K - THE ATARI HAS MADE AN APPEARANCE!!

The Atari 2600 has made an appearance at our video game marathon.

I think I've got my nephew and his friends confused as I am now kicking their butt.  It's mint.

I've even set up a little quarter challenge and High Score Board.  Prizes for the top score.

I smell victory.

If you'd like to donate to my nephew's challenge of raising $500 for the Alberta Children's Hospital, check out the blog we set up at Kyle4orKids.  All the info is there.

Thanks for your time.

K4K - Today Is The Big Day

In a little less than 9 hours from now, my nephew will participate in one of the biggest video game marathons on earth.  The goal is to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals all around the world.

He has teamed up with an organization called Extra Life which promotes fundraising for this very worthy cause by playing video games.

Yes....it's sounds crazy.  But it also sounds real fun.

We have the video game room set up, I've cracked out the ol' Atari 2600 and my sister's been put in charge of ordering pizza for my nephew (and a few of his friends who will be stopping by to help out in the day).

While we are still short of our goal of $500, we have received a lot of positive comments, kind donations and have created some awareness to the cause.  Never....NEVER a bad thing.

If you are at all interested in learning more, there are links on the right-hand side of my blog to explain what Extra Life is and a direct link to my nephew's donation page if you'd like to help out.

For now, it's time to rest.  We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.

PACK WARS - October 21 Was A Very Good Day

Wednesday was monthly trader night at the local card store.  A week late this month in order to correspond with the release of Upper Deck's high-end beast of a product - The Cup.

And while I missed out on the case break team draft, I did play a couple hands of Pack Wars.......

and won.

I think I'm like most who play Pack Wars at the card shop.  Win a few, lose most of the time.  It feeds the gambler in me and I think it's one way to support the LCS when breaking a box isn't in the budget.

The product of choice - 2012/13 SP Authentic.

The category called - Birthdate closest to October 22.

I had Alexander Burmistrov.  He was born on October 21.

And the big card in the win....

Ta and da!!!

This beautiful three-color patch obviously comes from the oildrop on the crest, a hard-signed signature that looks really solid (for players nowadays) and a $10 price tag for the price of the Pack War.....what more do you want.

Now, I was hoping for a Linden auto/patch, but we all can't be too choosy.

I'm optimistic that I'll be able to parlay this into a Linden or two for the collection.

Regardless, I've got a few hands I can play now where It'll feel like I'm playing with the house's money.