Friday 25 November 2011

Mail Day! 1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe Lot

Well it's been a significant period of time between my last post and now; with Christmas just around the bend, I haven't been picking up many cards and I've also begun another collection - Panini stickers.  I guess it doesn't hurt to ask - but does anyone have any of these stickers/albums from when they were a child lying around?  I just recently started the 2011-12 NHL Panini sticker album as well, anyone else?

Anyway let's get to my latest additions to my hockey card collection - this 14 card lot from the 1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe set, which I picked up almost a month ago online for just under a dollar and free shipping.

John Vanbiesbrouck #64 - My favorite card from the lot for sure, featuring Beezer breaking through what appears to be glass.    The reverse captures a nice, clear view of Vanbiesbrouck's famous mask.

I sometimes do an eBay search looking for card lots from this set as it is one of my all-time favorites based on the unique design; I've always been intrigued by the cards and the foiled cardboard blew me away as a kid.  I've yet to come across the complete set at auction but if I do I'll definitely put up a bid.  On a side note, I'm damn well sure I owned a bunch of these cards when I collected back in the late 90s - but sadly I was only able to find just one when I picked up my boxed hockey card collection at my parents house several months ago, when I decided to get back into the hobby.

Ron Francis #125
Oleg Tverdovsky #123
Eric Desjardins #110


Ray Sheppard #62
Radek Dvorak #57
Joe Murphy #134


Pat Verbeek #43
Andy Moog #41
German Titov #23


Jason Dawe #13
Paul Coffey #67
Jeff O'Neil #69
Geoff Sanderson #71

As for the player criteria from the lot there's nobody to exactly write home about but nothing from the bottom of the barrel - Vanbiesbrouck, Coffey, Francis, Verbeek just to name a few of my favorites.  I also wanted to mention how great the Moog card looks; his pose definitely entwines with the card design as it depicts a missle-like explosion in the glove of the netminder.

Jesus Christ, as I look through these cards I'm still amazed after 15 years!  What a unique design; even the Joe Murphy card looks like a solid keeper!

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Pinnacle, Donruss and Upper Deck Rundown

Picked up a bunch of packs of random cards in an attempt to knock some cards from the want-lists, aside from some base that I needed I also pulled a few inserts - nothing to write home about but enough to scan and post a blog about.
First, lets start with the two packs of 2010-11 Panini Pinnacle - didn't really put a dent into what I have left to complete the set as I only managed to pull two cards that I needed; # 110 Tomas Vanek and #234 Dana Tyrell Ice Breakers.  Although worthy of a scan would be this card:


Martin St. Louis + Steven Stamkos / Chemistry On Canvas #3 - Nice feel to these cards, literally.


Sunday 13 November 2011

November 13th Flea Market Pick-Ups

I had the morning off today so we took a stroll down to the local Sunday flea market.  Aside from the two card tables that are set up, there really isn't much else too interesting to be honest.

I ended up leaving with a few new cards to add to my collection.  I'm pretty sure I walked away with the edge deal-wise.  Let me know what you think.


Mark Messier / 2008-09 Upper Deck Black Diamond Quad Jersey #BDJ-MM - I took this Messier two color quad game-used jersey card off the hands of one of the guys for $5.


Tommy Salo / 2001-02 Upper Deck SP Authentic Sign of the Times #TS Auto Buyback - I also got this card from the same guy for $5; it's a buyback card inserted into packs of 2004-05 Upper Deck SP Authentic.


Shane Doan + Jarome Iginla / 2010-11 Panini Playoff Contenders Draft Tandems #11 - I found this card in a binder at a $1.  Really like the look and idea of this set and hope to find more around; also there aren't many cards showing Iginla in a Dallas Stars jersey.


Joe Sakic / 1990-91 Upper Deck #164 - Sakic's second year and first card from Upper Deck for just a quarter.

Mario Lemieux / 1990-91 Upper Deck #144 - Another nice card from the original Upper Deck set for just fifty cents.

