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| Mike Richter 1993-94 Upper Deck #42 |
It's Freaky Mask Friday with Mike Richter of the New York Rangers...
Looks like Lady Liberty is staring right at us.
Friday, July 4, 2025
Fireworks Factory...
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Moose Hunt...
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| Johan Hedberg 2001-02 O-Pee-Chee #294 |
Haven't got many cards of Johan Hedberg in a Penguins uniform.
Never knew this card existed, but found it (along with a duplicate) in a huge bag of cards from the 2001-02 O-Pee-Chee set.
Hedberg was only with the Pens for a short while, but certainly made a splash.
From the back of the card:
"Still sporting the Manitoba (IHL) Moose goalie mask he'd worn throughout his brilliant 2000-01 season, Johan joined the Penguins via rade mid-March '01 and immediately caused a sensation..."
Number Forty-Three...
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| Martin Biron 2008-09 SPX #26 |
Having previously featured cards of Biron with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders, here he is backstopping the Philadelphia Flyers.
By this point in time, the popular black jersey (first introduced in 1997) had become one of the Flyers official uniforms.
Really like the look of the cards in this SPX set. Lots of "graphics" in the background, but they blend nicely with the card design, making it look like a poster.
Friday, March 14, 2025
Freaky Mask Friday (Jim Carey, Washington Capitals)
Playing Net Detective...
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| Jim Carey 1996-97 Donruss Elite Painted Warriors #3 |
Had previously heard of the "Painted Warriors" subsets, although can't say that I'd ever feasted my eyes on one...
Didn't even know what this was when I found it - Spied it in a binder for $1 per card, and knew I would take it simply because it was a goaltender closeup.
(My immense dislike of insert cards gets over-written by the fact that it's a goalie subset)
1996-97 Donruss Elite - Painted Warriors
Total Cards: 10
This subset saw two die-cut releases in Donruss Elite Sets in 1995-96 and 1996-97.
Also surprised to learn that a "Painted Warriors" subset exists in 1993-94 Leaf. (appearing to be standard rectangle format)
NHL goaltender Jim Carey was around for such a brief time that he's easily forgettable. But just mention his name, and it rings a bell for anyone in the hockey world.
Poor guy had the misfortune of sharing his name with a Hollywood star. (kinda like the character Michael Bolton in the movie Office Space)
Also incredible how someone can come into the league, win the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender (in just his second season) only to retire from the league a few seasons later.
Seems the NHL was a bit too much excitement, as he sought the most boring job possible in becoming the CEO of a Medical Billing Company. (Makes me cringe... I'm already bored to tears just reading that!)
Still, seems like he cleverly invested his NHL earnings instead of partying it away...
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| Jim Carey 1996-97 Donruss Elite Painted Warriors #3 PROMO (card back) |
It also turns out that this Painted Warriors card is a PROMO.
Half the value, but still cool nonetheless.
Fact or fiction (or opinion), also stumbled upon this piece "The Jim Carey Mystery".
https://mscapsfan.tripod.com/carey0700.html
Still surprised that webpages even exist on tripod.
(last updated in 2001, with the headline story being the acquisition of Jaromir Jagr)
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Gettin' Duped!
Stay Away From The Blue Acid...
Keepin' an eagle eye out for sweet deals - Which sometimes can be a gamble.
Ever wary of junk dealers, but as they say "it is what it is".
Guys simply looking to peddle something for more than they paid for it.
I'm just out for some cheap entertainment.
As long as everybody wins - Or at least feels they did.
After scoring a couple decent "sealed" bags (of relatively worthless) turn-of-the-century OPC, got a small stack loaded with so many duplicates that I thought my own vision had gone blurry.
Still, most the extras I got weren't that bad.
Ray Bourque with the Avs, All-Star patch on his jersey.
Roenick, one of my favorite characters (most people forget he was a Coyote).
Nice shot of Roman Turek.
Another goalie card, Pittsburgh's J-S Aubin playing the puck. And of course, Pat Verbeek in a Detroit uniform (with Brendan Shanahan cameo)
Some of the cards were damaged - Guessing the duplicates were included to "replace" most of the roughed up cards (while appearing to fill out space in the lot).
Actually don't mind having extra copies of these cards for my "Favorites" binder. Still haven't put together a full page of consecutive cards from this set just yet
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| Ed Belfour 2001-02 O-Pee-Chee #90 |
Got pair of Eddies - Rather appropriate with Belfour getting the nod as one of the official goaltenders of this blog's collecting season.
This is actually a really beautiful set.
Only had but a couple of cards from 2001-01 O-Pee-Chee before picking up these 50 (which in reality, turned out to be more like 36 after pulling out the extras).
Player names don't scan well as they're printed in foil, but at least they're capitalized.
(Sets from this era don't lose points from me in this department
because I'm familiar with the players)
The set also has 360 cards, making it one of the larger OPC sets before the second lockout era (which basically killed the company).
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| Ed Belfour 2001-02 O-Pee-Chee #90 (card back) |
On the reverse, League Leader stats in red - Belfour has quite a few of them...
TEN times he's led all goalies in a particular category...
Games Played, Shutouts... Even later in his career he's leading the league in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage (at around age 35).
Cards within this set offer some interesting player bios - Although with veterans like Eddie (and a career full of stats), there's no room for that colorful blurb.
Still think it's a terrific set from what I've seen so far.. (have also been fond of the following year's OPC set)
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Original Six Saturday (Detroit VS Toronto)
Red Versus Blue...
This old photo of a game between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings caught my eye for the simple fact that both teams appear to be wearing their dark (traditionally "away") uniforms...
"Ted Lindsay circles back for a rebound in a 1947 game against Toronto."
