Mail Day! Esa Tikkanen and Sami Jo Small In The Game Autos

Received two In The Game autographs from eBay in the mail while I was away that I nabbed for under $5 each.  I guess you can say that I was bored on eBay one day and at the time I was really feelin' those ITG Decades autos.

In The Game Decades Autograph / A-ET - Esa Tikkanen.  As the back of the card states, one of the games greatest agitators.  Tikkanen won a total of five Stanley Cups, 4 with Edmonton and another with the New York Rangers.  Check out this Tikkanen video I came across after I picked this one up.

In The Game Between The Pipes Authentic Goaliegraph / A-SJS - Sami Jo Small.  Represented Team Canada three times in the Olympics (2 golds, 1 silver).  Not really much else to say about this card or Small in general.

1998-99 Upper Deck Choice Double Box Break Part 2

Here's the second box of 98-99 Upper Deck Choice that I opened a couple weeks ago, still holding hope for a StarQuest gold parallel.  I've omitted scans of cards that I've already pulled from the last box break.

Box break results under the cut.

Cards, Pucks & Other Junk

While away I still managed to run into some hockey stuff that I gladly took back with me.  A couple cards, a couple pucks, vintage pins and well, I'll show just you.

While visiting a friend I was given a couple cards from a lot of top loaders that he had kept away in a drawer from when he collected cards as a kid.  While there wasn't much in the lot that I would consider top loader worthy, I did walk away with these two cards:

1997-98 Pinnacle Inside #3 - Wayne Gretzky.  Another Gretzky card to add to my collection is always nice.  This card came from one of my favorite sets, Pinnacle Inside.  Most known for how the cards were packaged inside a tin can that could only be busted using a can opener.  A pain in the ass but it was creative and the cards were designed nicely with the backs featuring a list of trvial facts that you wouldn't know otherwise (or care for).  For instance, did you know that Gretzky's best man at his wedding was former NHLer Eddie Mio?  Not me.

1990-91 Upper Deck #175 - Curtis Joseph.  An Upper Deck Curtis Joseph rookie card was the other card that I decided to take off his hands.

The Fairfield NHL Memorabilia Card Mystery Break

Hello hello.  I'm back from my vakay.  On the way back into town we had to stop into a Wal-Mart along the way to pick up some kitty food.  As per usual the checkout aisle was lined with trading cards so I decided to pick up a discounted box that promised a memorabilia card inside.  I've seen these before but repacks aren't usually kind and so I was skeptical.  But this time I said why the hell not.

I received two packs of cards as opposed to the stated "one pack" that's written on the package.  The repack came with a pack of 2006-07 Upper Deck Series 2 and 2006-07 Upper Deck MVP.

From the 2006-07 Upper Deck Series 2 pack I pulled all base, Mike Modano being the best out of the five cards.  Inside the pack of 2006-07 Upper Deck MVP I found seven base cards and a Joe Sakic 'Clutch Performers' insert.  Nothing big so far, nothing worth scanning in my opinion.

But now for the ensured memorabilia card; inserted inside a plain single white envelope...

Ta-da! I couldn't believe it, I pulled a 92-93 Fleer Ultra Jeremy Roenick autographed 'Performance Highlights' card.  The card also features a small crimped stamp of authenticity by Fleer to distinguish that it`s fully legit.  Well worth the $6 that I gambled on this repack. 

2011-12 Upper Deck Victory Double Ripper

Just a small double pack rip post from the latest Upper Deck Victory before I head back to my hometown for a week vacation as summer dwindles down.  I plan on leaving tomorrow evening and taking the five hour-long trek via TCH with my fiance and three cats.

I hear a lot about these cards, mostly negative comments from the double Victory logos on the front to the lack of worthy inserts.  For 99 cents a pack I don't expect to pull game jerseys or serialized signatures and the look of the cards have grown on me pack-by-pack, especially the clear cuts of the players (I'm not even really sure what "clear cut of the players" mean to be honest, but try to put it together) on the cards.

Pack 1

Rick Nash - 56.  This Nash card is an example of what I mean by 'clear cut of the players on the card'.  For some reason the card just seems to flow.  My favorite from this pack break.

Matt Duchene / Stars Of The Game - SOG-MD.  I was thinking to myself earlier today about how Colorado just aren't the powerhouse that they use to be.  At the moment Duchene is a very important part of their organization.

Alexandre Burrows - 188.