A Last Post Before 2011 - - A Review Of My 2010-11 Hockey Experience

I have been posting quite a bit more on the Garage lately because of all the weird cards I have been finding.  Soccer cards, Johnny Mize HOF cards, some of the first custom cards of all time, and some crazy holograms have all been discussed.  But, what about my normal collection?  Just because I have half the free world's worth of cards in my garage doesn't mean I haven't been working on my own collection.

I don't have a whole lot to post as far as pictures go.  In fact, I have none.  I was going to take the time to scan in a bunch of my cool pulls from this year's hockey releases thus far but what is the saying...the road to failure is paved with good intentions?  That's me.  Actually, nothing has really gotten me that excited to be honest.  But again, that's not to say that I am not doing my part for the hobby.

Victory was first this year.  It's always first.  It's also the cheapest...well until Choice comes out.  Victory was a quick build.  It is a 200 card base set and I was able to put this together fairly quickly.  I still need a few rookies but my rack pack theory worked out for me on this one.  It helps when you pull the packs from the same box too, so no doubles.  But no one cares about Victory.  They are cheap, boring, and fail to live up to any hype other than being the first release of the new year.  In fact, they aren't "real" cards in the minds of many and are simply ignored by half the collecting public.  I like them though.  My favorites were the Red Parallel version available in rack packs.  They look nice in an album. 

The first "real" packs of the year were Certified.  I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan when I saw the previews but I had to have something new.  I picked these up right after the big acquisition so I was a little spent.  There was a deal so I took it.  Fortunately (unfortunately) for me, I busted a "hot box".  I am a set collector so this kind of sucked since, as most of you know, a hot box is basically all parallel cards.  I got a few decent cards, a redemptions for a Cal Clutterbuck auto, a couple nobodies sigs, and a few GU cards including an Ovechkin I could have done without.  Overall, I think the set didn't shy too far away from their football releases and thus, was a bit boring for me, despite the hot box.  My LCS dealer was nice enough to give me a pile of base that another "HIT ONLY" customer left behind.  Panini...you burned me once.

Up next was Score.  I really liked these when I first saw them.  I really, really did.  But after two Hobby (actually I don't think there is a difference) boxes, a few rack packs, two blasters, and a few loose packs, I am not a fan.  First problem was the fact that the redemptions that were promised as part of the sell sheet were missing.  After contacting Panini, their excuse was that they pulled them all at the last minute in favor of inserting the players that were available into packs.  Of course these were short printed so they fall only 1 or 2 per case.  You do the math.  Not happy with their customer support as they offered up the typical "that's only a guide and not a guarantee of collation" answer.

As a set builder, you would think I was well on my way to a complete set.  Well you would be wrong.  In fact, at this point, I think I have more doubles than I do toward my set.  Good Grief!  I think I need a couple hundred cards still.  In the two boxes I opened from my LCS, half the second box was dupes of the first.  Don't even get me started on the "glossy" vs. regular cards that you have to tilt at a 45 degree angle to tell what set it comes from.  I know it is supposed to be a low end product but come one, Panini!  As far as I'm concerned, you burned me twice.

Oh, but you wouldn't fail me, Upper Deck, would you?  The flagship Upper Deck set has been in my collection since the beginning.  I have most of them, have parts of others, and vow to complete the chronological history of Upper Deck base in hockey one time in the near future.  Each year, the Upper Deck set is the pinnacle of the hobby when it comes to quality of design, value, and variety.  So would this year disappoint?  Well, I went with my rack pack theory once again, only this time it backfired.  I picked up half from one box and another portion from another and I believe a couple from a third.  Sure enough, I ended up with quite a few doubles, even some triples, in fact 1 quadruple.  I'm 43 from a 200 card base set and even farther from the Young Guns as they seemed to be few and far between.  I am still happy with the set.  I love the retro parallels that hearken back to the days of 1990-91 when Upper Deck was the new kid on the block.  My only criticism is they are on a much more flimsy card stock than the base cards.  So we have one winner in my book.  One out of four.  Not good.  (Although Victory is a "you know what you are getting" set so maybe one out of three is a better ratio).

Since my head hurts, I'm sick, falling asleep, and relishing in the fact that the Eagles are getting beat by a horrible Vikings team, I will continue this little rant later with my foray into Black Diamond, Artifacts, and O-Pee-Chee.

To Be Continued....

The Streak Is Over

I knew it wasn't going to last forever but I was hoping at least until Christmas.  In case you were wondering, the Philadelphia F@#ers beat the Pens 3-2, snapping a 12 game win streak.  On a positive note, Crosby kept his 19 game point-scoring streak alive with 2 assists.  Geno, who had missed four games with a knee problem, made his presence known by putting in his 9th and 10th of the season. 

The disturbing part for me though was that the Flyers outshot the Pens 37-23 and have now beat Pittsburgh 3 times this year.  I can't stand it when there is a team that dominates the Pens for a season (see the Devils last year).  With all their talent, there is no way that should happen...EVER!

Oh, and by the way...That IS!!!! Goalie Interference despite the [EXPLETIVE DELETED] announcers.

And that's all I have to say about that.

The Winter Classic Just Got An Upgrade

For the last few years, the NHL's Winter Classic has featured some exciting hockey.  Not just because of the games themselves but because of the allure of playing outdoors in a stadium not necessarily equipped for hockey, in an environment that most of these players grew up learning the game they love.  There has been something magical about it that, if you are hockey fan, I think you will agree has sparked some momentum for a resurgence in the sports popularity. 

