Card of the Week

1990-91 Pro Set card #669 – Pat Burns

Former NHL coach Pat Burns passed away last week after a lengthy battle with cancer. The man had an impressive career, wining coach of the year honors three times and a Stanley Cup in 2003. But what always stuck with me were his blowups. Burns would yell and cause quite a commotion when he got angry during a game. With his stocky build and mustache, he was reminiscent of former National Football League coach Mike Ditka, who was legendary for his sideline tantrums. Continue reading “Pat Burns”

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee card #169 – Steve Christoff

This must have been confusing to the card-collecting kids of 1983. There was no internet or Wikipedia to explain why Steve Christoff’s uniform was painted to look like he is with Minnesota, when in fact he was “Now with Los Angeles.”

The answer: bad timing. Continue reading “Christoff Confusion”

Early 1990s unlicensed Bo Jackson trading card

During the sports card boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s, unlicensed cards ran rampant in the hobby. Although not worth more than $1 each today, some of them are still amusing two decades later. An example of such a card would be this one of former football and baseball player Bo Jackson, suited up as a hockey player. Continue reading “Card of the Week: Bo Knows Hockey”

1992 Score Baseball #890 – Tom Glavine

With the 2010 baseball season winding down this week, it seemed appropriate to show this card of former pitcher Tom Glavine, donning hockey skates and shooting a puck. Continue reading “Play Ball!”

1992-93 Topps Stadium Club card #410 – Pat Elynuik

“Art imitates life,” or so the saying goes. Sometimes, cards imitate life too. Such is the case with this card of former NHL player Pat Elynuik. On his 1992-93 Topps Stadium Club trading card, Elynuik poses with a bunch of Topps, Bowman and O-Pee-Chee cards from the previous year.

It is a worthless hockey card that shows a bunch of equally worthless hockey cards. Continue reading “Card Imitates Life”

1991-92 Pro Set card #RR1 – Rink Rat

The term “rink rat” is used to describe a kid who hangs out at an ice arena and does chores in exchange for ice time. In the early 1990s, Rink Rat was also the name of a character featured on Pro Set hockey cards. Continue reading “I Smell a Rat”

1990-91 Upper Deck card #448 – Bob Probert

Bob Probet died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 5, 2010. A man who went toe-to-toe with the likes of McSorley, Domi and Brown – and overcame problems with drug abuse – ultimately lost a battle to a heart attack.

Needless to say, Probert was a tough man. No card better epitomizes Probert’s toughness than his 1990-91 Upper Deck hockey card. Continue reading “Unbeatable”

1997-98 Donruss card #160 – Theoren Fleury

Theo Fleury was one of the shortest men to play in the NHL. Looking up at him from a “worm’s-eye view” perspective gives the diminutive forward a sense of importance and grandeur. But also viewing him “through the mask” of a goalie makes the photo less believable. If Fleury was only 5-foot-5, how short was this goalie?  Continue reading “Low Flame”

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee card #243 – Gary Nylund

No, Gary Nylund was not horrible–but this card sure was. That slack-jawed look of disgust on Nylund’s face says it all about this awfully airbrushed card. After 4 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nylund was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on September 6, 1986–giving O-Pee-Chee just enough time to alter the photo on this card to make it look like he was with his new team. So, what’s wrong with this picture? Where to even start? Continue reading “Horrible ‘Hawk”