Upper Deck Hockey is the one set I’ve looked forward to each year for the past 25 years. It’s a great mix of high-quality production values, a decent-sized base set (when counting Series 1 and 2), plus all the rookies that matter. So, of course when this year’s set came out, you know I had to buy a box or three. There’s nothing more relaxing than watching a hockey game while opening up some cards. And that’s just what I did. Continue reading “2014-15 Upper Deck Series 1 box break #1”
Hockey Cards
Deja Vu Tuesday: Phil Esposito
I like this photo of Phil Esposito. His hair is a mess, his face contemplative. It’s a great portrait of the Hall of Fame center. You can see the captain’s “C,” the double 7s — the reason Wayne Gretzky decided it was OK to wear double 9s — and the Rangers shield logo. The O-Pee-Chee card company must have liked it too, because they used it again, even when they probably shouldn’t have. Continue reading “Deja Vu Tuesday: Phil Esposito”
Custom Cards: My Rec League Team Set
Seeing that I am a hockey card collector, graphic designer and recreational hockey player, it was only a matter of time before I created custom hockey cards of myself and my teammates. And they came out awesome! Continue reading “Custom Cards: My Rec League Team Set”
Card of the Week: Wrong City Lights
Editor’s Note: Jim Howard is a new Puck Junk contributor.Show him some love and leave him a comment below.
A few years ago, Panini released a cool, relatively inexpensive hockey series called Pinnacle. One of the nicer points was that it didn’t dole out the same stats that you found on every card that year, but rather told you a story about that player featured on the cards.
Pinnacle’s autograph and jersey swatch cards were labeled as “City Lights” and went further by showing a player, gargantuan size, floating in front of their team’s city sky-line as if they’re in the process of receiving a pass from Godzilla and about to put it past King Kong — all the while informing of some special fact about the city or a historical event loosely related to that franchise. Neat; and I like jersey cards because they are good for collecting autographs!
Now, I know some collectors dislike jersey cards, especially cards that feature a swatch from the player’s previous team. But the Hurricanes card for the City Lights series sent me right over the edge! Since Jeff Skinner has only played for us, Panini couldn’t mess the jersey up. Instead they picture the wrong city. And not just any city, but Charlotte — Raleigh’s cross-state rival. Continue reading “Card of the Week: Wrong City Lights”
Wendy’s Founder Had a Hockey Card
Dave Thomas, the founder of the Wendy’s chain of fast-food restaurants, had his own hockey card. If you are asking yourself why…well then, read on. Continue reading “Wendy’s Founder Had a Hockey Card”
Card of the Week: 1999-00 Upper Deck Century Legends #23 – Ken Dryden
I acquired a personal grail of mine recently when I added this card to my collection: a 1999-2000 Upper Deck Century Legends Ken Dryden. It’s a card that technically does not exist, and yet I have one. Continue reading “Card of the Week: 1999-00 Upper Deck Century Legends #23 – Ken Dryden”
Hockey Extreme Value 10-Pack Box Break
Normally, I avoid re-pack boxes unless they guarantee something spiffy. A few years back, I bought a so-called Hockey Cube because it promised two autographed cards and a full set of 2010-11 Score Traded. This particular box of packs, repacked by the Fairfield Company in Iowa, made no promises, other than a 40% savings.
Still, I was enticed by that pack of Be A Player, clearly shown in the right window of the box. We all know that Be A Player packs tend to have a higher ratio of autographed inserts than other sets. For $20 $12, I took a gamble to see if I’d pull an autograph. Continue reading “Hockey Extreme Value 10-Pack Box Break”
Card of the Week: 1951 Hit Parade of Champions Jack Stewart
One thing I absolutely love about collecting is that you will find cards out there that you never knew existed. In the past, I’ve come across some pretty sweet cards unbeknownst to me, like this one about the 1934 Blackhawks and another one about Lester B. Pearson. My latest cool find is this 1951 card of Hall of Fame defenseman Jack Stewart, from a set called Hit Parade of Champions. Continue reading “Card of the Week: 1951 Hit Parade of Champions Jack Stewart”
Box Break: 2013-14 Panini Titanium Hockey Retail Tin
I bought this tin of 2013-14 Panini Titanium Hockey at a local Target store a few months ago, then forgot I had it until now. What treasures lie within this tin? Continue reading “Box Break: 2013-14 Panini Titanium Hockey Retail Tin”
Custom Card: 1992-93 Pinnacle “The Idols” Seth Martin & Vladislav Tretiak
Former St. Louis Blues goaltender and International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame member Seth Martin died on September 6 at 81 years of age. He helped Canada win the World Championship in 1961, made Glenn Hall his first goalie mask — and was an inspiration to a young Vladislav Tretiak. Continue reading “Custom Card: 1992-93 Pinnacle “The Idols” Seth Martin & Vladislav Tretiak”