Paul Kariya / 1998-99 Topps Gold Label Class 1 #51 - This was the first card that I decided to pick up and for only a quarter I got this nice looking Kariya. I've never heard of Topps Gold Label before but I'm really liking the design.
In total I spent $12 - I think I did pretty good.

Saturday 12 November 2011

Mail Day! 2007-08 In The Game Heroes & Prospects - Angelo Esposito Jersey

Picked up this lovely jersey card from the bay a few weeks ago for about $4 shipping in.  I know that the value of a plain white jersey card have gone the way of the dinosaurs but I couldn't resist this one due to the size of the swatch and the player.


Angelo Esposito might not be seen as much of a top prospect nowadays in the eyes of some but back in 2007 he had it going for him; as an admirable 20th overall pick in the Entry Draft by the Penguins, Esposito had a bright future ahead so it seemed.

Fast-forward to 2011 and Esposito has been traded twice but has yet to see any ice time in the NHL.  I'm not 100% sure why I favour Esposito so much (could have been his underdog World Juniors story from a couple years ago) but I think he has promise and would have loved to see him see some action with the Pens; I think he would have fit in nicely with the team.  But those days are gone and hopefully the Panthers will give him a chance on their roster one day.


As for the card, the swatch was apparently taken from a game-used 2007 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects jersey (the jersey he is shown wearing on the front of the card).  Plain-white, takes up about half the card - not much else to say about it other than I hope to see more of Esposito in the future.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Sunday 6 November 2011

Tim Thomas Creates Movember Mask Urging Fans To "Grow Your Mo"

Tim Thomas has followed suit behind Jonas Hiller in creating a special Movember themed mask design in an effort to raise money for his charity, the Tim Thomas Foundation.

The mask urges fan to "Grow Your Mo' and 'Beware of the Stache'; it also features the Bruins bear logo sporting a mustache.

At the end of the month the mask will be raffled away along with tickets to a Bruins-Canadiens game on Dec. 19 and a chance to meet Thomas.


Saturday 5 November 2011

2011-12 Panini Score Blaster Break

Picked up this blaster box of the latest Score set from Panini for just under $11 earlier today.  Panini has been bringing more and more to the table year after year with their annual low end set.  At 500 cards, the set won't be easy to complete - loaded with a variety of sub-sets and three parallels per card, it gets crazy.  But for a possible big bang at a low price, how can you not like it.


This year Brodeur is the face of the product; entering his final year of his contract - it's very well possible that this will be his final season of his record breaking career.


Friday 4 November 2011

TTM Success! Kelly Hrudey

Another TTM success, this time from former Los Angeles Kings alumni netminder and current Hockey Night In Canada broadcaster Kelly Hrudey.


I was sparked to create a custom and send a letter to Kelly after recently watching his 1987 Game 7 "Easter Epic" performance where Kelly made 73 saves (a playoff record) in a 3–2 Islander victory.

Reverse Side
Along with the custom I sent a 1992-93 Pro Set to have signed and returned, which Kelly happily did - aside from the cards, Mr Hrudey also left a short message on my original letter thanking me for the kind words.

Great return from Kelly Hrudey, I especially admire his choice to script me a personalized message at the botom of the original letter.

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Favorite Cards: 1988-89 O-Pee-Chee #123 Pat LaFontaine

This post under 'My Favorite Cards' features my very first hockey card - a 1988-89 O-Pee-Chee Pat Lafontaine.

As the story goes - as a kid I found this card in a small storage shed just behind my parents house, stuck to a wall using a tac; the same kind of tac shown on the front of the card.  You can see the puncture wound just above Pat's name.

The cards previous owner was my older brother who grew up a New York Islanders fan but never really collected hockey cards - so in his eyes this Pat Lafontaine card made a better clubhouse wall decal than a collectors item.
Not long after picking up this Lafontaine card I began collecting, loading up on  91-92 Pro Set and 91-92 Ultimate Original Six.  Those were the days.
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