Another reason for my excitement is the fact that this years game is being played at Heinz Field between the Penguins and the arch-rival Washington Capitals.  Well the game just got more interesting.  The NHL announced that there will be an Old-Timers game.  Not just any old timers game however...this one is going to feature perhaps the best Penguins team ever assembled. 

If I was going to put this team together I can think of a few players I'd include.  For starters, no Pens team would be complete without Mario Lemieux.  They got him, of course.  I think I'd also add the likes of Ron Francis and Paul Coffey.  Shockingly enough, they got them, too.  Both of them.  Bryan Trottier, even though he only spent a couple years on the Pens, would have to be there since he was a pivotal member on a Stanley up winning team.  Well, they got him too. 

As for the rest of the lineup, it is left to be seen.  We do know that despite his recent retirement from hockey, Billy G will suit up in a Pens uniform once more.  Guerin will most certainly get a standing ovation when he takes to the ice.  I'm still waiting to see number 68 take to the ice.  Pipe dream, I know.  Although if he did, I wonder which team he would suit up for.  Either way, the fans would boo him so I guess it doesn't matter. 

The Capitals have only announced their captain, Peter Bondra.  Not too shabby.  I can't wait to see who else they choose.  Maybe Olie Kolzig, or Dale Hunter?  Possibly Brian Engblom will come out of the analyst booth.  Rod Langway, Mike Gartner, Kelly Miller...?  Who knows?

The best part about all of this...$25 bucks gets you a ticket and you get to watch the Pens practice as well.  I wish I still lived in Pittsburgh.

Absurdity Inspired By dayf

I read on one of Cardboard Junkie's posts about some absurdity in the TMCG trading zone.  It seems he keeps getting ridiculous offers of junk wax for vintage.  Well, this prompted me to check mine.  Afterall, I have been out of commission for awhile so it has been a few months since I logged into either the TMCG site or the Gridiron equivalent.  I know, I know.  The offers go away if you ignore them so I probably missed my chance to trade a 1988 Brian Bosworth for a 1984 Dan Marino rookie.  I just thought it would be fun to share.

Here are some of the awesome deals that awaited me.  First on the Gridiron Giveaway site...

I can either go with Gene Washington (78) or Jim Mitchell (72) for my 1957 Clyde Conner.  Now, Conner was no big name player and neither are either of these guys but a 57 for either a 72 or 78?  Please.  Although, I think Gene Washington guest starred as a dead guy on "The Mod Squad" once.

Next we have a 1979 Pat Leahy offered up for my 1959 Joe Fortunato rookie card.  Let's see...Fortunato was named to the Pro Bowl 5 times and NFL All-Pro 3 times.  Joe was a member of one of the greatest linebacking groups in NFL history, teaming up with Larry Morris and Bill George, who played together in the 1963 NFL Championship season and helped give staying power to the nickname "Monsters Of the Midway". Fortunato was also named as one of the 300 best NFL players of all time. 

But Pat Leahy!  Well I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as he is the Jets all-time leading scorer.  But did I mention he is a kicker?  I know the Fortunato will only get me a buck or two but it's the principle here people.  Geez!

So I headed over to the Topps Million Card Giveaway site.  Here is what I found.  Let's take one card as an example.

The Subject:

1972 Topps Steve Mingori

I'm not going to pretend that I know who this is and start rattling stats off from his career as a left-handed middle reliever for the Kansas City Royals.  I'm not.  But it's a 1972 card that looks pretty cool and it was printed before I was born so it has some clout in my book.

Here is what awaited me in trade...

2001 Ivan Rodriquez - Not a horrible card but for a 1972?

1984 Broderick Perkins - Seriously, without looking it up...who the hell is this guy?

1988 Mike Aldrete - If Topps took all the 1987-1991 cards they have and burned them all, there would still be too many out there.  Which gives me an idea for a stunt that will most certainly be done to some Card Garage inventory once the winter winds subside.

1979 Steve Mingori - Well at least this person made an effort

 1974 Pepe Frias - The name on the front of his card is just a nickname.  His real name...Jesús María Frías Andújar.  Yeah, I'd go with Pepe, too.

So there you have it.  I have other offers too but none of them are as interesting as this.  I will admit that I am guilty of the same thing sometimes.  But, in my defense, I try to offer up a multitude of junk for a card I like rather than a one-for-one swap.  It's only the courteous thing to do.  I still can't figure out why, other than from Play At the Plate, I have never been offered any Pirates cards?  Are there that many Pirates fans that want to hang onto their TMCG cards from the Buccos?  I see in Dayf's rant, he got offered Oliver Perez, Jerry Reuss, and Bob Robertson all as Pirates.  I guess Steve Mingori is not worthy of any Pirate cards.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

I give to you the Top 100 Sports Pictures of 2010.  This isn't my collection.  I didn't vote for these.  But, nonetheless, many of them are really cool.

Depending on your internet connection, you may need to give it a few minutes to load.  But it's worth it.

Spending Time In The Garage

I decided to start logging my journey of owning the colossally huge collection that now sits in my garage.  For those that don't know, I am in possession of the inventory of a couple old brick and mortar card shops that went under.  Without going into too many details, my intentions are to more than likely unload the majority of the collection but "spruce" up my own in the process.  I'm keeping this blog free from those dealing (at least I think so).  Which is why I created The Card Garage.  This is where I will post some of the interesting things I find, as well as links to the stuff up for sale, up for trade, or up for campfire kindling. Check it out if you want.  It will most definitely be a work in progress.