Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
Goaltender Ray LeBlanc is not your typical One Game Wonder. Sure, he played exactly 1 game in the NHL, but he was the focus of national attention during the 1992 Winter Olympics, when he lead an unlikely U.S. squad into the medal round. Continue reading “Card of the Week: U-S-Ray!”
Last week, I bought 30 different of 8″ x 10″ hockey photographs from AU Sports, one of my favorite card shops.
Many of these photos were taken at old Chicago Stadium, and most of them are from the 1980s and early 1990s, so these rate pretty high in the nostalgia factor for me.
Mike Liut (Hartford Whalers) – Taken at Chicago Stadium
Sylvain Turgeon (Hartford Whalers) – I used to watch quite a few Whalers games on TV back in the early 1990s, as SportsChannel would show Hartford games quite regularly.
Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) – Bossy retired by the time I got into hockey.
Denis Potvin (New York Islanders) – Potvin had retired and was a studio analyst for SportsChannel when I started watching hockey. I remember him infamously guessing that the Chicago Blackhawks would get eliminated in the first round of the 1989 playoffs, when in fact they made it all the way to the Conference Finals.
Billy Smith (New York Islanders) – The first game I ever went to was the Blackhawks against the Islanders.
Billy Smith (again) – I’m not sure when either of these photos of Smith were taken. I can tell that these are from old Chicago Stadium, as it was one of the last arenas to put advertisements on the boards.
Martin Brodeur – Wow! What a great overhead photograph–making the save just in time. I’m not sure where or when this was taken
Marcel Dionne (New York Rangers) – A nice close-up of the Hall of Fame player at the end of his career.
Bob Brooke (New York Rangers) – Brooke played for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team.
Rick Vaive (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Taken at Chicago Stadium, and most likely during the 1984-85 season. Vaive was infamously stripped of the “C” when he missed a practice during the 1985-86 season.
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) – Wearing the “conceited swan” logo, this is probably from 1996-97.
I bought a few hockey boxes last month, opened them up over All-Star weekend, then got busy with work, but am finally getting around to posting my breaks.
One of the boxes I bought was a 2011-12 Parkhurst Champions box. I really want to complete this set, but not at the expense of $5 per insert, which is around what the Wire Photo and Renditions inserts are selling for.
So I decided to get just one more box. If I score a bunch of inserts I need–plus some good autographs–then it would totally be worth it, right? Continue reading “2011-12 Parkhurst Champions box break #4”
Attention Canadian Collectors
I need a complete set of the Canadian National Hockey Card Day set, including the Crosby card, two checklists and a wrapper. I will gladly send you the American NHCD set in exchange (1-15 plus the Tim Thomas card plus 2 checklists plus a wrapper).
Also, I was able to purchase 20 additional packs of NHCD and 5 more Tim Thomas cards, and have almost completed 6 more sets. If anyone (Canadian or American) would like to trade for a set–or purchase one outright for just my cost on the set ($10 plus shipping) let me know.
Attention American Collectors
I need the following US NHCD Cards to make complete sets:
3- Henrik Lundqvist x2
4 – Pekka Rinne x32
5 – Jaromir Jagr x 4
6 – Zdeno Chara
7 – Ryan Kesler x64
12 – Willie O’Ree x3
Also looking for extras of Patrick Kane
I have the following for trade:
1 – Gabriel Landeskog
2 – Alex Ovechkin
9 – Ryan Miller
10 – Zach Parise
11 – Andy Miele
13 – Mike Modano
14 – Brett Hull
16 – Tim Thomas
If anyone can help me out–either with a Canadian NHCD set, or some of the US NHCD cards I need to make complete sets–please email me at sjbATpuckjunkDOTcom
And if you didn’t see my (week late) recap of NHCD in America, check it out here.
Last week was perhaps my busiest week in the past 4 years. In addition to teaching 5 college classes and a class at a grammar school, I curated an art show that opened on Wednesday, finished a grueling application for a full-time teaching job, and finished another grueling application for a teaching award that I was nominated for.
So, yes, I did get my free hockey cards on National Hockey Card Day. But I didn’t get the chance to blog about it…until now. Here is my long-overdue recap of National Hockey Card Day.
The Plan
Shellie and I went to 5 different card shops. She drove (her car is stick shift, which I can’t drive…but I haven’t driven in about a billion years, anyway) so that we could hit some shops in the suburbs too. And, by having someone with me, it would double the amount of free NHCD packs I’d get.
