This past Saturday was an awesome day for my autograph collection. Former Blackhawks superstar and Hall of Famer Denis Savard was signing autographs at Super Low Foods in Elmwood Park, and I got a bunch of stuff signed.
Super Low is a small grocery store chain in the Chicago suburbs. I have no idea how they scored Savard to come to their store. And Elmwood Park is a small, insignificant suburb that borders Chicago. I lived in Elmwood Park from 1986 to 1993. My sister R.J. still lives there, and luckily for me she shops at Super Low every week.
About two weeks back, my sister found out about this autograph signing when she saw a picture of Savard, nestled between the sweet corn and the 79-cent pasta…
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| This was the best photo of Savard they could find? |
My girlfriend Shellie, sister R.J. and her boyfriend Chris came along too, to help get a few things signed for my collection. We got there at 12:15 pm, and only 10 people were in front of us. The event was very under-publicized–I think it was only mentioned on this flier–so not many ‘Hawks fans showed up. Maybe 60 or 70. Because of the low turnout, everyone was allowed to get 2 things signed.
R.J. and I each got an 8″ x 10″ photograph signed by Savvy. The ‘Hawks are her second-favorite team (after the Pittsburgh Penguins), and she used to watch hockey with me when we were growing up.
The four of us also got some cards signed…
1982-83 O-Pee-Chee – I now have 73 cards signed from this set, including 11 Blackhawks.
1986-87 O-Pee-Chee – I am working on getting all the ‘Hawks cards from this set signed.
1988-89 O-Pee-Chee – I have the whole team set autographed. But the Savard card I originally got signed as a kid was autographed in pen. This card replaces the one signed in pen.
2006-07 Blackhawks Team Issue – I have 22 out of 28 cards signed from this set. At the time this card was issued, Savard was the Blackhawks head coach.
2009-10 O-Pee-Chee – An awesome card. It says LEGEND at the top. While Savard’s play was legendary when with Chicago, he had some good years with Montreal too. This card looks especially great signed in blue.
2009-10 Champ’s – Last year’s Champ’s set had a classy design. This is the first card I got signed from that set. I have a stack of extras, so I’ll probably try to get more cards in this series ‘graphed.
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| Savard signed a photo and card for me. |
So, after less than an hour waiting in line, I ended up with 7 autographs from one of my favorite players from my childhood. An Epic Win For The Sal.
As usual, Savard was very friendly. In all the years that I have seen him at signing events (going back to 1989), Savard has always been a class act, talking to fans and thanking them for coming.
I thought about getting in line to get more cards signed–the line was really short, it was barely past 1 pm, and Savard was scheduled to stay until 3 pm.
But I decided not to be so obsessed with autographs (like I was at the Blackhawks Convention last month). After all, I got 7 things signed by a Hall of Fame player. I thanked my lucky stars for that, and the four of us went to lunch.
Photos by Chris Marsh.
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Great score–Its always those liitle sessions that produce great results–I remember the time I got Dick Duff at a Mr Sub store–sceduled from 11:00-1:00–got there around 10:45–nobody there–couple people came around 11:10–sat around with him chatting and eating subs (provided by store)–didn't get much signed because I thought it would be busier–on well, talking with him about different hockey stories I will always have
I wish stuff like this happened in my neck of the woods! haha
very cool. and lucky.
Luck? No such thing 🙂
I usually bring more stuff than I can possibly get signed. It has worked out in the past for me, from getting lots of things signed by Savard (this time and back in 2008), to bumping into Steve Dubinsky and Steve Konroyd at the 'Hawks Convention two years back and getting 4-5 cards signed by each of them.
I tend to over prepare for these things…
Yeah, he was not that legendary as a Habs… The biggest memory of him is that he was undressed when we3 won the cup in 93…
I remember that game. It pissed me off that he did not dress–he had a fractured ankle, and was cleared to play. But the coach decided not to dress him.
I remember a few Canadiens players picked up Savard and skated with him on their shoulders. They loved Savvy in Montreal.
I’m Denis Savard biggest fan and he was the most exciting player of all time. He had a fractured ankle but i read that he let defenseman dress so he could put his name on the cup or otherwise he would have been excluded.( Classy)He got screwed 3 cups as hawks coach as he groomed the star players before being fired for guy that Savard set up for cups like he set up Al Secord for over 50 goals.
H Joe, thanks for reading. And yes — Savvy is a class act all the way!