Monday, February 25, 2013

Digging for two...

Finally getting around to posting some cards I acquired quite awhile ago. I think these are from the early January card show. I think.
 
What I do remember though, is that these are from a $2 box. Not exactly as sexy as a quarter or dime box.... but you deal with what you can get.
 
I picked up a couple of different Carey Price rookie cards from 2007-08. The first is from one of the ugliest OPC sets of all time. As if the base cards weren't bad enough, they made the rookie cards even worse.
 Love the early shot of the mask he used in Hamilton.

The other rookie comes from Upper Deck Victory. This one is new to me... I hadn't owned a copy until this one.

My next $2 find was from the brand new 2012-13 Artifacts. A P.K. Subban parallel numbered /85.
 I think they call it sapphire, but I really have no idea....

Not a great card, but it looks good in my Subban binder.

The last card for show and tell this week is an autograph of legendary broadcaster Dick Irvin Jr.
For those of you not in the know, think the hockey version of Vin Scully, only more knowledgeable. His father won multiple Stanley Cups as Head Coach for Montreal as well as a stint with Toronto. So young Jr was in the dressing rooms since he was 5, watching players like Maurice Richard, Toe Blake, etc...

Since I grew up listening to his voice every Saturday night from the time I was born.... I figured adding his auto to my collection was a no brainer.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

because you just never know.

At the February card show, I didn't bring home too much. In fact, the show was fairly disappointing.

But since I was waiting to meet someone, I stuck around a bit longer.

It's a good thing for me that I did.

Someone was unpacking a box of miscellaneous stuff, and my eye caught a stack of OPC mirrored retros from 2010/11.

As I casually shuffled through them, I found this...
Black bordered Josh Gorges /100 AND I needed it for my team set.

I asked him how much.... he replied with; " How about $2?"

As I was fishing out my toonie, he said to me; "what's up? you never buy from me!"

I wanted to say that's because your crap is usually WAAAAAY over priced, but I was nice and said it's because he never has anything I want.

And off I went.

15 minutes later as I was wondering past his table once more.... I see even more OPC retros. So I leaf through them quickly and find this!
AND I need this one too!!! Big Hal only cost me a buck.

Sweeeet!

It just goes to show.... after not being able to find any of these for well over a year, I find TWO of them from a guy I normally never deal with.

Never give up, and always keep digging, because you never know.

Now if I could just find the rest of these that I need....... *sigh*

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Freebies.

Freebies. Swag. Booty. Plunder. Loot.

It all means the same, and it's all good. Here's a quick post to show off three new additions to my collection that were given to me free of charge.

The first one arrived in the mail from a fellow blogger. This and some baseball cards came from Casey at Drop the Gloves. (we won't comment on the Messier card that was included.... yuck.)
One of the corners is dinged up pretty good.... probably from Casey throwing it across the room when he pulled it. No matter, it fits in quite well into my Odelein/Nilan binder.

Trade night at one of the local shops got me two more gifts. (Well, three, but the other one is baseball related.)
I thought about showing these off with the cards I traded for as well, but generosity deserves it's own post.
I had brought a couple of gifts myself for two collectors who I knew would be there. As fate would have it, one of them had this for me....
I learned something from it. I had always known Dave Hanson had played for the Minnesota North Stars.... but I thought that was it. I found out via reading the back of this card that Dave originally played 11 games with Detroit before being traded to Minnesota for futures. Hell if I can find what the futures turned into.
Dave played 22 games for the North Stars, scoring one goal and one assist before retiring.
For those who need to know, Dave played in the NHL for 33 games, 1G 1A and 65 PIMS. In the WHA he played 103 games with 13 goals, 40 assists and 497 PIMS.


The last card I wanted to show off today came from the same person who gave me the baseball card that I'll show off on Waxaholic at a later date.
Normally I avoid these manufactured letters..... but a gift is a gift. It now has an honoured place in my collection.

Thanks to everyone and as my pal Troll says, I love this hobby!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

We hardly knew you...

 24 hours after I made my little rant about this patch SUPER MOJO SICKZ card being worth less than $2, and the reasons why....
Montreal placed Aaron on irrevocable waivers.

The Colorado Avalanche have claimed him.

41 games, 1 goal, 4 assists.

Bye Aaron.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Trade Night - All Horizontal Edition

Slowly the gears turn as I get caught up on some long delayed posts. Multiple reasons why I'm behind.... and for the most part, they don't matter. You're not here for the story, you're here for the cards, am I right?

You know I am.

Quite often at trade night I find myself acquiring cards that don't necessarily fit into my prime collection. Most of the time, people who have cards I want, aren't interested in anything I have.

Such is life.

So I adapt. It's what humans do, right? Evolution... survival of the species and all that.

If I can't acquire the main pieces I'm after, then I go for other cards that round out my collection. Cards that while may not be of my favourite players or teams, still can find a home and valued place in my pc.

Like this card... a hard signed Niklas Lidstrom. One of the greatest defencemen to ever play my game. A 100% lock for the Hall of Fame the year he's eligible.
Speaking of one of the greatest defencemen of all time, Hall of Famer Denis Potvin.
This is my second Potvin auto, but my first that isn't slabbed in one of those nasty graded plastic cage thingies.

Adding two autos of these greats was a no brainer for me.

From my wantlists, I snagged this SP heroes card of Marty Brodeur. It was the last card I needed for that set.
It's not a 17 colour game used sweat stained patch auto like what most people get excited about, but I was very happy to cross it off of my list.

The last (hockey) card I got was not a trade, but a gift.

Aaron Palushaj 2012 Panini Prime Patch rookie # 24/25
I appreciate the gift.

But let's talk about something that someone else said to me when they saw what took place.
We'll call him 'Bubba'.
Bubba comes over and says 'Wow! I can't believe someone would just give away a card like that without getting anything back!'
I asked him if he had every given any cards away before... he said 'yeah, a couple of times... but just worthless base cards.'
To which I said, and you think this card is valuble????
See, to me.... this card is maybe a $2 card. It's of a player that has no shot at playing for my team this year, is in the walk year of his contract, and will not be re-signed.
I very much doubt if his NHL career lasts much longer.
Is it out of /25? Yes.
Is it a big two colour jersey swatch? Yes.
But so what? Look who's it of.

This is what Bubba goes on about... how it's a rare patch card etc.. etc... if you'll forgive my poetic licence, This is a guy who can't see the trees in the forest.
He's blinded by the 'internet forum' SICK MOJO PATCHEZ!!!! ideal that so many people fall into.
He's convinced that by opening high end packs and finding low numbered patch cards, it's his ticket to retirement.
Wake up son.

These are the same guys complaining that they can't sell cards on ebay anymore because they are selling for too little $$$....

Thanks for reading my rant to the end... here's a reward.