In another snapshot [early 1950s] the Maple Leafs are wearing white.
"Ted Lindsay drives to the net against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Known as "Terrible" Ted Lindsay, he was a fierce competitor who never backed down from a fight. Hated in other arenas around the league, the Detroit star took it as a sign of respect when he was booed by opposing fans."
Friday, March 7, 2025
Freaky Mask Friday (Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils)
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| Martin Brodeur 1997-98 Pinnacle Masks #3 PROMO |
Devil May Care...
Not an overly freaky mask - But undeniably iconic.
Almost couldn't believe my eyes when I spied this collector's piece for a dollar.
Pinnacle Masks are still highly sought - This one turned out to have "PROMO" stamped on the back (making it half as 'valuable' as the regular variation).
Still can't complain. Just another neat thing to have in the hockey card collection.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
A Blogroll Please...
Collecting Under The Influence
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| Tomas Vokoun 2013-14 O-Pee-Chee #200 |
Entering the SEVENTH season for this Sports Card Blog.
(Time really flies when you're wasting it!)
Have been absent for a few seasons here and there...
Still, the stats are adding up. Hard to believe this is post number FIVE HUNDRED.
Looking at some of the blogs that have inspired this one, along with helping to form new collecting habits.
Taking in other people's comments, observations, and all the neat trivia they share that really adds the color commentary that I feel is essential for maximum enjoyment of the hobby.
So many sets and years that it's virtually impossible to see it all.
It's often during a Google search that one of these blogs will turn up, offering an answer to the question I seek...
Also the desire to better organize our collections - And no organization system is perfect.
In many cases, the content is just as (if not more) entertaining than a sports magazine. The link list of ten blogs that discuss hockey hasn't changed - But felt it was time to taking a quick look at which blogs are still active.
So many great posts that I obviously haven't read them all.
But these were the blogs that I found myself spending the most time with when I got back into the hobby again, and was re-familiarizing myself with an overwhelming amount of new information.
Definitely see a bit of myself in the following collectors...
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| Ed Belfour 1993-94 SPX #27 |
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Made of Stars
Greats of the Game...
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| Gilles Gilbert 2006-07 In The Game Between The Pipes - Greats of The Game #90 |
On a really big "Between The Pipes" kick lately.
Entire sets comprised of goaltender cards (of which I've been lucky enough to obtain a handful).
2006-07 In The Game
Between The Pipes
Total Cards: 150
Most of the "Between The Pipes" sets contain several neatly organized sections within the main set.
Typically some prospects, active stars, and retired stars.
In this case, "Greats of the Game" (spanning card numbers 78-104)
This card features NHL All-Star goaltender Gilles Gilbert.
(other "Greats of the Game" within the set include Resch, Giacomin, Cheevers, Hall, Bower, Wregget, Palmateer, Vachon, Barasso, Hextall, Esposito and Tretiak)
From the back of the card:
"Gilbert first saw NHL action as a member of the Minnesota North Stars from 1969-70 to 1972-73 and his arrival in Boston allowed him to step into a starting role.
The move paid off as he took the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 1973-74 and he appeared in the All-Star Game. He twice won over 30 games in a season and often worked in a tandem with Gerry Cheevers that kept the Bruins near the top of the standings."
While death is inevitable for us all, it's always a bummer to collect a card only to discover that the player has passed away just recently.
Felt compelled to scan the card and learn some more about Gilles Gilbert.
He backstopped the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1974.
(with Boston goaltender Gerry Cheevers defecting to the WHA)
Gilbert also played in the 1974 NHL All-Star Game.
Gilles Gilbert was born in 1949.
Died August 6, 2023 at age 74.
According to Wikipedia:
"Gilbert was a pro scout and goaltending coach for the New York Islanders from 1996 to 2001."
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| Gilles Gilbert 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #255 |
Happened across this card from 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee.
The card seemed to speak to me, so I made sure to add it to my hoard.
Cards of this era are typically stored in toploaders within my collection.
(Previously had just a lone OPC card from this season)
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| Gilles Gilbert 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee #255 (card back) |
Scanned the reverse side of this 1976-77 OPC card because enjoy the color and the cartoon...
Plus, having just a few cards from this era, I really like to take a few moments to appreciate the design.
Relatively primitive at a glance - But they've stuffed a lot of neat stuff on there, along with the vital stats that cleverly blend with the background (but are still legible).
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| Gilles Gilbert 1981-82 O-Pee-Chee #88 |
Gilles Gilbert's last NHL season was 1982-83 with the Detroit Red Wings.
Gilbert remained active long after his NHL career, tending goal with the "Greatest Hockey Legends on Ice".
As recently as 2019, he posed for a photograph in goal, striking a classic goaltender pose with goal stick in hand.
Gilles Gilbert with the Boston Bruins.
Absolutely love the stars on his mask.
(note defenceman Ray Bourque wearing jersey number 7)
Found a webpage featuring the same image used on the "Between The Pipes" card - A full un-cropped picture of Gilles Gilbert posing for a photo while he was a member of the Boston Bruins.
Frosty's Hockey World
https://frostyshockeyworld.com/Players/GillesGilbert.aspx
Original Six Saturday
Chicago Versus Toronto
Another amazing moment captured in time for appreciation decades later...
"Bobby Hull 'The Golden Jet' feels the pinch as he is corralled by the Maple Leafs. Hall of Famers Tim Horton, Red Kelly, Allan Stanley and Terry Sawchuk are determined to keep Hull off the scoreboard this game.
A young Phil Esposito closes in to help out his Chicago teammate. All six players proved their worth in the National Hockey League and all earned a deserving place in Hockey's Hall of Fame."
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