Puck Junk Podcast: 1992-93 Fleer Ultra & 2014-15 MVP Hockey Cards

Episode #2: May 20, 2015

In Puck Junk Podcast #2, Sal and Tim discuss:

      • The not-so-new, but still-relevant 2014-15 Upper Deck MVP Hockey set (0:00 to around 10:30)
      • The 1992-93 Fleer Ultra Hockey set, which was groundbreaking in many ways (10:31 to 19:05)
      • If Las Vegas would be a good city for an NHL expansion team, and what other cities should be considered. (19:06 to 37:45)

Scroll down for card images, as well as a map of the NHL teams.

2014-15_MVP_Roy_front2014-15_MVP_Roy_back

2014-15_MVP_Parise_front 2014-15_MVP_Parise_back

1992-93_FU_Chelios1992-93_FU_Sakic

1992-93_FU_Chelios_back1992-93_FU_Sakic_back1992-93_FU_Awards_Fitzpatrick1992-93_FU_Roenick

NHL_Cities_Map
Click to view larger.

PODCAST INTRO AND ending MUSIC CREDITS:

“Rockin’” Tony Bullard (tonybullard.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Deja Vu Tuesday: Jaromir Jagr

1990-91_premier_jagrJaromir Jagr’s 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier rookie card was one of the most sought-after hockey cards of the season. As far as Jagr RCs went, this was the one to have that year, especially in the United States, where we had to pay through the nose to get OPC Premier cards. Seriously. Full sets were selling for $125; sealed boxes $250. The Jagr card itself was a cool $15. But through some shrewd purchases and trades, I ended up with several.

So imagine my disappointment when I opened a pack of Topps Hockey cards during the 1991-92 season and found this: Continue reading “Deja Vu Tuesday: Jaromir Jagr”

Phil and Tony Esposito’s Action Hockey Tabletop Game Print Ad

Sell_Sheet_FrontI found this picture of Phil Esposito and Tony Esposito in a pile of old sports memorabilia at a card show a few years back. It shows the famous brothers playing for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, along with facsimiles of their autographs. On the flip side is an advertisement for a tabletop hockey game they endorsed. Continue reading “Phil and Tony Esposito’s Action Hockey Tabletop Game Print Ad”

Buying Cards in the 1990s, Memory #2: The Comic Book Store

Variety_ComicsWhen sports card collecting became huge in the 1980s and 1990s, many comic book stores tried to get in on the action. Often, it was just a few wax boxes and display cases with singles to cash in on the trend without investing too much into it. But at the end of the day, most comic book dealers knew Wolverine better than they knew Wayne Gretzky. Sometimes, you could take advantage of that.

Continue reading “Buying Cards in the 1990s, Memory #2: The Comic Book Store”

Book Review: Black Ice: The Val James Story

black_ice_coverIn the opening pages of “Black Ice,” a 12-year old Valmore James is teaching himself to ice skate after-hours in a darkened hockey arena. Meanwhile, his pet dog is making a game of emerging from the shadows, knocking James to the ice, and running away. James believes that if he could learn to skate while dodging a charging Doberman, he would be able to avoid getting hit when playing hockey.

But during his career, it was other hockey players who would try to avoid getting hit by James. In his autobiography, “Black Ice: The Val James Story,” we follow James, as he makes the unlikely journey as a young man, transplanted from Florida to New York, who learns how to play hockey as a teenager and becomes the first African American to skate in the NHL. We also learn about the endless racially-charged hatred that he had to endure because of the color of his skin. Continue reading “Book Review: Black Ice: The Val James Story”

Puck Junk Podcast: 1989-90 Topps / O-Pee-Chee & 2014-15 OPC Platinum Hockey Cards

Episode #1: May 12, 2015

This is the first in what will hopefully become a regular podcast series on this website, hosted by Sal Barry and Tim Parish. For those who don’t know, Tim maintains a sports card blog called The Real DFG and hangs out on Twitter @TheRealDFG.

Today, Sal and Tim talk about:

      • The Chicago Blackhawks sweep of the Minnesota Wild.
      • The new 2014-15 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey set.
      • The 1989-90 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey sets
      • How Pittsburgh was a big hockey town in the 1980s — and Chicago wasn’t.

Total running time is 28:17. Scroll down to see some card images. 

Question #1: If you listened to the podcast, what did you think? Positive or negative feedback is welcome, but please keep it constructive.

Question #2: What is your opinion on any of the topics we discussed?

opc_darlingopc_brodeuropc_galchenyukopc_lehtera

topps_lafleurtopps_cunneyworth

Podcast Intro and ending music credits:

“RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Chris Chelios Ultimate Journey Card

2014-15 In The Game Ultimate Memorabilia #UJ-2 – Chris Chelios
chelios_jersey_front

This Chris Chelios “Ultimate Journey” jersey card card is an enigma. It has two swatches of jerseys worn by my favorite player of all time. The left side of the card shows him with the Chicago Blackhawks; the right side, with the Detroit Red Wings.

As a lifelong Blackhawks fan, you can see why I have some problems with this card. Continue reading “Chris Chelios Ultimate Journey Card”

Buying Cards in the 1990s, Memory #1: The Suburban Convenience Store

During the sports card boom in the 1990s, you could find hockey cards almost anywhere in Chicago and the suburbs. I went to a lot of card shops back then; there were more of them 20 years ago. But what stands out two decades later is when I found hockey cards off the beaten path.This is one such story. Continue reading “Buying Cards in the 1990s, Memory #1: The Suburban Convenience Store”