Stop #1
Elite Sports Cards
2028 W. Montrose Ave.
(773) 784-1396
http://elitesportscards.net/
The guy at Elite Sports card is nice. I had to buy a pack of cards made by Upper Deck to get the “free” pack of NHCD cards. Shellie and I each bought a pack, and he also gave us each a Tim Thomas card. He also gave me the Panini “Player of the Day” sign on his counter top, as that promo was over and he was going to throw it out anyway.
My only complaint about Elite Sports cards is that they don’t really have much of anything when it comes to hockey cards. He carries the new packs…and that’s about it.
Stop #2
Sports Harvest
6031 W. Irving Park Rd. in Chicago
(773) 283-4350
No website
I have never been to this store before. It is in the Portage Park neighborhood in Chicago. My old stomping grounds–a few doors down from my old karate school, and across the street from a theater I used to frequent.
Chuck is the owner, and he gave Shellie and I each a pack of NHCD cards, and each of us a Tim Thomas card. His store has cards, but Sports Harvest really specializes in toys and McFarlane SportsPicks figures.
So, I bought a few random single hockey cards that I needed and a Marty Turco Blackhawks figure.
Stop #3
Chicago All-Stars
5754 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago
(773) 631-5566
http://chicagoallstars.com/
This place was CLOSED when I got there. They are supposed to be open until 3pm on a Saturday. We got there at 1:55pm, and it was locked up and the lights were off. No note or explanation as to why they were closed over an hour early. I even called and left my number, and they never called me back.
Stop #4
Sports & Gaming Cards
205 Golf Mill Center in Niles
(847) 795-9355
No website
The owner was very friendly and loved hockey. I forgot his name, but his second cousin is former NHLer Bates Battaglia.
The shop had a moderate amount of hockey cards, and I picked up a few random Young Guns, including one of Magnus Paajarvi.
Shellie and I were each given a pack of NHCD cards, but the owner would only give me the Tim Thomas card, even though he had a bunch of them. Shellie did buy some WarCraft cards, and I spent $50, so I think he probably could have given us a second TT card. Oh well.
Stop #5
AU Sports Memorabilia
5629 W. Touhy Ave. in Niles
(847) 647-8311
Facebook Page
AU Sports has quickly become tied for my favorite card shop. Store co-owners Scott and Frank are two of the nicest, most well-adjusted card guys you will ever do business with. Plus, Frank is way into hockey, so he and I geek out and talk about old O-Pee-Chee cards and stuff like that.
When Shellie and I walked through the door, Scott immediately gave us each 2 packs of NHCD cards. He also offered to give us each a Tim Thomas card, but he only had 4 left, so we only took one so other customers could get a chance to get one. I bought some pages, a few large toploaders, some random cards from the 1990s and early 2000s to fill some sets and a 1961-62 Topps Wayne Hillman.
I opened the 4 packs that AU Sports gave us, and still did not have one complete set. So Frank kept opening packs and gave me cards that I needed. After about 10 packs, he gave up trying to get me a Pekka Rinne, but that still helped me almost complete 3 sets.
And the verdict
National Hockey Card Day was fun. I ended up with some free cards, and the NHCD promotion prompted me to visit some shops that I never would normally have gone to. Other than the less-than-spectacular collation of the cards, I think National Hockey Card Day was a success. I look forward to it again next year.
This Saturday (tomorrow!) is National Hockey Card Day. And as all of you know by now, this year it will be held in both Canada and the U.S.
Participating stores will be giving away 5-card packs of Upper Deck Hockey cards containing an exclusive “National Hockey Card Day” set. Each country will get its own distinct set:
While the giveaway packs are free, a special 16th card (Sidney Crosby in Canada; Tim Thomas in America) will only be available if you make a purchase.
Canadian collectors who visit London Drugs or Toys R Us will get an oversized “blow up” card when they purchase an Upper Deck product.
I’m excited, and am going to visit a few stores and try to build a few sets to trade to my fellow collectors north of the border.
I’ve been pretty scarce this past week or so, as the college semester is in full swing and I am teaching five–count ’em five!–classes between two different schools.
However, I wanted to quickly point out two “blink and you’ll miss ’em” magazine articles that mention Puck Junk.
The February 13, 2012 issue of The Hockey Newsfeatures my fourth “In The Cards” article (the third one was printed back in December). The short article talks about the trading card of Todd Ewen nomming on a hockey puck. Delicious!
