Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
Some old school hockey fans might think of Mark Messier when they hear a reference to “The Moose.” Yes, Messier was indeed moose-like–big, strong and hard to knock over–during his playing career. True hockey fans, however, know that hockey’s real moose is none other than The Moose–the mascot for the Rochester Americans. Continue reading “Card of the Week: The Moose”
My third box of Enforcers–and probably my favorite. Continue reading “ITG Enforcers Box Break #3”
Oh yeah, I know, these cards are sooooooo January 2012. And here it is, July already. I may have busted these boxes 6 months ago, but I’m finally getting around to scanning and sorting my 3 box breaks. Continue reading “ITG Enforcers Box Break #2”
If there was ever a hockey card that made me both laugh and vomit at the same time, this would be the one. Entitled “New Kids on the Ice,” this bootleg card pictures Eric Lindros, Sergei Fedorov and Ed Belfour on the front.
Those players remind me of hockey in the early 1990s, which in turn makes me smile. But the title at the top is an obvious reference to the popular boy band of the time, New Kids on the Block. And that makes me nauseous. Hence the dual feelings elicited by this fake card.
Upper Deck released a set called Century Legends during the 1999-2000 season. The first 50 cards of the 89-card set featured the top 50 NHL players of all time, as selected by The Sporting News. Absent from the set was number 23 on that list – Ken Dryden. Not only was Dryden omitted from the set, but the set skips card number 23, going from 22 to 24. Dryden’s card was never made. Or was it? Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1999-2000 Upper Deck Century Legends #23 – Ken Dryden”
An advertisement, published in Fall 1992 and promoting the forthcoming 1992-93 Pro Set Hockey set, showed seven different Pittsburgh Penguins hockey cards–including a card of defenseman Gordie Roberts. But when the set was released, Roberts was nowhere to be found. Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1992-93 Pro Set Gordie Roberts”
This card hints at what Chris Chelios’ 1990-91 Upper Deck Update card could have looked like. You might recall that Chelios’ card in the regular set (#174) pictures him with the Montreal Canadiens. The card in the Update set (#422) shows Chelios in a white Blackhawks jersey. So, where did this card come from? Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1990-91 Upper Deck Update Chris Chelios in red Blackhawks jersey”
Esa Tikkanen may have won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, but he missed out on having a card in the Official NHL ’94 Trading Card Set. You might want to blame a video game programmer as for the reason why. Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1993-94 EA Sports Esa Tikkanen”
For my first installment of “The Lost Cards,” we will look at a card that was featured heavily in promotional materials, as well as on packaging, but never made it into anyone’s collection. Former NHL goalie Kari Takko almost had a card in 1990-91 Pro Set Series 2. Continue reading “Lost Cards: 1990-91 Pro Set Kari Takko”
Back in the 1970s, the NHL draft was not televised or open to the public. They were either held in a hotel or conducted via telephone. In the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, Buffalo Sabres general manager George “Punch” Imlach was bored. So, in the 11th round he had a little fun and drafted a player that did not really exist – Taro Tsujimoto from the Tokyo Katanas of the Japan Hockey League. Continue reading “Card of the Week: Invalid Claim”