Meanwhile, the January/February 2012 issue of The Want List has an article entitled “The Scott and Tracy Show…plus five other collector stories we wanted to share” (pages 16-19). The article talks about KSA Grading Services, Panini America, Bleacher Creatures, KSKS Collectibles, Clouts N’ Chara and Puck Junk.
In other news, I bought six boxes of hockey cards. Expect some breaks–including some video breaks–soon.
Prior to the release of their inaugural hockey set, Upper Deck issued prototype cards of Wayne Gretzky and Patrick Roy. The two cards were given out at the National Sports Card Convention in Arlington, Texas in July 1990 – roughly four months before Upper Deck Hockey would hit the shelves. The prototypes helped generate excitement and anticipation for what would be one of the most memorable hockey releases ever. However, these cards are not without their own share of controversy. Continue reading “1990-91 Upper Deck Prototype Cards”
The new year is barely 3 weeks old and already I’ve managed to uphold one of my Collecting Resolutions:
I placed an order on the Beckett Marketplace last week and purchased 64 cards. Many brought me closer to completing many different sets. But 16 of these cards were special, because they helped me “kill off” 10 sets. Some of these cards I’ve needed only a short time, and others I’ve needed nearly a lifetime. Here are those 16 “special” cards:
1991-92 Pro Set Platinum #PC20 – Mark Messier
Sheesh, I’ve needed this card for 20 years. I don’t know if that makes me old or lazy. Either way, I finally have every single insert card from the only Pro Set Platinum set ever made.
1993-94 Pinnacle #224 – Ed Belfour & #230 – Mario Lemieux About 2 years ago, I bought a near-complete set of ’93-94 Pinnacle, I think for around $2. These two “quarter purchases” bring my set cost to a paltry $2.50. Just another reason why I love collecting sets from the 1990s.
1984-85 O-Pee-Chee Stickers #244 – Mike Eaves
This is the card that sparked my online purchase. Only two dealers on the Beckett Online Store had this sticker, and the guy I got it from wanted a mere 30 cents. Over the summer, I bought this set and thought it was complete. I thought wrong. It was missing one sticker–this one–but not anymore.
2007-08 Black Diamond #60 – Mike Knuble
Wow, two mentions of Mike Knuble on this blog in one week. Must be the apocalypse. This was the last card I needed from my 2007-08 Black Diamond base set. I still need many Double, Triple and Quadruple Diamonds from this set. If you have any for trade, send me an email.
2003-04 In The Game Toronto Star #17 Jarome Iginla and #31 Chris Chelios
These two cards complete an extra set. This set is available for trade, if you are interested.
1994-95 Fleer Slapshot Artists #6 Mike Modano
The last card to completes my Slapshot Artists insert set.
1995-96 Donruss Team Canada #13 – Darcy Tucker
Another “last card” for a 1990s insert set.
1999 Wayne Gretzky Living Legend #13 and #99
About a year ago, I bought this set online for a few bucks, but didn’t get around to checking if it had all the cards until a few months later. It had two of card number 18 (one in place of 13) and had an extra card 89 in place of 99. Perhaps an honest mistake by the dealer.
1995-96 Playoff One-on-One #54 – Mark Recchi; #161 – Rick Tocchet and #199 – Alexander Selivanov
These three cards complete an extra set, which is now listed on my Sets for Trade page.
1995-96 Upper Deck Swedish Elite #31 – Stefan Polla
To complete another extra set (also available for trade).
I will admit that I paid a bit for these than I would have at a show. Most of the cards that you see above cost me 50 cents each. Some were a quarter, and some were around a dollar. At a card show, these cards are the stuff of quarter bins–if you find them. I guess I’m tired of looking.
Completing sets is fun. Maybe I’ll make it a point to finish off at least one set a month.
Upper Deck Hockey cards have been something special since 1990. Every year, the best hockey card photographs tend to end up on Upper Deck Series 1 and Series 2.
Even a run-of-the-mill photo on an Upper Deck Series 1 or 2 card would usually be the best card on another set like Victory, Donruss or Score.
So, I decided to pick the Top 10 photos from 2011-12 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey, based on the following criteria:
With so many great photos, it was hard to boil it down to the best of the best of the best. But I still did. For your enjoyment, here’s the Top 10: Continue reading “Top 10 cards from 2011-12 Upper Deck Series 1”